The US, over the past quarter of a century, has been closely following China's attempts to build a modern military, and during the ongoing strategic competition with Beijing, there has been several major enhancements in the military capabilities of the US.
According to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, this strategic competition between the US and China does not mean conflict. During a keynote address at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, titled 'Outpacing the PRC: Lessons Learned for Strategic Competition' Hicks pointed out that staying focused on top priorities and appreciating that execution or delivery is paramount for the US defences.
She said the US has focused relentlessly on driving changes needed to outpace the People's Republic of China and ensure the Pentagon's military advantage. This resulted in a more more modernised, lethal, agile force across capabilities, operational concepts, and posture.
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She noted that the US has strong competitive advantages it must leverage in the competition against China and said decision makers must rigorously align ends, ways and means to ensure the strategy itself remains right and the department of defence can deliver on it.
"We want the (the PRC) leadership to wake up each day, consider the risks of aggression and think to themselves, 'Today is not the day'; and for them to think that — today and every day — between now and 2027, in 2035, 2049 and beyond," she said.
The US isn't however, interested in needlessly provoking China into starting a war, she said, adding, “We don't believe conflict is inevitable, but it's our job to prevent war by always being ready for war if it comes. So, where Beijing might see department of defence anticipating a potential conflict, that's because we're concerned Beijing will instigate one."
