07-05-2025
US admiral issues warning about China's military escalation
By
China is hastily escalating preparations for a military attack on Taiwan, a top US commander has warned. Admiral Samuel Paparo, who heads up the US Indo-Pacific Command, said his forces had noticed a 'quick change' in the maneuvers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
Chinese forces have continued to hold naval drills around the island following a major 'live fire' drill last month, prompting fears of a full-scale assault on the territory. Admiral Paparo has now warned that Beijing 's military escalation shows they are ready to become a 'global force'.
It is understood that President Xi Jinping has requested the military be prepared for an invasion of Taiwan by 2027. In 2005 Beijing imposed an 'anti-secession' law, promising an annexation of Taiwan if it declares formal independence or is seen moving further away from mainland control.
Admiral Paparo suggested that recent Chinese drills were done in 'earnest' and represented the 'entire range of military operations, providing every option that they would want.' 'There are certain conditions where they might affect an invasion or some kind of coercive behavior before they believe they're fully ready,' he added.
The commander's warnings were echoed by General Ronald P Clark, the newly appointed Commanding General of US Army Pacific,, who said Beijing's action in the South China Sea had left him and fellow officers 'speechless'. 'These are extraordinary times,' he told the Wall Street Journal.
'To think that you could execute a mission like that over a contested space that's roughly 80 nautical miles - it would be a challenge. 'We just have to make sure that they understand that our efforts to deter that type of activity is exactly what we're willing to do.' The US has committed to defending Taiwan's sovereignty, with a Pentagon strategy document leaked in April stating that preventing 'a Chinese seizure of Taiwan' is Washington's most important military task.
Admiral Paparo also warned that China was expanding their military reach beyond the Taiwan Strait, as far as Australia and New Zealand. Ships seen circumnavigating Australia earlier this year were akin to the military 'stretching their legs,' he said. 'They're becoming a global force bit by bit,' he added.
Asked about the balance of power between the US and China, Admiral Paparo said he is convinced that Washington would prevail in a war, based on American military advantages in submarine warfare and counterspace and the ability to strike Chinese forces 'from the surface to the Karman line,' a zone 62 miles above Earth. However, the trend for matching forces against the PLA is 'a bad trajectory.' He said China is producing two submarines a year versus 1.4 for the United States and six warships for every 1.8 U.S. naval combatant. China also produces 120 fighters yearly, compared with about 90 for the United States.
