The latest annual report from a congressional commission on China reveals that Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing his military forces for war and instructing the nation to brace for economic challenges that may result from any conflict.
President Xi, who is set to meet President Biden face-to-face for the first time in a year, has urged government officials and the public to prepare for “worst-case” and “extreme” scenarios in light of heightened tensions with the United States and its allies. The detailed report to Congress by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission outlines concerning signs indicating Beijing’s preparations for potential conflict with the United States.
“Throughout 2023, China accelerated its political, military, economic and information pressure against Taiwan, raising further concerns of potential military action,” stated Commission co-Chair Carolyn Bartholomew upon the report’s release.
The report also highlighted the limitations in Washington’s efforts to moderate Beijing’s policies through numerous recent high-level meetings, indicating that China now views diplomacy with the United States as a delay tactic while advancing its own economic, military, and technological capabilities.
According to the report, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command commanders have consistently cautioned Congress about the possibility of China using military force against Taiwan, and President Biden has pledged to defend the island. The intelligence chief of the Indo-Pacific Command, Rear Adm. Mike Studeman, highlighted the multifaceted dangers posed by potential conflict with China.
The report detailed recent aggressive actions by China’s maritime militia and its confrontations with the Philippines and Japan, both of which have defense treaties with the United States covering attacks on their vessels.
Commission Vice Chairman Alex Wong emphasized the critical timing of the report’s release, pointing to the broader international acknowledgement of the Chinese Communist Party’s long-term challenge to the global order.
The commission’s bipartisan report outlined China’s readiness for severe economic impacts resulting from international sanctions, foreign economic controls, and increased strategic rivalry, including the possibility of open conflict over Taiwan.
Mr. Xi’s directive to fortify the nation for worst-case scenarios and to uphold CCP control was highlighted, blaming the United States and its allies for recent economic and diplomatic challenges. The military has been instructed to prioritize combat ability, with efforts focused on war preparation and the development of wartime capabilities.
New regulations and logistics moves further reflect China’s preparedness for effective war mobilization, including the faster call-up of military reservists, conscription of additional troops, and recruitment of students with science and engineering backgrounds for military units, cyberdefense, and space warfare.
Additionally, China’s plans to increase grain production in the event of a war disrupting global supply chains, as well as new regulations to counter foreign sanctions and export controls, were highlighted in the report.
The report also underlined the ongoing military pressure against Taiwan and China’s study of the war in Ukraine for potential lessons applicable to a conflict with Taiwan, including the deliberate cutting of undersea internet cables used by Taiwan in February 2023.
Furthermore, the report noted China’s development of advanced weapons systems designed to provide an advantage over U.S. forces, including advanced missiles, cyberdefense, and space weapons.
An area of concern highlighted in the report is China’s development of a space-based nuclear weapon, known as a fractional orbital bombardment system, which raises the possibility of permanently deploying nuclear weapons in space and compromising early warning systems.
In addition to security matters, the report delves into U.S.-China trade and economic relations, China’s aggressive measures against regional neighbors, and its influence operations across the globe.
The report cautions against China’s overseas influence activities under Xi’s rule, citing increased aggression and technological sophistication. Chinese military bases, espionage operations, and plans for a lunar base were also outlined to illustrate China’s growing foreign influence and strategic objectives.
