CHINA’S second highest ranking military official has hinted at the likelihood of war with the US, as Beijing calls for higher military spending in preparation for a conflict with Washington.
General Xu Qiliang, Chinaâs second in command of the armed forces after President Xi Jinping, said an increase in military spending is need to counter the âThucydides Trapâ. The term, popularised by US political scientist Graham T. Allison, refers to the inevitability of war when a new global power displaces an existing one.
Speaking in a group discussion alongside the annual gathering of Chinaâs National Peopleâs Congress, Gen. Xu said Beijingâs growth threatens the US.
Gen. Xu then noted Chinaâs GDP was equal to more than 70 percent of the US economy, and added: âThis means we are already standing on the key position of a new chapter towards strength.â
Maj. Gen. Richard Coffman, director of the US Army’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle Cross Functional Team, saw the remarks as a clear admission war was âinevitableâ.
He said: âThe top uniformed soldier in China, chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, stated that war with the United States is inevitable.
“That is the first time China has made that statement publicly.
âIf you are the head uniformed general in the Chinese military and you say ‘it’s inevitable,’ what does that mean?
“I think that means that you are willing to strike first because, if it’s inevitable, why would you wait for your adversary to strike first?”
Maj. Ge. Coffman also argued for more military spending, suggesting any war with China would be fought on land as well as sea.
It follows President Xi telling Chinaâs Peopleâs Liberation Army to be âcombat readyâ at all times.
According to the official Chinese Communist Party newspaper, the Peopleâs Daily, the President said: âThe entire army needs to strengthen its performance so as to do a good job of ensuring a good start to the 14th Five-Year Plan, and of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the party.â
He then praised the PLA for having âstrengthened military training and preparations for war…and basically met its targets for national defence and military development for 2020.”
Xi then added: âWe should persist in using combat to guide our work; step up preparations for war…as well as developing a top-level strategic deterrent and joint forces combat system.”
Visiting the US in 2015, Xi rubbished claims war with China was inevitable through the âThucydides Trapâ.
He said: âThere is no such thing as the so-called Thucydides Trap. But should major countries time and again make the mistake of strategic miscalculation, they might create such traps for themselves.â
This year, US President Joe Biden has admitted Beijing is Washington’s âmost serious competitorâ.
Admiral Philip Davidson, head of the Indo-Pacific Command, has also submitted a proposal to Congress in early March for $27.3 billion in additional spending for new military construction and to boost cooperation with allies to maintain an edge over China.