The likelihood of a military battle between the United States and China has been described as “extremely high.” Leading Republican McCaul has accused the Biden administration of portraying weakness, while the Democratic leader argues that a fight over the Taiwan issue is “very unlikely.”
Washington: After a US general sparked controversy with a letter that forewarned that the US would attack China in the next two years, a top Republican in the US Congress said on Sunday that the likelihood of a conflict with China over Taiwan “is quite high.”
General Mike Minihan, who is in charge of the Air Mobility Command, wrote to the leadership of its about 110,000 soldiers on February 1 but just made it public on Friday, saying, “My instinct tells me we will fight in 2025.”
“I really hope he’s mistaken. But I think he’s right “According to Mike McCaul, the incoming chairman of the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee, on Fox News Sunday.
Although the general’s opinions may not always reflect those of the Pentagon, they do demonstrate worry at the highest levels of the U.S. military regarding a potential Chinese effort to impose control over Taiwan, which China sees as a rebellious province.
In 2024, there will be presidential elections in the US and Taiwan, which could present a chance for China to launch a military operation, Minihan wrote.
According to McCaul, if China is unable to seize control of Taiwan peacefully, “They will likely consider an invasion by military forces, in my opinion. To handle this, we must be ready.”
After the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan that increased the likelihood of war with China, he charged that the Democratic administration of President Joe Biden was projecting weakness.
The likelihood of a conflict involving China, Taiwan, and the Indo-Pacific region is very high, according to McCaul.
The White House chose not to respond to McCaul’s comments.
Democratic Opposition
Minihan’s evaluation was rejected by Representative Adam Smith, the leading Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.
Smith asserted on Fox News Sunday that a conflict with China is “It is not just unlikely, but also not inevitable. China is currently in a very hazardous situation. However, I believe generals should use extreme caution when declaring that war is inevitable.”
Smith stated that the US must be able to prevent China from attacking Taiwan militarily, but added, “I’m totally sure we can avoid that conflict if we adopt the correct approach.”
Increased military activity by China near the Taiwan Strait earlier this month was questioned by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as a possible precursor to Beijing’s impending invasion of the island.
On Saturday, a Pentagon representative stated that the general’s remarks were “not indicative of the department’s perspective on China.”
