https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2022/08/defense-diversity-and-china-threat-william-kilpatrick/
The FBI raid on Donald Trump’s estate has temporarily pushed the China threat out of the headlines. But, of course, the threat is still there and so is the question of how to respond to it.
Teddy Roosevelt said that when dealing with hostile foreign powers one should “speak softly and carry a big stick.” In other words, don’t provoke your enemies, but let them know that you possess sufficient fire power and personnel to handle any situation that may arise.
Roosevelt decidedly did not say, “shout loudly and carry a small twig.” But there is a danger that some people, both in and out of government, may fall into the trap of thinking that tough talk by itself is a sufficient response.
Of course, I exaggerate when I use the term “a small twig.” The U.S. still possesses a formidable military. But there is evidence that, in comparison to China, it is no longer as formidable as it once was.
An article on missile defense systems in the March issue of National Defense outlines the problem. It points out that in 2020, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) began fielding hypersonic weapon systems “with a high level of maneuverability” that makes it difficult for traditional missiles to defend against them.
Moreover, the PLA strategy “focuses on using offensive strikes to gain a military advantage at the beginning of a conflict.” According to Timothy Walton, a fellow at the Hudson Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, “they [the PLA] talk about conducting preventative attacks…and preemptive attacks of various kinds.”