Amid growing concerns about China’s preparation for an invasion of Taiwan, a US Navy admiral, Samuel Paparo, has warned the US won’t be able to protect the contested island for much longer
The US may no longer have the ability to protect Taiwan from China should a war break out over the contested island in the South China Sea. It comes amid rumours that Beijing may be close to plotting a full-scale invasion of the island, which it claims is Chinese territory, after reports of its military amassing warships and submarines. Top US Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo, who commands the Indo-Pacific Command, says the US’ current dominance could be shortlived.
He said the US would best China if a war broke out now, but that wouldn’t always be the case and it could soon lose its advantage. The Financial Times cited him saying: “The United States will prevail in the conflict as it stands now, with the force that we have right now.”
“Our trajectory on . . . really every force element that is salient is a bad trajectory,” he warned colleagues at the McCain Institute’s Sedona Forum on Friday in Arizona.
Over recent years, China has dramatically increased its defence spending, splashing out huge amounts on warships and submarines. However, the US, the country spending the most money on defence each year by a huge majority, appears as though it can’t keep up.
For the 1.8 warships built by the US in a 12-month period, China is able to knock out six. Beijing can also produce two submarines for America’s 1.4.
It comes after another top US general voiced his concerns about the increasingly “aggressive” military drills that China has been holding to simulate a blockade of Taiwan. He noted that these exercises have often left him and fellow senior military leaders ‘speechless’.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, General Ronald P Clark, the newly appointed Commanding General of US Army Pacific, highlighted that the frequency of these war games has escalated tensions in the South China Sea region.
Since 2022, such manoeuvers by China have become a routine affair, and the presence of Chinese fighter jets, naval ships, coast guard vessels, and drones is now a near-daily occurrence around Taiwan.
The threat of invasion looms larger than ever with China considering Taiwan part of its domain, despite Taiwan’s self-perception as independent.
In his interview, General Clark expressed amazement at the audacity of these moves, admitting, “These are extraordinary times,” and acknowledging that the actions of China’s military sometimes “really leave you speechless at times.”, reports the Express US.
He added that the thought of China attempting such bold operations was unbelievable five years ago, but today it is a new normal, stating, “now it’s commonplace that the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) would make a move like that”.