ICBM Silos Under Construction in Yumen, China
are consuming precious attention as well as signifi cant stockages of 155mm artillery ammunition, Javelin anti- tank missiles, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) rockets, and air defense missiles such as the short-range Stinger and longer-range Patriot.
There is an industrial base crisis
as the Pentagon attempts to spin up higher rates of production (or in the Stinger’s case, restart a cold produc- tion line that has been dormant for 18 years) to provide for Ukraine while ensuring higher levels are available for looming Pacifi c confl ict. The Chinese Navy is also surpass-
ing the U.S. Navy in size. We have just under 290 combat ships worldwide, while China has surpassed 300.
HYPERSONIC MISSILES The Russian Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missile can travel 3,500 mph. From time of launch inside Russia, it can hit a target in Ukraine in a few minutes. These missiles are very hard to
take down. Russia has used them in wave attacks alongside Kalibr cruise missiles accompanied by dozens of Iranian-made suicide drones. The Kinzhals, although few in
number, have been devastating, so much so that the Ukrainians staged a successful, daring drone raid deep inside Belarus to destroy their launch site. The Chinese have deployed their
own hypersonic missile, and in 2021 announced a shocking test where one orbited the Earth, surprising U.S. intelligence. Although the U.S. pioneered hypersonic missiles and is currently in advanced states of research and development, there’s not yet a wide- ly deployed American equivalent.
UNDERSEA GAME CHANGERS Another area in which the Russians have shown creativity and have not been challenged with an equivalent is their Poseidon underwater, nuclear-
powered, nuclear-armed torpedo. The Poseidon appears to be a super-
sized torpedo (80 feet long and weigh- ing 100 tons) acting as an underwa- ter intercontinental nuclear missile. Potentially four Russian submarines can each carry up to six of these. There is considerable mystery surrounding these weapons, but the possibility for the Russians to drive one into a major harbor or detonate them just off shore with a large mega- ton-sized warhead to create a tsu- nami is worrying, especially when America has no similar weapon.
CHINA’S CONVENTIONAL BUILDUP For years, the U.S. military and intel- ligence agencies dismissed a Chinese nuclear and conventional threat with the mantra that they were simply eco- nomic competitors. But now, the malign intent of
China is clear to all. With the rapid buildup of missile
silos, hypersonic missiles, bombers, and submarine-launched missiles, the former head of the U.S. Strategic Command said two years ago that shortly, “We will be the ones deterred” by the Chinese nuclear buildup. With a larger Navy, China is now actively exercising amphibious war-
fare and has established a disturb- ing footprint in the Solomon Islands, behind the second island chain that includes U.S. territories Guam, Tin- ian, and Saipan. Xi has told his military to be pre-
pared to invade Taiwan by 2027. Japan will clearly fi ght to defend
Taiwan, which together will bring America into the fray.
QUICK ACTIONS REQUIRED Gen. Mike Minihan, head of the Air Mobility Command, has warned con- fl ict could come as soon as 2025. The American public has not
focused on the need for a rapid mili- tary buildup to deter the Chinese ini- tiation of worldwide confl ict. The Biden team can rapidly issue
guidance to start adding additional warheads to Minuteman and Tri- dent missiles, pulling B-52s out of the boneyard, hyper-accelerating the four new nuclear programs, and reissuing nuclear Tomahawks to the Navy. Time is short if we are to deter and prevent 1939 from happening again.
Retired Col. John Mills is the author of The Nation Will Follow. He is the former director of cybersecurity policy, strategy, and international aff airs at the Department of Defense.
MAY 2023 | NEWSMAX 53
COURTESY PLANET LABS INC./CENTER FOR NONPROLIFERATION STUDIES
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