A retired Army lieutenant colonel raises the alarm over China's unprecedented military expansion and psychological warfare tactics.
According to Fox News, Chuck DeVore, chief national initiatives officer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, warns that China is conducting the largest military buildup witnessed since Nazi Germany's expansion in the 1930s, citing a new Department of Defense report.
The Pentagon's annual report to Congress highlights China's aggressive military development, including a significant increase in nuclear warheads, naval capabilities, and advanced psychological warfare operations. The report reveals that China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is rapidly modernizing its forces while developing sophisticated cognitive domain operations to influence global perceptions.
The Department of Defense's findings indicate that China's nuclear arsenal is expected to grow substantially, reaching at least 1,000 warheads by 2030. This expansion includes the addition of 50 new intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the continental United States, bringing their total to 400. The Chinese military has also added 300 medium-range ballistic missiles and 100 long-range cruise missiles to their arsenal.
DeVore emphasizes the stark contrast between China's focused military development and America's military spending priorities. He notes that while the United States has invested $5.4 trillion in the war on terror and nation-building efforts, China has steadily enhanced its military capabilities. The expert urges Congress to support the incoming Trump administration's efforts to reorganize Pentagon resources.
China's naval expansion particularly concerns military experts, as it now possesses the world's largest navy by vessel count. The Chinese fleet is projected to grow from its current 370 ships and submarines to 435 by 2030, significantly outpacing American shipbuilding capacity.
The Pentagon report details China's sophisticated approach to psychological warfare through cognitive domain operations. This strategy combines traditional propaganda techniques with modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data, brain science, and neuroscience. The PLA aims to achieve what they term "mind dominance" to influence public opinion and create favorable conditions for their military actions.
DeVore explains to Fox News Weekend viewers:
China is engaging in an unprecedented military build-up that the world frankly hasn't seen since Adolf Hitler in the 1930s. Now the big difference there, is that he really focused on land power, which frankly is pretty easy to build up pretty quickly.
Navies are much more difficult to build up. And we are way behind. And not only do we need to catch up, but we also need to modernize our nuclear weapons, and we need to put a lot of effort into missile defense.
The PLA's psychological warfare strategy focuses on deterring U.S. or third-party intervention in potential conflicts while shaping global perceptions to China's advantage. These operations are designed to achieve strategic objectives without traditional military engagement.
China's military modernization includes developing the world's leading arsenal of hypersonic missiles. The DF-27 missile system poses a particular threat, as it can evade U.S. missile defenses and target strategic locations, including Guam, Hawaii, and Alaska. This capability represents a significant advancement in China's military technology and strategic reach.
The Department of Defense assessment suggests that China's cognitive domain operations blend traditional psychological warfare with modern communication platforms. This approach aims to influence decision-making processes and behavior patterns among target populations, potentially creating environments favorable to Chinese interests while reducing resistance to PLA actions.
The Pentagon's comprehensive report underscores China's rapid military expansion and psychological warfare capabilities, drawing parallels to Nazi Germany's 1930s buildup. Chuck DeVore's analysis highlights the urgent need for American military modernization and strategic resource reallocation. The Chinese military's growing arsenal, combined with advanced psychological warfare operations, presents a significant challenge to global security dynamics, particularly as their naval fleet continues to expand and their nuclear capabilities advance toward the projected 1,000 warheads by 2030.
