A four-star US Air Force general thinks a war between the US and China is only two years away and has ordered his forces to start preparing for the conflict.
In a memo obtained by NBC News, Gen. Mike Minihan, the head of Air Mobility Command, said of a war with China, “I hope I am wrong. My gut tells me will fight in 2025.”
AMC is a major command of the US Air Force and is responsible for transportation and refueling. Nearly 50,000 airmen are members of AMC, and the command oversees about 430 aircraft.
Rep. Michael McCaul, the new chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that he believes Minihan’s prediction is right. “I hope he is wrong. … I think he is right though,” McCaul told Fox News on Sunday.
Later on Sunday, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, pushed back on the prediction and said it was “highly unlikely” the US and China would be at war in 2025. “Generals need to be very cautious about saying we’re going to war,” Smith said.
In his memo, Minihan claimed because the US and Taiwan are both holding presidential elections in 2024, they will be distracted, giving China the opportunity to move on Taiwan.
For their part, China has recently reiterated that it seeks “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan but won’t rule out the use of force. China has an interest in not invading Taiwan due to its robust trade relationship with the island and the sheer difficulty of such a large-scale amphibious invasion.
But China has stepped up its military activity around Taiwan due to increasing US support for Taipei. Despite Beijing’s warnings, the US continues to boost ties with Taiwan, including by providing unprecedented military aid. At some point, this support could become intolerable for China, and Beijing could take actions short of an invasion, such as a blockade or attacking small islands that Taiwan controls off mainland China’s coast.
A war between the US and China could also be sparked in the South China Sea, where the US has increased its military presence in recent years. US and Chinese warplanes and warships occasionally have close encounters in the area, and with US-China relations at such a low point, an accident could spiral into a wider conflict.
Minihan told the officers he commands to report all major efforts they take to prepare for war with China by February 28. He said during the month of February, all AMC personnel should “fire a clip into a 7-meter target with the full understanding that unrepentant lethality matters most. Aim for the head.”
Minihan also called for his personnel to get their affairs in order as they prepare for war. He said in the month of March, they should “consider their personal affairs and whether a visit should be scheduled with their servicing base legal office to ensure they are legally ready and prepared.”
He’s the one who wants to ride the bomb down as he gives out a hearty yahoo while waving his cowboy hat…
Indeed.
These elected officials and military are blinkered and on a track to perdition — our perdition, that is, the people of the United States (oh, and other countries as well). War is the first and most-loved response of scoundrels and those with a monetary interest. Our technology now makes war unviable and truly a threat to human existence. There need to be other ways. Negotiate. Negotiate. Make tough trade-offs. We are locked in a zero sum game now and need to change the rules. Every time a country looms and is difficult, the reptile brain responds: kill! kill! kill!
Good ol’ Dr. Strangelove seems to have limitless clones.
WTAF! Why? Taiwan? Give them weapons, give them support make the mainland buy that island dear but war?
What a despicable lot.
Assuming we make it to 2025.
Listening to some republican and democratic neighbors/operatives, it seems the US population has been primed for that outcome. The level of hate and racism against the Chinese is staggering. The republicans call the Chinese anti-Christian and communist. The democrats call them anti-democratic, authoritarian, pro-Russian, and anti-Taiwanese. Most seem happy to sacrifice their sons and daughters now–don’t even want to wait ’till 2025. It’s insane.
This US economy can not function without massive spending on arms and the Military. There is little or none Capitalistic profit to be had in feeding,housing,employing or educating our masses or providing free health care and a healthy enviornment.l The powers that be would rather blow the whole thing up instead of bfixing bthe preoblems.
“Bonkers” Bolton-type in uniform.
“In his memo, Minihan claimed because the US and Taiwan are both holding presidential elections in 2024, they will be distracted, giving China the opportunity to move on Taiwan.”
Ah yes, I remember in 2004 when we were in the process of destroying Iraq for the second time, we were almost overrun because of the distraction of a presidential election being held here in the states.
Yeah, we’ll all be so distracted by elections we won’t notice China invading Taiwan. And not to dis multi-engine pilots but it’s funny this guy is talking all firepower badass. He needs to stick to what he knows.
This guy is a head case transport pilot Rambo wanna be. Empty a clip into a 7 meter unrepentant lethality, General Ripper? Really? Going to parachute into Beijing with both guns blazing? The fact that this individual has four stars should keep everybody awake and in their basements at night.
This guy is four star? What happened to real…
And China cannot read, just wait for our Rambo.
It was always all about China – good that they supplied via cheap labor all these electronic gadgets for us but now it is getting too big for it’s boots – a potent rival.
Agitate a war with Russia via Ukraine and bog them down but lets us keep poking China via arming close rivals like Japan. China must be knocked down as the USA oligarchs will have no rivals, even if millions die.
There is a problem with the math. The way I see it — both Japan and South Korea are arming themselves increasing their domestic production capabilities , domesticating technologies. They do not count on US defending them. This is the outside take on this. But more sophisticated take is — less reliance on US wouldvprovide more space for indicvidually honing their relationship with China and Russia.
There is a major push in developing a domestic defense industry.
US and Russia for decades had different approach to sharing military technology.
Long time ago Russia and India developed cooproductiin models. Scientific cooperation, branding of new models, shared use. That similar model is in place between Russia and Turkey, Russia and China, Russia-Egypt, Russia-Venezuela, Rusdia-UAE, etc.
American model was mostly based on parts production but no licencing nor intelectual rights. Even use of US equipment like Patriot is limited to authorized crews. US moodel is based on sales of American military technoligy with training and maintenance contracts built in.
Even South Korea has a missile defence technology based on Russian S-300.
Much is public information — not news here.
But what is clear – there is now a dillema. Russia has now access to new sources of weapons production in various countries. For US allies — either they have already an existing capacities to produce and market their military technology, or they buy from US. France in particular has been sucessful marketing its military technology. Many others — UK included — are lagging in production.
The weaknesses of military productiin in UK and Germany for example, can only be remedied short term by American technology. But that us Europe. In Asia, I see a decided move to self-sufficiency.
You are more an expert on this than I.
Whilst Japan may not need US to defend them, I think the US is goading Japan to to join it in aggressive stances towards China. Such as granting them more basis
https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/japan-starts-building-new-air-base-for-us-jets
The US is constantly harrying China
https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/08/20/surrounded-how-the-u-s-is-encircling-china-with-military-bases/
I do think the ‘prize’ is an all out war with China and the Russia trap in Ukraine is a step along the way.
Can not understand the anti-China stance of US citizens they are brainwashed by the media – look at the balloon hysteria. A prelude to war is always to demonize the enemy in public opinion.
Really like your posts.
“Air Force General Predicts the US Will Be at War With China in 2025 Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) thinks the prediction is right”
America has depleted warehouses of 155 mm artillery shells along with other munitions sending arms to Ukraine. What will the US fight with?
A seven meter target? Are they trying to hit the side of a barn?