Adm. John Aquilino, the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, told Congress Tuesday that the US must be ready to “fight and win” a war against China over Taiwan.
“I’m responsible [for finding a way] to prevent this conflict today and — if deterrence were to fail — to be able to fight and win,” Aquilino told a House Armed Services Committee hearing.
The comments are the latest example of US military officials speaking openly about the fact that they’re preparing for a war with China. US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth also said recently that the US must be ready to beat China in a war in the Asia Pacific by beefing up its military presence in the region.
Aquilino pushed back against other US military leaders who have tried to predict when China might attack Taiwan, saying they were just “guessing.” His predecessor, Adm. Philip Davidson, said in 2021 that China could invade in six to 10 years.
More recently, Air Force Gen. Mike Minihan, the commander of Air Mobility Command, said in a memo to his officers that the US and China could be at war in 2025. “For me, it doesn’t matter what the timeline is,” Aquilino said.
Aquilino and other US officials maintain the US must increase support for Taiwan, both militarily and diplomatically, to prevent a Chinese attack on the island. But China has increased military pressure on Taiwan in response to the growing ties between Washington and Taipei.
Source: AntiWar.
