Among its highlights, the report explained that China now has more than 700 combat aircraft based within un-refueled operational range of Taiwan. China has deployed almost 800 short range ballistic missiles across from Taiwan. China’s naval force now includes 75 major surface combatants, 55 attack submarines and 50 costal missile patrol crafts. In ground forces, the Peoples Republic Army and the paramilitary Peoples Armed Police have over 4.6 million available troops. In addition, China can draw upon more than 10 million organized military militia members.

Of the total number of ground troops, some 400,000 are deployed to the three military regions opposite Taiwan, an increase of 25,000 over last year. Moreover, China has been upgrading these units with tanks, armored personnel carriers and a substantial increase in the amount of artillery. There is no doubt that China has in place the necessary military resources to launch an all out attack in an effort to recapture Taiwan, which China views as a renegade province. Beyond Taiwan, the report notes, “China has the greatest potential to compete militarily with the United States and field disruptive military technologies that could over time offset traditional U.S. military advantages.”

At the same time that this report presents these facts about China’s military expansion and capability, the document juxtaposes in a bizarre manner, expressions of optimism about these developments. For example, the report states, “the United States welcomes the rise of a peaceful and prosperous China.” It encourages China to take on “a greater share of responsibility for the health and success of the global system.” Then the report notes that, “China’s leaders have yet to adequately explain the purposes or desired end states of their military expansion.” The Chinese are asked, what is their motivation for this huge arms expansion.

The answers to these questions are plain, not lacking in transparency as the report notes. China is preparing to launch an attack to retake Taiwan. Moreover, China is building up its forces to protect the flow of oil and other natural resources from the Middle East and South America back to China. The overwhelming Chinese economic expansion requires these resources and the Chinese military will be in a position to secure their continual flow. All of this means that as we look ahead fifteen or twenty years, there is a significant chance that China will surpass the United States, not only economically, but militarily as well.

It is all very well for DOD to report on these facts on an annual basis to congress. But the more important question is what is the United States doing to counter the Chinese increase in military power.

Unfortunately, significant portions of our own armed forces are tied down in what now appear to be long term commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq. With depleted forces at home, what would the United States be able to do if China launched an attack on Taiwan next week, for example? How could we respond effectively in an Asian military confrontation?

It is imperative that Pentagon decision makers publicly disclose some of our own increases in technology or military capability in order that the Chinese will not become too confident of their own superiority. Likewise, the Untied States must move more aggressively to deepen strategic alliances with Japan and India. That will give the Chinese pause for concern that they may be faced with opposition from an Asian rival as well as from the United States.

In the last couple of years, we have had an overriding preoccupation with military events in the Middle East, which are certainly critical to the United States. Looking ahead, Asia is certain to be a trouble spot and the time is ripe now to begin focusing on that part of the world. We cannot wait until China uses some of its newly developed military resources in order to build up our own.