"It's disturbing how ill-informed & naive the average American is on China."
@USNavy Admiral publicly states #China is the "number one challenge" of the 21st century and represents the most dangerous trend in #geopolitics.
Eye-opening speech.
I cut the 60 mins down to 5 👇
Rear Admiral and Commander of Office of Naval Intelligence, Mike Studeman, delivered a chilling address on the threat posed by China.
"It's mind blowing how big the problem is. It's very unsettling to see how much the US is not connecting the dots on the challenge."
"The problem is so massive most people don't know how to have a framework for it. We need to have more conversations with the country to understand the problem."
The Adm. says it's a tougher problem than the US faced against the Soviet Union in the Cold War.
Let that sink in.
In contrast, China views the US differently.
"We are clearly the number one enemy. We are characterized as such. Most Chinese fully believe that in their minds."
Why?
"They think America is dangerous. They don't think democracies are efficient. They think they're ineffective."
"The China challenge could be the most nonpartisan issue that could unite the country in significant ways."
The Adm. makes a plea:
"Can we please lower the amount of internal bickering within the US and focus on the international challenges that actually affect every American?"
This is the single most important video of the year.
"We're going to find that we could very well lose the peace. We worry about winning the war, prevailing, but we can also lose the peace in the meantime."
The entire speech is worth watching and full of fascinating insights.
🚨 Update — U.S. force posture as Israel begins ground operation in Lebanon:
- Deploying an “additional few thousand” U.S. troops
- Sending more F-15E, F-16, F-22, & A-10 squadrons
- ABE CSG & WASP ARG remaining on station
- Truman CSG in the Atlantic en route
+ Increased readiness of additional U.S. forces to deploy
“DOD has taken steps to further enhance the defense posture of U.S. forces in the Middle East region to deter aggression & reduce the risk of a broader regional war.”
Source: Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh Holds an Off-Camera Press Briefing, 30 September 2024
CNO released the “Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy” & unveiled “Project 33”
Focuses on two strategic ends: 1) Readiness for the possibility of war with China by 2027, & 2) Enhancing long-term advantage
A few highlights from the 30-page doc:
“Our adversaries have designed their militaries to overcome our traditional sources of strength. We must move rapidly to stay ahead and continuously create warfighting advantages... We will put more players on the field—platforms that are ready with the right capabilities, weapons and sustainment, and people who are ready with the right skills, tools, training, and mindset.” @USNavyCNO
Executing the Navigation Plan:
This Navigation Plan drives toward two strategic ends: readiness for the possibility of war with the People’s Republic of China by 2027 and enhancing the Navy’s long-term advantage. We will work towards these ends through two mutually reinforcing ways: implementing Project 33 and expanding the Navy’s contribution to the Joint warfighting ecosystem.
“If there's going to be a military conflict between the United States and China, the thinking in Washington goes, it will most likely happen if China tries to invade Taiwan. But lately tensions have escalated precariously in another part of the South China Sea-the waters off the western coast of the Philippines where an international tribunal ruled the Philippines has exclusive economic rights.”
- China & Russia launched large-scale military drills
- Unprecedented PLA air & naval activity around Taiwan
- PLA spy plane entered Japanese airspace (1st time since WW2)
- Philippines tracks 203 Chinese ships in the South China Sea (most ever recorded) 🧵
China & Russia began a series of joint exercises & patrols last week:
Last week, Russia launched exercise “Ocean 2024,” its largest naval drill of the post-Soviet era, alongside China in the Pacific
• 400+ warships, subs, & support vessels
• 120 aircraft & 125 UAVs
• 90,000+ troops
+ PLA Navy 4-ship surface action group & 15 aircraft
In addition to “Ocean 2024,” Russia is participating in China’s “Northern/Interaction-2024” exercise & both countries will conduct their 5th joint maritime patrol (the 2nd this year).
The large-scale military exercise will run until 16 September.
“Analysts say the joint naval and air drills are an effort by Russia and China to deepen military ties and counter increased security coordination between the United States and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Russia wants to demonstrate that they can engage in a full-scale war with Ukraine while deploying resources to the Indo-Pacific region and China wants to show that they can deepen its relationship with Russia and cause problems in the region, primarily in the South China Sea but also around Japan,” said Stephen Nagy, a regional security expert at the International Christian University in Japan.
- Roosevelt & Lincoln carrier strike groups ordered to remain in the Middle East
- Eisenhower, Truman, & Ford sailed together in a rare multi-carrier formation
- Washington underway en route to the Indo-Pacific
- Truman deploying “later this year”
Yesterday, the U.S. Secretary of Defense “ordered the presence of two Carrier Strike Groups to remain in the region.”
On 24 August, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), & USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) sailed in a “multi-carrier formation” & conducted an ordnance transfer in the Atlantic Ocean.