Warning of a Potential Invasion by China
A US congressman has issued a warning about the need to rebuild the country’s arsenal of deterrence in order to prevent conflict with China. Representative Mike Gallagher emphasizes the urgency of the situation, noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. Gallagher stresses that the United States must act quickly to arm Taiwan and strengthen its own forces in the Indo-Pacific.
Fragility of the Munitions Industrial Base
Gallagher highlights the current struggles faced by the United States in meeting the demand for munitions, both in Ukraine and Israel. The congressman points out that this reveals the fragility of the country’s munitions industrial base. He cites war game simulations that indicate the US would run out of long-range, precision-guided munitions within a week in a conflict with China over Taiwan. This would force the US to fight closer to Chinese defensive fire, increasing the risk to air and naval assets, as well as service members.
The Need for Swift Action
Gallagher emphasizes the importance of taking immediate action to address the challenges posed by China. He warns that prolonged delays in delivering critical missiles to Taiwan, such as anti-ship Harpoon missiles, could leave Taiwan defenseless against a Chinese invasion. Gallagher proposes innovative solutions to overcome cost and production time limitations. He suggests using existing components and older Harpoon missiles in US inventory, which can be modified for use by Taiwan at a significantly lower cost. He also points to the potential of Powered JDAMs, which could provide a cheaper and quicker alternative to complement more expensive missiles.
A Generational Investment and Mobilization
Gallagher emphasizes that rebuilding an arsenal of deterrence will require a generational investment and mobilization effort. He calls for creativity and outside-the-box thinking to find solutions to the urgent challenges the US faces. The congressman has requested a classified briefing from the Pentagon to discuss the agency’s plans and pursue the proposed weapons systems.