{"id":2345170,"date":"2024-09-24T08:33:57","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T12:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/under-democrat-leadership-u-s-unprepared-for-war-with-china\/"},"modified":"2024-09-24T08:37:12","modified_gmt":"2024-09-24T12:37:12","slug":"under-democrat-leadership-u-s-unprepared-for-war-with-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/under-democrat-leadership-u-s-unprepared-for-war-with-china\/","title":{"rendered":"Under Democrat Leadership, U.S. Unprepared For War With China"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Funder-democrat-leadership-u-s-unprepared-for-war-with-china%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2345170&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Commission on \u2064the National\u200d Defense Strategy has issued a stark\u2063 report noting that the United States faces\u200d its most significant defense challenges since 1945, \u200bemphasizing a real \u2064risk of a major war. The report \u2063highlights China and Russia as principal adversaries, with a particular focus on China&#8217;s rapid military advancements \u2062that\u2064 are undermining U.S. dominance, especially in the Western Pacific. China&#8217;s defense spending is estimated between $474 billion and \u200b$711 billion \u200cannually,\u200b raising concerns about its military capabilities and influence.<\/p>\n<p>The commission indicates \u200bthat \u2064China\u2062 possesses the largest regional aviation force and \u2062the largest \u200bmilitary fleet globally, while also\u200d forming closer ties with other\u200d adversaries such as Russia and \u2063Iran. \u200dMoreover, the \u2064report outlines\u200d the U.S. military&#8217;s unpreparedness due to \u200dbudget cuts and a reliance on\u2064 outdated military equipment, which could \u2062hinder the nation&#8217;s ability to deter\u200b threats\u2064 effectively. The Biden administration&#8217;s decisions to reduce defense budgets amidst\u2063 growing national debt have also raised alarms,\u200c particularly in light of the diminished U.S. military stockpiles due to support for Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>The commission warns that any conflict with China could lead to immense economic repercussions, including potential global economic losses from \u2063a blockade of Taiwan. It stresses the need \u200cfor \u200dpublic awareness regarding \u200cthe gravity \u200cof the situation and recommends Congress authorize immediate funding to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/is-war-with-china-in-taiwan-to-protect-semiconductor-production-really-necessary\/\" title=\"Is War with China in Taiwan to Protect Semiconductor Production Really Necessary?\">bolster national security<\/a> and industrial capacity for defense purposes. the report calls for urgent action to\u2064 address the \u2062heightened\u200c risks posed by U.S. adversaries.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The Commission on the National Defense Strategy recently released a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.armed-services.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/nds_commission_final_report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">report<\/a> warning that the United States faces the most severe and pressing defense challenges since 1945. The report not only emphasizes the potential for a near-term major war but also underscores the urgent need for action, making the gravity of the situation clear.<\/p>\n<p>The commission, having meticulously reviewed both public and classified information, has identified China and Russia as major adversaries seeking to undermine the United States&rsquo; global influence. However, the commission&rsquo;s greatest concern lies with China. Its report reveals that &ldquo;in many ways, China is <em>outpacing<\/em> the United States and has largely negated the U.S. military advantage in the Western Pacific through two decades of focused military investment,&rdquo; which is a cause for grave concern.<\/p>\n<p>The commission estimates that China spends about $711 billion annually on defense, although some experts <a href=\"https:\/\/warontherocks.com\/2024\/09\/chinas-defense-spending-the-700-billion-distraction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">estimate<\/a> it to be around $474 billion. The wide range of estimates for China&rsquo;s defense spending is due to the Communist regime&rsquo;s notorious practice of <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalinterest.org\/blog\/reboot\/why-china-hides-its-true-defense-budget-america-199221\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hiding<\/a> the actual scope of its defense spending from its published government annual budget. Some speculate that Beijing might have underreported its past defense spending by as much as <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalinterest.org\/blog\/reboot\/why-china-hides-its-true-defense-budget-america-199221\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">40 percent<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>One thing is sure: China&rsquo;s yearly defense spending is climbing steadily upward, which poses a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2024-03-05\/china-defense-spending-to-climb-7-2-as-xi-pursues-buildup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">serious threat<\/a> to the United States and its allies, as it allows China to further develop its military capabilities and potentially challenge the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jake-sullivan-says-biden-foreign-policy-promotes-u-s-values-and-interests\/\" title=\"Jake Sullivan says Biden foreign policy promotes U.S values and interests\">current global order<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The commission noted that China already has &ldquo;the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/meet-chinas-j-20-mighty-dragon-stealth-fighter-a-threat-to-the-us-air-force\/\" title=\"Meet China\u2019s J-20 Mighty Dragon Stealth Fighter: A Threat to the US Air Force?\">largest aviation force<\/a> in its region&rdquo; and the largest army and navy globally (with 370 ships and submarines). In its recent <a href=\"https:\/\/csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/s3fs-public\/2024-03\/240306_Jones_Rebuilding_Democracy_0.pdf?VersionId=sCRmR1UN.8dKYYu4hyh8PMB.U32ww58D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">report<\/a>, the Center for Strategic &amp; International Studies (CSIS), a think tank based in Washington, D.C., points out that the Chinese military is on a war footing, as the regime &ldquo;is heavily investing in munitions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-in-a-conflict-with-china-u-s-military-would-run-out-of-some-munitions-in-a-week\/\" title=\"Report: In a Conflict With China, U.S. Military Would Run Out of Some Munitions in a Week\">acquiring high-end weapons systems<\/a> and equipment five to six times faster than the United States &hellip; China is now the world&rsquo;s largest shipbuilder and has a shipbuilding capacity roughly 230 times larger than the United States.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Besides preparing for the war itself, China has been deepening its economic and military ties with other U.S. adversaries, including Russia, Iran, and North Korea,&nbsp;helping enhance their military and economic power to cause a menace to the U.S. influence worldwide. For example, China and Russia established a &ldquo;no-limits&rdquo; partnership in February 2022, right before Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, through purchasing Russian oil and gas and agriculture products, China has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2023\/02\/22\/economy\/china-russia-economic-ties-ukraine-intl-hnk\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">propping up<\/a> Russia&rsquo;s economy and minimizing the effect of economic sanctions the West has imposed on Russia.<\/p>\n<p>On the military front, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/national-security\/china-helping-russia-momentum-ukraine-war-top-us-spy-rcna150437\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">testified<\/a> at a congressional hearing that &ldquo;China&rsquo;s provision of dual use components and material to Russia&rsquo;s defense industry is one of several factors that tilted the momentum on the battlefield in Ukraine in Moscow&rsquo;s favor, while also accelerating a reconstitution of Russia&rsquo;s military strength after their extraordinarily costly invasion.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The commission is deeply troubled by the United States&rsquo; unpreparedness as the global security landscape grows increasingly perilous. The U.S. military, lacking the necessary capabilities and capacity, may be unable to confidently deter hostile nations or prevail in combat. This urgent and pressing situation, exacerbated by the Department of Defense&rsquo;s convoluted &ldquo;research and development (R&amp;D) and procurement systems, reliance on decades-old military hardware, and a culture of risk avoidance,&rdquo; demands immediate attention and action.<\/p>\n<p>However, the major constraint of the U.S. military&rsquo;s capacity and capability has been the Biden-Harris administration&rsquo;s defense budget cut (after inflation) four years in a row. Take the administration&rsquo;s 2025 budget, for example. The U.S. Army is asking for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/biden-defense-budget-pentagon-u-s-military-china-russia-israel-ukraine-ba7fd46b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">442,300 troops, a decline from 485,000<\/a> in 2022. The U.S. Navy will have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/biden-defense-budget-pentagon-u-s-military-china-russia-israel-ukraine-ba7fd46b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">287 ships in 2025, down from 296 today<\/a>. Navy experts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/the-shrinking-u-s-navy-pentagon-military-joe-biden-budget-ships-11648842070\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">estimated<\/a> that to defeat the Chinese navy in a battle at sea, the U.S. Navy &ldquo;needs about 350 ships and another 150 unmanned or lightly manned vessels, for a total of 500.&rdquo; The United States military has been on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/biden-defense-budget-pentagon-u-s-military-china-russia-israel-ukraine-ba7fd46b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a trajectory of managed decline<\/a> under the Biden-Harris administration. It is crucial that we advocate for increased defense budget allocation to address these issues.<\/p>\n<p>The Biden-Harris administration&rsquo;s decision to accumulate significant national debt on domestic initiatives like the Green New Deal while reducing U.S. defense spending is also a matter of urgent concern. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB)&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.crfb.org\/blogs\/interest-costs-just-surpassed-defense-and-medicare\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">has reported<\/a> that the interest payment on our national debt has already exceeded government spending on national defense, a situation that demands immediate attention, especially as the potential for near-term major war has increased.<\/p>\n<p>Another alarming sign of the United States&rsquo; unpreparedness for war is the negative effect its military support of Ukraine has had on U.S. military stockpiles. The support has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/11\/17\/politics\/us-weapon-stocks-ukraine\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">led to a depletion<\/a> of America&rsquo;s inventory of certain weapons and ammunitions, underscoring that &ldquo;the U.S. defense industrial base (DIB) is unable to meet the equipment, technology, and munitions needs of the United States and its allies and partners.&rdquo; The DIB&rsquo;s limited capacity to &ldquo;produce, maintain, and replenish weapons and munitions&rdquo; will severely hamper the U.S. military&rsquo;s fighting capability.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the commission warns that a military conflict with a near-peer such as China will result in staggering military and economic costs. Even without a full-out war, &ldquo;the global economic damage from a Chinese blockade of Taiwan has been estimated to cost $5 trillion, or 5 percent of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/timothy-nash-brace-yourself-america-these-things-are-going-to-get-expensive\/\" title=\"Timothy Nash: Brace Yourself, America: These Things Are Going to Get Expensive\">global gross domestic product<\/a> (GDP),&rdquo; which will certainly affect American businesses and consumers.<\/p>\n<p>The commission is concerned that &ldquo;the U.S. public are largely unaware of the dangers the United States faces or the costs (financial and otherwise) required to adequately prepare. They do not appreciate the strength of China and its partnerships or the ramifications to daily life if a conflict were to erupt. They are not anticipating disruptions to their power, water, or access to all the goods on which they rely. They have not internalized the costs of the United States losing its position as a world superpower.&rdquo; This concern is a serious one because the United States will not win an all-out war against adversaries such as China without the support and resolve of the American public.<\/p>\n<p>The commission closes its gloomy report with a list of recommendations, two of which are notable. First, &ldquo;Congress should pass a supplemental appropriation immediately to begin a multiyear investment in the national security innovation and industrial base.&rdquo; Among other things, this supplemental appropriation would help &ldquo;expand industrial capacity,&rdquo; &ldquo;harden facilities in Asia,&rdquo; and &ldquo;secure access to critical minerals.&rdquo; Second, &ldquo;for fiscal year 2025, real growth in defense and nondefense national security spending is needed and, at a bare minimum, should fall within the range recommended by the 2018 NDS Commission.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the American public must be made aware of the potential grave threats we face and factor this into their decisions this November. Do Americans want to elect someone who will continue to impose policies that accelerate America&rsquo;s economic and military decline and relinquish America&rsquo;s global leadership role or someone who will stop America&rsquo;s self-imposed decline, introduce policies that will strengthen this nation economically and militarily, and make America great again? <\/p>\n<p>Make no mistake: An economically and militarily powerful America is the best deterrent of World War III.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p>      Helen Raleigh, CFA, is an American entrepreneur, writer, and speaker. She&#8217;s a senior contributor at The Federalist. Her writings appear in other national media, including The Wall Street Journal and Fox News.  Helen is the author of several books, including &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Confucius-Never-Said-Helen-Raleigh\/dp\/1499185278\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;keywords=Helen+Raleigh+Confucius+Never+Said&amp;qid=1606079469&amp;sr=8-1\">Confucius Never Said<\/a>&#8221; and &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Backlash-How-Chinas-Aggression-Backfired\/dp\/1736008501\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1606006113&amp;sr=8-1\">Backlash: How Communist China&#8217;s Aggression Has Backfired<\/a>.&#8221; Her latest book is the 2nd edition of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Broken-Welcome-Mat-unAmerican-immigration-ebook\/dp\/B0C44QSPJ9\/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3HFXEVT236ZRW&amp;keywords=The+Broken+welcome+mat+book&amp;qid=1683127487&amp;sprefix=the+broken+welcome+mat+book%2Caps%2C135&amp;sr=8-3\">&ldquo;The Broken Welcome Mat: America&rsquo;s UnAmerican immigration policy, and how we should fix it.&rdquo;<\/a>   Follow her on Parler and Twitter: @HRaleighspeaks.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Commission on the National Defense Strategy has published a report indicating that the United States is confronting its most significant and urgent defense challenges since 1945. This report highlights not only the risk of an imminent major conflict but also stresses the critical need for immediate action, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. After thoroughly examining both public and classified data, the commission has identified China and Russia as primary threats aiming to weaken U.S. global influence, with particular emphasis on China as a major concern. The findings suggest that &#8220;in many ways, China is surpassing the United States and has largely diminished U.S. military superiority in the Western Pacific due to two decades of concentrated military investment,&#8221; which raises serious alarms.<\/p>\n<p>The commission estimates China&#8217;s annual defense spending at approximately $711 billion, although some experts believe it could be around $474 billion. The disparity in these figures stems from China&#8217;s tendency to obscure its actual defense expenditures in official government budgets; some analysts speculate that past spending may have been underreported by up to 40 percent. What remains clear is that China&#8217;s defense budget is consistently increasing, posing a significant threat to both the U.S. and its allies by enabling further military advancements that could challenge existing global dynamics.<\/p>\n<p>According to reports, China currently possesses &#8220;the largest aviation force in its region&#8221; along with being home to the world&#8217;s largest army and navy (boasting 370 ships and submarines). A recent analysis from Washington&#8217;s Center for Strategic &amp; International Studies (CSIS) indicates that China&#8217;s military is preparing for potential conflict as it invests heavily in munitions while acquiring advanced weaponry at rates five to six times faster than those of the United States; additionally, China has become the leading shipbuilder globally with a capacity approximately 230 times greater than that of America.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to bolstering its own military capabilities, China has been strengthening economic and military alliances with other adversaries such as Russia, Iran, and North Korea\u2014enhancing their collective power against U.S. interests worldwide. For instance, shortly before Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, China formed a &#8220;no-limits&#8221; partnership with Russia which allowed it to support Moscow\u2019s economy through purchases of oil, gas, and agricultural products while mitigating Western sanctions&#8217; impacts.<\/p>\n<p>On matters related specifically to warfare support for Ukraine: Avril Haines\u2014the Director of National Intelligence\u2014testified before Congress about how &#8220;China\u2019s provision of dual-use components&#8221; significantly influenced battlefield dynamics favorably towards Moscow while aiding Russia&#8217;s recovery post-invasion.<\/p>\n<p>The commission expresses deep concern regarding America&#8217;s lack of preparedness amid an increasingly dangerous global security environment; current capabilities may not suffice for effective deterrence or successful combat operations against hostile nations due primarily because Department Of Defense systems are outdated or overly complex\u2014compounded by years-long cuts under Biden-Harris administration budgets after inflation adjustments.<\/p>\n<p>For example: In fiscal year 2025 proposals indicate reductions within Army troop levels\u2014from requesting 442k down from previous counts near485k\u2014and Navy ship numbers decreasing from296to287ships despite expert assessments suggesting upwards toward500vessels would be necessary just for naval engagements against Chinese forces alone! <\/p>\n<p>Moreover\u2014the Biden-Harris administration\u2019s prioritization towards domestic initiatives like Green New Deal over national security funding raises alarm bells given reports showing interest payments on national debt now exceed total government expenditure allocated towards defense\u2014a troubling trend especially considering heightened risks associated with potential conflicts looming ahead!<\/p>\n<p>Another concerning aspect involves how ongoing support provided by US forces toward Ukraine depletes American stockpiles resulting ultimately into shortages across various weaponry types highlighting deficiencies within our own Defense Industrial Base (DIB)\u2014which struggles meeting demands required both domestically &amp; internationally thus undermining overall fighting capability moving forward!<\/p>\n<p>Additionally\u2014the commission warns any direct confrontation involving near-peer competitors such asChina would incur staggering costs economically\/militarily alike\u2014even without full-scale war scenarios projected damages stemming solely from possible blockades aroundTaiwan estimated reach$5trillion impacting GDP globally affecting American businesses\/consumers alike!<\/p>\n<p>Lastly\u2014it notes widespread public unawareness regarding these threats coupled alongside financial implications necessary preparations entail poses serious risks since winning wars requires unified resolve among citizens backing efforts undertaken! <\/p>\n<p>To conclude this sobering assessment\u2014the commission recommends immediate congressional action including supplemental appropriations aimed at enhancing national security innovation\/infrastructure investments alongside advocating real growth within future fiscal plans ensuring adequate resources allocated accordingly addressing pressing needs highlighted throughout their findings! Ultimately\u2014it becomes imperative Americans recognize severity surrounding these issues when making electoral choices come November determining whether they wish continue policies leading decline or pursue strategies reinforcing strength restoring greatness back onto nation once again!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":536,"featured_media":2345171,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Copy-of-Untitled-2024-09-20T092235.078.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[41584,41582,41585,41583],"class_list":["post-2345170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-chinarelations","tag-democratleadership","tag-nationalsecurity","tag-usmilitaryreadiness"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Copy-of-Untitled-2024-09-20T092235.078.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2345170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/536"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2345170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2345170\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2345171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2345170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2345170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2345170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}