U.S. would defeat China in a war over Taiwan, Joints Chiefs head says

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the U.S. military's confidence in defeating China in a potential conflict over Taiwan, as stated by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It also covers the evolving nature of warfare and the need for a mix of traditional military force and asymmetric warfare capabilities.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The U.S. Military's Confidence in Defeating China

1. What is the U.S. military's assessment of its ability to defeat China in a conflict over Taiwan?

• The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown, stated that the U.S. is "fully confident" in its ability to defeat China in a conflict, saying the U.S. military is "the most lethal, most respected combat force in the world."
• However, a recent simulation by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that while the U.S. would defeat China in combat, it would come at a heavy cost, with the U.S. and allied forces losing tens of thousands of troops, dozens of ships, and hundreds of aircraft.

2. What is the U.S. military doing to prepare for a potential conflict with China over Taiwan?

• Gen. Brown said the U.S. is accelerating efforts to build up military logistics in the region, stockpiling weapons, ammunition, supplies, and other support before a conflict breaks out.
• This is to ensure the U.S. can "get there fast" and increase deterrence against China.

[02] The Evolving Nature of Warfare

1. How does Gen. Brown describe the changing nature of warfare?

• Gen. Brown stated that a war with China will not be similar to the conflicts of the past 30 years, but will be "major conflicts akin to what we saw in WWII."
• He said the use of drone weapons and cyberwarfare capabilities are key indicators that the character of warfare is evolving, and that "high-end" military capabilities may not be the decisive factor in war.

2. What does Gen. Brown say is needed to address the evolving nature of warfare?

• Gen. Brown said a greater mix of both traditional military force and asymmetric warfare capabilities is needed, rather than relying solely on high-end military capabilities.
• He stated that restructuring Taiwan's military defenses to make them a "much tougher target" for the Chinese military is also important.