Pacific commander warns China could move to take Taiwan in the next five years

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‘MAKE NO MISTAKE, CHINA SEEKS A NEW WORLD ORDER’: The top U.S. admiral in charge of the vast Indo-Pacific command has issued a stark warning that only a short window of about five years remains for the United States to deter China from military action to take control of Taiwan by force.

“China has modernized its military more than any other nation on the planet through the course of this century,” said Adm. Philip Davidson, in remarks at a virtual forum sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute. “The military balance in the Indo-Pacific is becoming more unfavorable for the United States and our allies. And with this imbalance, we are accumulating risk that may embolden China to act unilaterally ... before our forces might be able to deliver an effective response.”

“The period between now and 2026, this decade, is the time horizon in which China is positioned to achieve overmatch in its capability, and when Beijing could, could likely choose to forcibly change the status quo in the region. And I would say the change in that status quo could be permanent,” said Davidson, speaking from his headquarters in Hawaii, making a point not to mention Taiwan by name. “Make no mistake about it, China seeks a new world order.”

A $27 BILLION SHOPPING LIST: Davidson submitted to Congress his commander’s assessment of what military assets are needed to ensure a credible deterrent to China, a report required by the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, as part of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which has already allocated $6.8 billion for this fiscal year and next to shoring up capabilities in the region.

Davidson’s list totals $27.3 billion over five years and is topped by $1.6 billion for Lockheed Martin’s Aegis Ashore system to provide a 360-degree air defense capability on Guam, which his report notes is the "most crucial operating location in the western Pacific."

“Funding for the air and missile defense of Guam is my number one priority, most importantly, because Guam is U.S. homeland,” said Davidson. “There are 170,000 Americans living in Guam, and their defense is homeland defense.”