The head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command told lawmakers this week that the United States is losing its lead over the Chinese military, as the People’s Republic of China faces weakening international deterrence.
Witnessing to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, Admiral Philip Davidson, head of the Indo-Pacific command, warned of a growing “imbalance” in the region caused by China’s rapid military advance.
“The military balance in the Indo-Pacific is becoming more unfavorable for the United States and our allies,” said Davidson. “With this imbalance, we are accumulating risks that could encourage China to unilaterally change the status quo before our forces can respond effectively.”
China announced last week that it will increase its defense budget by 6.8% in 2022, allocating $ 208.6 billion in its defense budget – a move that has worried US defense officials and lawmakers.
Davidson said that by 2025, China will be able to install three aircraft carriers and expressed concern about the imminent threat that China’s aggressive behavior poses to Taiwan.
“I cannot understand some of the capabilities they are putting on the pitch, unless it is an aggressive stance,” he said, adding that he fears that China may invade Taiwan in the next six years.
China has condemned international objections to its aggressive behavior against Taiwan, keeping the island as its territory under the “Single China Principle”, although Taiwan and the United States consider the nation independent from mainland China.
“In exploring the Taiwan issue to exaggerate China’s military threat, some people in the United States are actually looking for excuses to justify increased US military spending, expanding their military power and interfering in regional affairs,” Chinese voice Zhao Lijian said in response to Davidson’s testimony on Wednesday. “The United States should abandon the Cold War zero-sum mentality, view China’s development and the development of national defense in an objective and rational way.”
But Davidson pointed to the concerns of the Cold War era and warned that China is rapidly building up its nuclear stocks, telling lawmakers that if China remains uncontrolled in its nuclear development, they could exceed US stocks by 2030.
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“If they triple or quadruple their stock, [China] there could be a nuclear overrun against the US before the end of this decade. Is that correct? “Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Asked the admiral.” If they quadrupled their stock, yes, sir, “said Davidson.
Davidson did not say how many nuclear weapons China or the U.S. currently has, but data from the Arms Control Association lists the U.S. with 5,800 nuclear warheads in August 2020, although only 3,800 of them are active, while China maintains 320 warheads.
Under the New Beginning Treaty that the United States signed with China, the United States is allowed to deploy 1,550 nuclear warheads on 800 strategic launchers at once – a number that would still exceed China’s quadrupled nuclear capabilities.
In response to China’s increasing aggression in the South China Sea, including the development of artificial islands in disputed waters, the US has increased its naval presence and launched the freedom of navigation operations (FONOP) to keep international waters open.
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Lawmakers asked President Biden to increase the US defense budget by three to five percent to offset inflation and keep up with rising international demands.
Congress approved a defense spending budget of $ 694.6 billion for fiscal year 2021 – more than three times the budget China has set aside for next year’s military spending.