Panic in Australia as China's Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group has travelled past the Philippines Sea and maybe heading for the Sulu and Celebes Sea (Indonesia) before entering Northern Australia's EEZ!

I hope this time the Chinese Navy's Liaoning will conduct aircraft takeoff and landing sorties in the Tasman Sea - so that the Aussies and Kiwis can spend the winter months talking about it and bitching about it. I quote {

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's aircraft carrier Liaoning reportedly moved into the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines, with a US media outlet claiming it marks the furthest distance the Chinese carrier has sailed in the Western Pacific on deployment. A Chinese military affairs expert said on Tuesday that the Liaoning's training is routine and such long-distance voyages are expected to become increasingly regular.

Following operations from May 25 to 26, multiple PLA Navy warships including the aircraft carrier Liaoning continued to sail in the Pacific Ocean from about 340 kilometers to the south of Miyako Island to about 1,030 kilometers to the southeast of Miyako Island from May 27 to 29, according to a press release from Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff on Monday.

From May 25 to 29, the aircraft carrier Liaoning conducted about 260 aircraft takeoff and landing sorties, the Japanese release said, noting that the PLA Navy carrier group then sailed further south into the Pacific Ocean on May 30.

Citing a map attached to the Japanese release showing the locations of Chinese warships over several days, USNI News, the news website of the US Naval Institute, noted that the Liaoning's position on May 30 is to the east of the Philippines and west of Guam.
}

globaltimes.cn/page/202506/13…

After the Indian Military admitted to Bloomberg in Singapore that their fighter jets were shot down by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) due to “tactical mistakes”, it is worthwhile to revisit what were the techniques used by the Pakistan Air Force in what was called the first BVR (beyond visual range) and multi-domain aerial battle involving over 140 modern fighter jets, where 5 IAF fighter jets were shot down in 1 hour!

On 7 May 2025 the Indian pilots were basically ambushed by the PAF and they thought that if they stay at least 50 km away from the Pakistan border when they shoot their air to ground missiles at the targets in Pakistan, they will be safe. They didn't realize that the J-10C were operating silently without turning their radar or communication on. The PAF AWAC has a radar range of 500 km and was directing the whole aerial battle based on radar and sensor information being transmitted by satellites and ground radars. The PAF fighter jets after getting into position and receiving the target info from the AWAC they shot PL-15 missiles with radar off and then fall back and protected themselves using EW deception. The PL-15 flew quietly to the target area guided by the AWAC and only turned on its AESA radar within 30 km of the target and lock onto the target, then 2nd pulse engine kicked in and the missile speeded up to Mach 5, by then it is too late for the Indian pilot to react as the missile will hit the plane in 20 sec! See what happened when the PL-15 missile gets into 30 km of the target and turn on its AESA radar and lock onto the target, (watch from 8 sec onwards in the video below) its 2nd Phase engine will start and it will speed up to Mach 5 and will hit the target within 20 secs - giving the Indian pilot very little time to react. As the Rafale's Spectra EW system was not trained to deal with PL-15, it had little or no time to come up with countermeasures to jam the radar of the PL-15.

None of the country that are most vocal of supporting human rights in Myanmar when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was the State Counsellor is sending rescue and medical teams to Myanmar in its hours of need.

To date only the Chinese, Singaporean, Russian and Indian rescue and medical teams have landed at Myanmar airport within 48 hours of the quake.

Who are the hypocrites?

1) USA - Trump claimed the US will send money. But when will it arrive? Under Biden Admin we were told the the Myanmar's National Unity Government based in Washington is the only legitimate government of Myanmar after the imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi.
2) UK - King Charles send his condolescences from his hospital bed. While the UK Red Cross looks to profit from donation again by setting up a Myanmar earthquake donation page.
3) Australia - FM Penny Wong send condolences and promise A$2 mil donation. That is all! Australia was the greatest supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi and even provided her with an Australian advisor Sean Turrell!
4) Canada - No info so far as the Canadian govt is deep in a war of tariffs with the US and Myanmar is not on its mind. After Trump cut funding to USAID, NED and USIP - the whole US regime change shadow network in Thailand and Myanmar has collapsed.

Australian Navy shitting in their pants as 3 Chinese warships conducted "live" firing in Tasman Sea between Australia and NZ. Commercial flights have been warned to avoid the area.

Australia has only 1 functioning Collin submarine after they cancelled the French Barracuda submarines for 12 AUKUS nuclear submarines which the US can deliver after 2040s. theguardian.com/australia-news…

How several US drone companies that are supplying military drones to Taiwan are facing serious manufacturing problems as China put them under sanction.

The recent sanctions imposed by China on U.S. defense firms, particularly those supplying weapons and drones to Taiwan, are likely to have significant impacts on their manufacturing operations. Here are the key effects:

‌‌‌ 1. ‌‌Asset Freezing and Financial Impact‌‌
- ‌‌Frozen Assets‌‌: The sanctions include freezing the assets of affected companies within China, which can disrupt their financial operations and limit their ability to invest or operate in one of the world's largest markets[1][3]. This could lead to a reassessment of business strategies for companies that have been relying on Chinese markets for revenue or supply chain components.

- List of US defense firms with assets frozen in China for supplying weapons to Taiwan over the last 3 years:
· ‌‌Sierra Nevada Corporation‌‌
· ‌‌Stick Rudder Enterprises LLC‌‌
· ‌‌Cubic Corporation‌‌
· ‌‌S3 AeroDefense‌‌
· ‌‌TCOM Limited Partnership‌‌
· ‌‌TextOre‌‌
· ‌‌Planate Management Group‌‌
· ‌‌ACT1 Federal‌‌
· ‌‌Exovera‌‌
· ‌‌General Atomics Aeronautical Systems‌‌
· ‌‌General Dynamics Land Systems‌‌
· ‌‌Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control‌‌
· ‌‌Lockheed Martin Aeronautics‌‌
· ‌‌Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture‌‌
· ‌‌Raytheon Missile Systems‌‌
· ‌‌General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems‌‌
· ‌‌General Dynamics Information Technology‌‌
· ‌‌General Dynamics Mission Systems‌‌
· Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc
· Skydio Inc (drones)
· AeroVironment (drones)
· Edge Autonomy Operations LLC, (drones)

‌‌‌ 2. ‌‌Operational Limitations‌‌
- ‌‌Banned Transactions‌‌: All interactions with individuals or organizations based in China are prohibited. This restriction will hinder collaboration with Chinese suppliers, potentially affecting the procurement of critical components necessary for manufacturing military equipment and drones[1][4]. Companies like General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin, which may have operations or partnerships in China, will need to find alternative sources or face production delays as it what is happening now with US nuclear Columbia-class and Virginial-class submarines or the F-35 Lightning II.
- Small drone players like Skydio, AeroVironment and Edge Autonomy Operations that were unlucky enough to be asked by the US defense department to supply drones to Taiwan may have their production severely affected as most of their key drone components are from China. See thread below.

‌‌‌ 3. ‌‌Supply Chain Disruptions‌‌
- ‌‌Disruption in Supply Chains‌‌: Many U.S. defense firms rely on a global supply chain that includes Chinese manufacturers for various components. The sanctions could force these companies to seek new suppliers, which may not only be more expensive but also less reliable, leading to potential delays in production[2][5].

‌‌‌ 4. ‌‌Increased Costs‌‌
- ‌‌Higher Manufacturing Costs‌‌: The need to shift supply chains away from China could result in increased costs for U.S. defense firms. Finding new suppliers or reshoring production may involve significant investment and time, impacting overall profitability and pricing strategies[6].

‌‌‌ 5. ‌‌Strategic Reassessment‌‌
- ‌‌Long-term Strategic Changes‌‌: Companies may need to reassess their long-term strategies with regards to Chinese components if they still want to supply weapons for Taiwan as Taiwan is a very small buyer of weapons and the global supply chain for most electronics and drone components are centered in China. This could lead to a more cautious approach in future dealings with Taiwan , particularly concerning defense-related products[4][5].

‌‌‌ 6. ‌‌Impact on Innovation and Development‌‌
- ‌‌Reduced Access to Technology‌‌: Sanctions may limit access to advanced technologies that are often sourced from international partnerships, potentially stifling innovation within U.S. defense firms as they adapt to new operational realities without Chinese collaboration or contractors. For small defense contractors in the drone industry this could be a critical problem as 80% of the components for drones are manufactured in China. [3][6].

‌‌‌ Conclusion
In summary, the sanctions imposed by China on U.S. defense firms due to arms sales to Taiwan are set to create substantial challenges for these companies, affecting their financial stability, operational capabilities, and strategic planning in the global defense market. The long-term implications could reshape how these firms approach international partnerships and supply chain management moving forward.

Citations:
[1] aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/18…
[2] defensenews.com/industry/2024/…
[3] channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/chin…
[4] apnews.com/article/china-…
[5] bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
[6] chinadailyhk.com/hk/article/583…
[7] scmp.com/news/china/dip…
[8] us.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zgyw/20240…
[9] regtechtimes.com/skydio-faces-s…
[10] news.usni.org/2024/10/23/gd-… See how the so called "independent" drone manufacturers that are using locally branded parts are actually still buying the key components for high-end drones from China

https://x.com/Ignis_Rex/status/1824249074046079321

Madame Grey was originally from the UK. After grounding the NZ Navy Supply ship on a reef in broad daylight when there were no storm or fog, she decided to abandon ship!

Was the NZ Navy ship laying underwater spying equipment for the CIA when it hit the reef in Samoa?

Imagine this woman is going to get a bravery award from the NZ government for bungling an underwater spy equipment installation mission and for sinking only the newest supply ship of NZ Navy that represents 16% of the gross tonnage of the NZ Navy!

stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350442… Madame Grey was very far away from NZ, 3,200 km away in the waters of Samoa. There were CIA personnel on that ship and they were probably laying underwater spying equipment - that is why she was probably ordered to destroy the ship and it's spy equipment, in case it creates a diplomatic incident with Samoa and the rest of the Pacific island nations as these people don't trust white people.

I am sorry I misled you, the news on 26/9/2024 by the WSJ that a Chinese nuclear submarine has sunk at a river port in Wuhan is not to flood the news to drown out China’s successful ICBM test on 25/9/2024. Yes, the news about the sunken nuclear sub is fake.[1]

The actual intent of the WSJ fake news was to drown out the fact that US nuclear submarines that were built for the last 20 years at US Navy shipbuilding port at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia all have faulty welds and are not seaworthy! See US Housing Armed Services Committee Report of 27/9/2024. [2][3]

The main causes of the poor welding is the lack of skilled marine welders and poor-quality control.

The US Navy vessels affected are:

‌‌1. Submarines‌‌
1. ‌‌Virginia-class nuclear submarines‌‌ (multiple units):
I. ‌‌USS Virginia (SSN-774)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2004.
II. ‌‌USS Texas (SSN-775)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2006.
III. ‌‌USS New Hampshire (SSN-778)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2008.
IV. ‌‌USS New Mexico (SSN-779)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2010.
V. ‌‌USS California (SSN-781)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2011.
VI. ‌‌USS Mississippi (SSN-782)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2012.
VII. ‌‌USS Minnesota (SSN-783)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2013.
VIII. ‌‌USS North Dakota (SSN-784)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2014.
IX. ‌‌USS John Warner (SSN-785)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2015.
X. ‌‌USS Illinois (SSN-786)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2016.
XI. ‌‌USS Washington (SSN-787)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2017.
XII. ‌‌USS Colorado (SSN-788)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2018.
XIII. ‌‌USS Delaware (SSN-791)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2020.

‌‌‌2. ‌‌Aircraft Carriers‌‌
I. USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2003.
II. USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2009.
III. ‌‌USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)‌‌ - Commissioned in 2017.
IV. USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79)‌‌ - Currently under construction, expected to be delivered in the near future.
V. USS Enterprise (CVN-80)‌‌ - Currently under construction.

3. ‌‌Other Naval Vessels Built at Newport News Shipbuilding‌‌
I. USS America (LHA-6)‌‌ - An amphibious assault ship, delivered in April 2014 and commissioned on October 11, 2014.
II. ‌‌USS Tripoli (LHA-7)‌‌ - The second ship in the America-class, delivered on February 28, 2020.
III. USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28)‌‌ - A San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, delivered in March 2022.

Citations:
[1]
[2]
[3] HASC Investigates Reports of Faulty Welds Knowingly Made to U.S. Navy Vesselswsj.com/world/china/ch…
news.usni.org/2024/09/27/law…
democrats-armedservices.house.gov/press-releases… What is the implication for the US Navy in terms of battle readiness for the fabled 2027 “mother of all battle” with China?

‌‌ ‌‌1. Structural Integrity and Reliability‌‌
- ‌‌Compromised Safety‌‌: Faulty welds can lead to structural failures, which may endanger the lives of sailors and the operational capability of vessels. This could result in ships being deemed unfit for combat or requiring extensive repairs, thereby reducing the number of operational units available during a conflict.
- ‌‌Increased Maintenance Needs‌‌: Ships affected by welding defects may require more frequent inspections and repairs, consuming valuable time and resources that could otherwise be allocated to training and operational readiness.

‌‌ ‌‌2. Operational Readiness‌‌
- ‌‌Reduced Fleet Availability‌‌: If multiple vessels are sidelined due to repairs stemming from welding issues, the Navy's ability to deploy forces rapidly in response to a crisis diminishes. This is critical given the timeline set by Chinese leadership for potential military action against Taiwan.
- ‌‌Delayed Modernization Efforts‌‌: The focus on rectifying welding problems may divert attention and funding from modernization initiatives aimed at enhancing naval capabilities, such as integrating advanced technologies and improving overall fleet readiness.

‌‌ ‌‌3. Strategic Implications‌‌
- ‌‌Loss of Deterrence‌‌: A diminished naval presence or reduced operational capability can embolden adversaries like China, potentially altering their strategic calculations regarding confidence of US allies in the ability of the US Navy to defend them.
- ‌‌Impact on Joint Operations‌‌ with NATO: The Navy's ability to operate effectively as part of a joint force with other military branches could be compromised if key naval assets are unavailable due to maintenance issues, thereby affecting overall U.S. military strategy.
- Unable to fight more than one naval battle at a time: The US Navy was supposedly designed to fight at least 2 naval battles with 2 peer competitors in Europe, Middle East or East Asia at the same time. It will be an impossible task now given the poor operational readiness of the US Navy due to its welding problems.
- Unable to deliver AUKUS submarines: Until the welding problems are resolved and enough qualified marine welders can be trained and all safety checks and remedies on existing US nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers have been completed - no work on AUKUS submarine can start.

‌‌ ‌‌4. Training and Personnel Challenges‌‌
- ‌‌Crew Readiness‌‌: Faulty welds leading to prolonged repairs could result in sailors not gaining necessary combat experience or training, impacting their preparedness for high-stakes operations.
- ‌‌Recruitment and Retention Issues‌‌: If the Navy struggles with maintaining a capable fleet due to structural issues, it may face challenges in recruiting and retaining personnel who seek to serve on reliable and modern vessels.

5. Technological advantage is lost
- Advanced stealth technology on submarines is useless if the submarine is leaking and making a lot of sound underwater. Moreover, the crew will have no confidence in the ability of the submarines to stay hidden from the enemy.
- Submarines, aircraft carriers and amphibious ships with poor welding may sink quickly due to structural integrity if hit by missiles, torpedoes or mines in actual battle. No amount of advanced anti-ballistic or anti-air defences or super AESA radars on the ships can guarantee that it will not be hit by missiles, torpedoes or mines.

In summary, faulty welding can undermine the U.S. Navy's war readiness by compromising ship safety, reducing fleet availability, delaying modernization efforts, affecting strategic deterrence, and challenging crew training and personnel management—all critical factors in preparing for the planned conflicts with China by 2027.

Citations:
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8] scmp.com/news/world/uni…
asiatimes.com/2024/09/projec…
janes.com/osint-insights…

businessinsider.com/us-navy-possib…
taproot.com/generic-cause-…
indiandefencereview.com/the-u-s-navy-u…
military.com/daily-news/202…

The US has 0% of the world new shipbuilding order in 2023! How can the US Navy compete with China in the long term?

Latest Shipbuilding research data. Market Share of New Commercial Ships being Build in 2023:

China 53%
S Korea 28%
Japan 11%
US 0%

The US has zero capacity to compete with China when it comes to building warships, submarines or all kinds of unmanned surface vessels or unmanned underwater vessels.

As S Korean shipyards are within 500 km of N China and Japanese shipyards are within 1,500 km - they are all within range of Chinese missiles in time of a war so it is not a good idea for the US Navy to use S Korean or Japanese shipyards to build or repair warships for the US in S Korea or Japan itself.

As shipbuilding industry requires a big pool of skilled labours such as :

1. Welders and fabricators: These workers are essential for constructing and repairing ship hulls and structures.
2. Marine engineers: They design and oversee the installation of ship systems, ensuring they meet safety and performance standards.
3. Electricians: Skilled electricians handle the complex wiring and electrical systems that power ships.
4. Painters: Specialized painters are needed for applying protective coatings to ship surfaces.
5. Pipefitters: These workers install and maintain piping systems throughout the vessel.
6. Machinists: Skilled machinists are required for manufacturing and repairing various ship components.
7. Naval architects: These professionals design the overall structure and systems of ships.

It is not possible for the US to just say they want to invest in and build up a shipbuilding industry without first training at least 1 generation of the above skilled labour over a 20 year period.

The other alternative is to ask S Korean and Japanese shipbuilders to open shipyards in the US - but the question of getting skilled labour in the US market is still something that cannot easily be resolved as it is the greatest limiting factor in shipbuilding as it is a scarce resource that is build up by countries
over generations.
Watch this video "one shipyard on an island in Shanghai has more shipbuilding capacity than the US!"

China announced Operation Sharp Sword 2024a - a 2 day military exercise encircling Taiwan. This is 3 days after separatist President Lai was inaugurated after being congratulated by US Sec of State Blinken - the US Navy immediately withdrew its aircraft carriers from West Asia to avoid confronting the Chinese Navy.

As based on letter from 13 Congressmen to the US Sec of Navy and Air Force on 8 May 2024 claimed that 90% of US fighter jets will be destroyed by Chinese missiles if there is a war in the West Pacific as most are not protected by hardened shelters. See letter in the thread below for link to my earlier post, one of the signatories of the letter is Senator Marco Rubio.

Key points to note:
- The military exercise is for 2 days – 23rd and 24th May 2024.
- The purpose is to protect Taiwanese from separatist forces and not targeted at the average Taiwan people.
- China has satellites permanently over Taiwan and has logged in the location of all military installations whether above or below ground. Chinese precision weapons are guided by Beidou GPS and are accurate to within 10 cm and only military targets will be hit. So as long as all Taiwanese stay at home in the event of a war there will be no civilian casualty.
- The exercise is called Sharp Sword 2024a. That means that there could be a b,c,d… military exercises to follow. So, under the leadership of President Lai – Sharp Sword Military Exercises will be a regular affair.
- The PLA listed the weapons it is using during these exercises and I include pictures of the weapons and its purpose and lethality in English for your reference. - The individual picture itself comes with original Chinese language explanations of what is the purpose and lethality of the weapons so the separatist forces know exactly what the weapon is capable of.
- The map provided by the PLA of the exercise is more complete as now the area enclosed in green line marked:

A – shows that all the outer islands are now encapsulated by the military exercise unlike the exercise after the Pelosi’s visit. US military has been bragging on social media that they have placed US army trainers in the outer islands to train Taiwanese to attack the Chinese mainland as part of their Ukrainization plan for Taiwan. That means that the outer islands near China may all be removed from Taiwanese’s control after this exercise. My understanding is the President Lai has asked all these American soldiers to disguise as women and to leave the islands quietly by whatever means possible so as not to be arrested by the PLA.

B – the military exercise area is close to the Taiwan Naval Port at Su’Ao in the North East coastal area. This is also the route that President Lai and his lieutenants have to travel by if they want to escape by helicopters to the Japanese islands of Okinawa.

C – The military exercise area is near Hualien in the South East coastal area – where Taiwan Army’s hardened underground Command & Control Centre is and strategic warehouse is located as well as the Chiashan Air Force Base.

Major ports of Keelung (in the North) and Kaohsiung (in the South) have also been encircled. Why is the US Navy so afraid of China? On 13 Congressmen dated 8 May 2024 to US Sec of Navy and Air Force claiming based on their own intel 90% of US fighter jets in the Western Pacific will be destroyed within hours of a US – China conflicts as planes are not protected by hardened shelter! See copy of letter in my earlier post below, one of the signatories of the letter is Senator Marco Rubio:

https://x.com/Ignis_Rex/status/1791035870210085350

US Congressmen: 90% of US fighter jets in the Western Pacific will be destroyed within hours of a US-China conflicts by missiles. The military bases being mentioned are those in Japan, S Korea, Guam and Northern Marianas.

The Congressmen got wind that China has satellites above the West Pacific and is able to record and observe every military installation, troop movements and logistics in and out of every US bases. With Beidou GPS system - Chinese missiles can hit any target on the ground with an accuracy of within 10 cm.

I managed to get a copy of the letter sent by 13 US Congressmen to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Navy dated 8 May 2024.

U.S. military bases in the Indo-Pacific region face a critical vulnerability: a severe lack of ‌‌hardened aircraft shelters‌‌. These shelters, reinforced hangars designed to protect military aircraft, are sorely lacking, leaving bases susceptible to devastating airstrikes in a potential conflict with China.

Recent war games have shown that the U.S. would lose ‌‌90% of its aircraft on the ground‌‌, rather than in air combat, due to insufficient base protection.

Here are some key points:

1. ‌‌China's Threat‌‌: With its current strike capabilities, China can target all U.S. bases in the Indo-Pacific, including those in Okinawa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Unclassified analysis suggests that China has enough weapons to overwhelm U.S. air and missile defenses protecting these bases.

2. ‌‌Impact of Strikes‌‌: Strikes on U.S. bases could immobilize vital air assets, disrupt logistical chains, and significantly weaken the ability to respond in a conflict.

3. ‌‌Passive Defenses‌‌: Passive defenses, such as ‌‌hardened aircraft shelters‌‌ and dispersal of forces, offer a cost-effective way to strengthen bases and improve their resilience¹.

4. ‌‌Current Vulnerability‌‌: Many U.S. bases in the Indo-Pacific lack hardened structures, making critical air assets highly vulnerable to Chinese strikes. In recent war games, 90% of U.S. aircraft losses occurred on the ground¹.

5. ‌‌Complementing Active Defenses‌‌: While active defenses (such as air and missile defense systems) are important, their high cost and limited numbers mean they cannot fully protect all bases. Investing in passive defenses is crucial.

6. ‌‌Hardened Aircraft Shelters‌‌: These shelters provide significantly more protection against submunitions than expedient shelters. China has built over 400 of them in the past decade, while the U.S. has constructed only 22 in Japan and South Korea. There are no such shelters in the Northern Mariana Islands or Guam, a critical U.S. power projection point in the Indo-Pacific.

7. ‌‌Budget Priorities‌‌: The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has identified $11 billion in priorities that remain "unfunded" under the President's Budget Request for FY25. This includes $3.3 billion in military construction. The lack of funding reflects a serious oversight in strengthening bases closest to China, leaving them vulnerable to Chinese strikes.

8. ‌‌Resilience and Deterrence‌‌: If bases in the Indo-Pacific lack the resilience to survive attacks and continue operating, it significantly diminishes the ability to deter China and respond swiftly in the Taiwan Strait.

9. ‌‌Urgency Needed‌‌: The slow pace of construction is deeply troubling. Urgent changes are necessary to enhance base resilience and protect U.S. air assets.

See jpeg copy of the 7 pages letter from the Congressmen.

China is now the most influential superpower in ASEAN – overtaking the US due to US's support for the Gaza Genocide and selective use of Rules-based International Order. According to The State of Southeast Asia 2024 Survey Report is published by the ASEAN Studies Centre at ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute. The research field work was conducted from 3 Jan to 23 Feb 2024 over a 7-week period. A total of 1,994 Southeast Asians was interviewed.

The US's support for Israel in the Gaza Genocide by supplying weapons and ammos and by vetoing several UN Resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire has caused the US dearly as ASEAN is a region with a large Muslim population with Muslim countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei totally incensed by US behavior.

Moreover - the US selective application of Rules-based International Order has also caused it to lose credibility about its ability to lead the new world order.

I quote from research “China has edged past the US to become the prevailing choice (50.5%) if the region were forced to align itself in the on-going US-China rivalry. The US as a choice dropped from 61.1% in the previous year to 49.5%. Close to half of the respondents (46.8%) believe that ASEAN should enhance its resilience and unity to fend off pressures from the two major powers". I quote from research “China continues to be seen as the most influential economic (59.5%) and political-strategic (43.9%) power in the region, outpacing the US by significant margins in both domains. Among ASEAN’s eleven Dialogue Partners, China (mean score of 8.98 out of 11.0) tops the charts in terms of strategic relevance to ASEAN, followed by the US (8.79), and Japan (7.48). The partners of least strategic relevance are: India (5.04), Canada (3.81) and New Zealand (3.70).”