PRC President Xi and SecState Blinken meet on uneasy terms

This is quite a week in terms of Sino-US relations. President Xi of China took the top seat in “candid discussions” with Pacific area players way out west, demonstrating a new assertion of leadership in global affairs. MSM Coverage did not reflect the dramatic demonstration of a new world order. How that fits with Russian attempts to harness the Ukraine war as a meme reflecting Mr. Putin’s assertion of renewed power is uncertain, but it is being reflected in the old American tradition of the Defense Authorization, which is wending its ay through the House of Representatives.

With the subcommittee mark-up is some of the bi-partisan thinking behind some changes in how America will fight future conflicts. It is in the fine-print in which those thoughts of transitioning from the Global War on Terror to more traditional force-on-force combat structure familiar to the old Cold Warriors in the crowd. That cast of characters now is different as well, with China replacing the old Soviet Union as thee implacable face seeking global dominance. Here are some of those issues, reflected in a new cast of characters that jumbles a new strong India, a European Union outside the old NATO structure, and an America struggling to re-cast its military structure partly around use of correct pronouns. That is part of an untested strategic direction with much older regional tensions again in play.

It is a curious time. Some of the scuttlebutt includes rumors of a Taiwan invasion as soon as November, with China in the catbird seat. There are issues on that side as well. From the mark-ups in the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) comes some of the new bi-partisan road map for the years to come. Here is a summary of where America and the world seems to be going:

The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act
· Bipartisan bill targets China, passes subcommittee markup
· HASC worried China will lead in tech & Naval power
NDAA Topline $886 Billion
· China outpaces U.S. in tech and naval issues; PRC war games feature massive US losses
· HASC mark-ups focus on naval shipbuilding and industrial base’’
· New: $16.5 billion for up to 13 attack submarines (Request 10) plus Amphibious warship
· 2 LCS decom? 355-ship Navy not sustainable
· 2023 Highest shipbuilding topline in U.S. history
· Procurement applies to subs & $351.6 M for 550 MK-48 torpedoes
· Expands Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) at $9.7 B
· USAF cuts troubled ARRW hypersonic program
· “Fuel, refueling & “ship sustainment” added
· Focus DoD intel on China and the Pacific
· Co-opts Belt & Road Initiative, reduces lithium dependence on PRC
· Blocks CCP “Confucius Institutes”
· Defense spending capped at 3.3% increase over 2023
· Net decline due to inflation

Copyright 2023 Vic Sococtra
www.vicsocotra.com