Pentagon Warns of Rising Threat from China’s Military
A newly released Department of Defense report warns that the United States faces growing strategic vulnerabilities amid China’s accelerating military expansion, according to a recent article titled “China Military Buildup Leaves US Increasingly Vulnerable: Pentagon Report” published by Breaking Defense. The Pentagon’s annual assessment of China’s military capabilities paints a stark picture of shifting global power dynamics, emphasizing the urgency for Washington to adapt its defense posture.
The report outlines a significant uptick in both the scale and sophistication of China’s armed forces, highlighting advancements across multiple domains—including naval power, missile systems, space assets, and cyberwarfare. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is now “on a trajectory that, if left unaddressed, could fundamentally challenge U.S. military dominance in the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” the report states.
Of particular concern is the PLA Navy’s rapid modernization and expansion. Now numerically larger than the U.S. Navy, China’s maritime forces have increased their operational footprint across the South China Sea and Western Pacific, conducting frequent joint exercises and simulated assault drills. The report identifies China’s growing inventory of advanced hypersonic weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles as critical elements shifting the strategic calculus, especially in a regional conflict scenario over Taiwan.
According to the Breaking Defense article, Pentagon analysts warn that China’s military strategy increasingly integrates civilian infrastructure—such as ports and telecommunications systems—for dual-use capabilities, a practice that deepens the complexity of counter-strategies. Moreover, Beijing’s military-civil fusion doctrine permits the state to swiftly mobilize resources across sectors, fostering an environment conducive to fast-paced weapons development and strategic deception.
The Pentagon’s assessment also sheds light on China’s cyber activities and space capabilities. It cites a notable increase in satellite launches, many with dual-use potential, and enhanced capabilities in anti-satellite weapons. Chinese cyber forces are described as both persistent and capable, with intentions to degrade or deny U.S. communications and sensor systems in the event of a future conflict.
At the political level, the report draws attention to Beijing’s expanding efforts to shape global narratives and undercut U.S. alliances through economic leverage, information operations, and diplomatic overtures. These developments, when taken in tandem with military growth, suggest a coherent bid to reshape the international order in China’s favor, analysts argue.
Pentagon officials are now urging Congress and allied governments to prioritize modernization of U.S. forces and infrastructure, citing lagging acquisitions in hypersonic platforms, missile defenses, and undersea warfare. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for integrated deterrence—leveraging all instruments of national power—to counter what it portrays as the most comprehensive challenge to U.S. military preeminence in decades.
The findings underscore a broader shift in defense thinking, as policy-makers and military leaders confront the reality that America’s traditional edge may no longer be guaranteed. As the Breaking Defense article illustrates, China’s military buildup marks not only a quantitative increase in force but a qualitative leap that demands a strategic, coordinated, and long-term response from the United States and its allies.
