Trump’s choice for top general says US not ready to battle China

(MENAFN) Retired Lieutenant General John Caine, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, stating that the US military is unprepared for a prolonged conflict with China. Caine emphasized that the growing rivalry with China in the Indo-Pacific is a critical issue for the US but warned that the defense industrial base and acquisition processes are inadequate for such a scenario.

He noted that while China has significantly advanced its military capabilities, including the world’s largest navy, it still faces deficiencies in areas such as command proficiency and modern warfare experience. Caine also downplayed the idea of a formal alliance between China, Russia, and North Korea, arguing that they are not acting as a cohesive bloc similar to NATO. Tensions between the US and China are particularly high over Taiwan, with Beijing warning that Washington's efforts to suppress China could harm the US in the long run.

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