"We must go faster," US Adm. John Aquilino urged lawmakers repeatedly during a two-hour hearing on security in the Indo-Pacific.
  • US Adm. John Aquilino said China’s military is building up at a rate not seen since World War II.
  • That puts it on the path to meeting its goal of being ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, he said.
  • Aquilino, the outgoing head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, urged Washington to accelerate military development.

China’s rapid military build-up is more expansive than anything seen since World War II, which means it’s on track with its 2027 goal to be ready for a Taiwan invasion, said US Navy Adm. John Aquilino.

“All indications point to the PLA meeting President Xi Jinping’s directive to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027,” Aquilino wrote in a testimony to the US Armed Services House Committee.

“Furthermore, the PLA’s actions indicate their ability to meet Xi’s preferred timeline to unify Taiwan with mainland China by force if directed,” added the admiral, the outgoing head of the US Indo-Pacific Command.

  • Jaderick@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2228·
    9 months ago

    How much is this fearmongering to justify increased military spending and how much is this true? This is the second article I’ve seen in 2 days about “unprecedented” military buildup in Russia and China.

    War is fucking stupid. Anyone who wants war is fucking stupid. China and Russia’s autocrats are evil stupid, but are they stupid enough to create another great conflict that we all have to suffer through? Why the sudden change now? Russia tried the quick takeover and that’s failed miserably, drawing them into a prolonged conflict with high casualties.

    With all that said, I also recognize the US is a declining world power (from the absolute top to now in competition with others) and stories like this are excellent for drumming up movements to try and maintain that absolute power position.

    So how much is this article (and other recent ones) US propaganda?

      • Aniki 🌱🌿@lemm.eeEnglish
        41·
        9 months ago

        Mainstream media sells commercials. However you want to look at that to make it fit your world view - have at it, but they are not agents of truth. They are agents of capitalism and all the hell that unbridled greed entails.

      • Jaderick@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        9 months ago

        I agree with the other guy. The media made sound bytes of Trump during his first presidential run because it was popular and directly contributed to him winning, which is now a problem for all of us.

        My skepticism arises from similar articles saying the same thing about Russia, though those had more analysis about the transition to a wartime economy, that come at the same time as this article.

        I’m concerned media article like this are primers for accepting conflicts down the line as there seems to be a looming threat of greater conflict that’s being highlighted here. I’m an advocate of working together and see war as an incredibly stupid objective so part of this may be just not wanting to believe humans are this stupid.

        • FreudianCafe@lemmy.mlEnglish
          11·
          9 months ago

          You shouldnt be naive to the point you belive this is a mistake or product of stupidity. Those people know very well what they are doing

          • Jaderick@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            9 months ago

            If they know what they’re doing and we know what they’re doing, but we actually do nothing to stop it before it come to a head, how much are we culpable for the outcome? This goes for Russians, Chinese, and Americans.

            All that to say, I’m not gung-ho about ramping up war productions just yet

            • FreudianCafe@lemmy.mlEnglish
              1·
              9 months ago

              Its not really fair to say we (the peope) do nothing. The rulling classes have the armed forces, the media, the educational system, most politicians etc etc. When we do something we are met with censorship and violence