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ReutersDec 10, 2023
Pentagon: US Struggling to Keep Up With China in Arms Production
Image copyright: US Department of Defense [via Wikimedia Commons]
The Facts
According to an unpublished report from the Pentagon obtained by Politico, the US arms industry isn't able "to satisfy the full range of military production needs at speed and scale" — a "mismatch" the report warns poses risks as the US tries to support "active combat operations" and "the larger and more technically advanced pacing threat looming in the Indo-Pacific."
Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Pentagon acquisition chief William LaPlante, who will be publishing the report, said that for businesses to expand production capacity, the Department of Defense (DoD) needs to make its future purchasing needs clear.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
As China ramps up its nuclear missile and coinciding anti-detection technology at a rapid pace, the US is trying to engage in dialogue to prevent tensions from ever reaching levels seen during the Cold War. Though in recent months, China has feigned an effort to put military exchanges with Washington back on solid footing, its strategy seems to remain to be full steam ahead with respect not only to defense mechanisms but to first-strike technology. The US must, therefore, continue investing to remain militarily superior.
Establishment-critical narrative
The US is completely engaged in this arms race and doing anything but de-escalating military tensions. As China simply tries to even the playing field with its antagonistic Western counterparts, the likes of the US, UK, and Australia are signing new agreements to build AI-powered underwater and surface maritime surveillance drones. On top of that, these countries are also looking to develop space military operations to stay ahead of Beijing. You can't fault an emerging military for simply trying to stay afloat as its enemies build new ways to sink its ship.