warns of war with China in 2025; In a memo, a four-star US Air Force general said his gut told him the US would be at war with China in the next two years, which Pentagon officials said was inconsistent with the US military’s assessment.
“I pray I’m wrong,” Air Transport Command Air Force Gen. Mike Minihan wrote to the command’s nearly 110,000 personnel. “According to my intuition, I will fight in 2025. The letter is date February 1, but was deliver on Friday.
warns of war with China in 2025; The general’s views do not reflect those of the Pentagon, but they do reflect concerns at the highest levels of the US military about Chinese efforts to gain control over Taiwan, which China claims is a province. According to Minihan, both the United States and Taiwan are holding presidential elections in 2024, which could provide an opportunity for China to intervene militarily.
“These comments do not reflect the department’s position on China,” a US defense official said.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned earlier this month that increased Chinese military activity near the Taiwan Strait did not represent a Chinese invasion of the island.
In recent years, China has increased diplomatic, military and economic pressure on the independent island to accept Beijing’s rule. Taiwan’s government has said it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked.
Minihan’s memo, first report by NBC News, was report by Reuters.
Air Force Chief of Staff Patrick Ryder said in a statement that military competition with China is a serious challenge.
“Our priority remains working with allies and partners to maintain a peaceful, free and open Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
