As China accelerates military development to achieve Taiwan readiness by 2027, U.S. forces remain overstretched and underfunded, raising alarms about an imbalance in regional power. The Chinese Communist Party is expanding its military capabilities in sea, air, missile, space, cyber, and AI domains, creating a formidable challenge for the United States.
While Washington preoccupies itself with issues in Ukraine and the Middle East, Beijing is building a multifaceted military threat. U.S. troops are engaged in NATO efforts against Russia and dealing with Iran’s nuclear ambitions, leaving the Indo-Pacific region underprotected. The National Security Strategy labels China as the ‘pacing challenge,’ but U.S. military structure still reflects Cold War-era commitments, which hinder effective deterrence.
Xi Jinping has mandated the People’s Liberation Army to be prepared for a Taiwan invasion by 2027, despite past examples where Beijing has acted despite military gaps. The PLA now boasts a vast arsenal, including precision-strike rocket forces, a large navy, stealth fighters, artificial islands with missile batteries, and a growing space and cyber force. These advancements underscore China’s significant military buildup, posing a serious challenge to the United States.
Moreover, China is expanding its influence in the Arctic by deploying ‘research’ icebreakers near Alaska and building ports in the high north, signaling long-term power projection. The asymmetry in military capabilities is concerning, as Beijing’s investment in long-range anti-ship missiles and drones contrasts sharply with the U.S. reliance on costly carrier strike groups. U.S. missile defenses are limited and could be overwhelmed by Chinese barrages, raising questions about the sustainability of current defensive strategies.
The gaps in U.S. military readiness are evident, with the shipbuilding industrial base lagging behind schedule, and insufficient stock and logistics. Senator Roger Wicker has warned of the Navy’s inability to fund new ships, maintenance, and munition procurement, leaving the fleet vulnerable. Despite economic challenges, Xi Jinping remains firmly in control, with no term limits and no rival candidates. His emphasis on Taiwan reunification as a ‘historical mission’ underscores the urgency of the situation.
Meanwhile, Beijing employs various coercive tactics below the threshold of war, including daily air incursions, fishing militias, cyberattacks, and political influence campaigns. These actions erode deterrence without open confrontation. China also engages in a duplicitous global game, supplying Russia while posing as a peace-broker, and attempting to negotiate a ‘grand bargain’ for East Asia. Such actions indicate a complex and multifaceted strategic challenge.
Rome is burning, and China is not a distant threat but a present and growing one. U.S. priorities must shift to address the Indo-Pacific region as the central theater of global strategy rather than an afterthought. Historically, the United States has faced challenges, and the time to act is both late and urgent. Without decisive action, the global order may shift in favor of Beijing, with potential consequences for international stability and freedom.