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The Pentagon completed its Global Posture Review and provided the document’s broad strokes, which included new investments in logistics facilities in Guam and Australia to counter the growing threat of China in the region.
The Trends Journal has reported extensively on the relationship between Beijing and the Biden administration. (See “CHINA WON’T STOP AT TAIWAN, SO WHERE SHOULD AMERICA DRAW THE LINE?,” “SPOTLIGHT CHINA. CRASH COMING? RECOVERY AHEAD?” and “U.S. LAUNCHES COLD WAR 2.0: CHINA LAMBASTS “COLD-WAR MENTALITY,”)
The Department of Defense did not release the review but said the assessment calls for updates to airfields in Guam and Australia. The Wall Street Journal reported that the base in Australia is where Marines are deployed on a rotational basis. These venues will get more fuel and ammunition storage. The report pointed out that there will be no significant troop movement, due in large part to commitments to Ukraine and the Middle East.
“In the Indo-Pacific, the review directs additional cooperation with allies and partners to advance initiatives that contribute to regional stability and deter potential Chinese military aggression and threats from North Korea,” Mara Karlin, who is performing the duties of the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, said, according to USNI News. She did not provide information on how much these upgrades will cost.
President Biden, who said one of his top priorities as president is to not be surpassed by China, called together the task force in February and approved its recommendations. (See “CHINA TASK FORCE: U.S. APPROACH TO BEIJING.”)
Karlin said Australia will see a new rotation of fighters and bombers, along with cooperation with ground forces.
“So, we’re doing a lot that will hopefully come to fruition in the coming years,” she said.
The Pentagon said it will also station an Apache attack helicopter squadron in South Korea in an effort to counter threats from China and North Korea. (See “SOUTH KOREA’S BOTTOM LINE: THEY WON’T SUPPORT TAIWAN OR U.S. AGAINST CHINA.”) The Diplomat reported that the U.S. will also keep 28,500 troops in South Korea.
Leif-Eric Easley, an associate professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, told the outlet that the South Korea’s approval reminds China that Seoul is “supportive of a robust U.S. force posture in Asia that contributes to regional security and stability.”
TREND FORECAST: We maintain our forecast that the U.S. will not confront China militarily. Should China aggressively confront Taiwan, the U.S. and its NATO allies’ words will speak louder than their actions.
As we have noted, being that the U.S. has not won a war since World War II (and did so in part with the assistance of Russia), the Pentagon is well aware that war with China would be catastrophic, considering the size and power of China’s military.
If war did break out between the two nations, considering the depth and range of 21st-century weaponry of each nation, it will not only be the war that ends all wars, it will also be the end of life on Earth.
Indeed, when Albert Einstein was asked what weaponry would be used to fight World War III, he replied. “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”