Retired Lieutenant General John Caine, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has warned that the United States military is currently unprepared for a protracted conflict with China. In his written testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 1, Caine pointed to significant deficiencies in the US defense industrial base and acquisition processes, stressing the urgency of strengthening American military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.

Caine underscored the rising strategic challenge posed by China, noting that Beijing’s military modernization efforts have significantly improved its ability to project power. “The threat posed by China to American interests in the Indo-Pacific is real and growing. The US needs to work with allies and partners to deter China’s aggression in this region,” he wrote in his testimony.

China has been rapidly expanding its military capabilities, particularly in naval strength, cyber warfare, and missile technology. According to Caine, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has made “significant military improvements,” including adjustments in military structures and the deployment of advanced indigenous weapons systems. Numerically, he acknowledged, China now possesses the largest navy in the world, surpassing the US in terms of fleet size.

However, Caine pointed out that despite these advancements, China still faces critical shortcomings in areas such as commander proficiency, long-distance logistics, urban warfare, and overall modern warfare experience. While these weaknesses may provide a strategic advantage to the US and its allies, he........

© Blitz