US Air Force General Mike Minihan warned his commanders that he expects a war between Taiwan and China in 2025, in which the US could also intervene. While the Pentagon takes a clear position a little later, a Republican and a Democrat express fundamentally different views of the statements.
US Air Force General Mike Minihan said Friday that he expects war with China in 2025. This is reported by the US news portal “NBC News”. Accordingly, the US general wrote a memo to his commanders and told them to prepare for a war with China within two years because the conflict was imminent. That’s what his gut feeling tells him.
“I hope I’m wrong. My feeling is that we will fight in 2025,” Minihan said in the memo. “Xi has secured his third term and scheduled his war council for October 2022. Taiwan’s presidential election is 2024 and will offer Xi a reason. The United States presidential election will be held in 2024 and will offer Xi a distracted America. Xi’s team, sanity and capabilities are aligned for 2025,” the Air Force general said.
The Pentagon also reacted to Minihan’s statements. “These comments are not representative of the ministry’s view of China,” a ministry official said in a mail to Air
“The National Defense Strategy makes it clear that China is the greatest challenge facing the Department of Defense, and we remain focused on working with allies and partners to maintain a peaceful, free, and open Indo-Pacific.” “
On Sunday, US Congressman Michael McCaul (Republican) told the conservative US media “FOX News” that he agreed with the US general’s fears. “I hope he’s wrong. But I fear he will be right,” McCaul told the US broadcaster.
He explained that China’s interest in “reuniting” Taiwan with China is very high and could be achieved by influencing Taiwan’s elections in early 2024. “But if they don’t win these elections, I think they will consider a military invasion. We have to be prepared for that,” McCaul said.
Also a guest on the “FOX News” program was the US politician Adam Smith (Democrat). He sits in the Washington House of Representatives and is the senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. Smith disagrees with McCaul: In his eyes, a possible war with China is not only not inevitable but also highly unlikely.
Smith admitted that the US military should be prepared for anything. However, he urges US generals to be very careful about what they say. They shouldn’t tell the world that the US is going to war with China when they aren’t.
Smith concedes that the US must be able to deter China. However, he is certain that a military conflict can be avoided.
