A four-star U.S. Air Force general is predicting a war with China in 2025.
The grim prediction of war within two years between the global powers was made by Gen. Mike Minihan – head of Air Mobility Command.
The Air Mobility Command “provides the capability to deploy U.S. armed forces anywhere in the world within hours and help sustain them in a conflict.” Air Mobility Command has nearly 50,000 service members and almost 500 aircraft.
Minihan believes that China will attempt to invade Taiwan in 2025 because the United States will be distracted by the 2024 presidential election.
“I hope I am wrong. My gut tells me we will fight in 2025,” Minihan wrote in the memo obtained by NBC News.
“[Chinese President] Xi [Jinping] secured his third term and set his war council in October 2022,” Minihan said in the memo future-dated for Feb. 1.
“Taiwan’s presidential elections are in 2024 and will offer Xi a reason,” the four-star general continued. “[The] United States’ presidential elections are in 2024 and will offer Xi a distracted America. Xi’s team, reason, and opportunity are all aligned for 2025.”
Minihan told U.S. military members that they need to be ready to “deter, and if required, defeat China.”
Minihan noted that “a fortified, ready, integrated, and agile Joint Force Maneuver Team ready to fight and win inside the first island chain” will be required for the war against China.
Minihan directed his Air Force commanders to report back to him by Feb. 28 on how they are preparing for the war against China.
The general hints that drones would be a critical weapon in a war against China. He instructs KC-135 units to develop methods of “delivering 100 off-the-shelf size and type UAVs from a single aircraft.”
TSgt. Zachary Boyer, a spokesperson for the Air Mobility Command, confirmed to The Drive that the document is “authentic.”
“This is an authentic internal memo from General Minihan addressed to his subordinate command teams,” the statement said. “His order builds on last year’s foundational efforts by Air Mobility Command to ready the Mobility Air Forces for future conflict, should deterrence fail.”
A defense official told Fox News that Minihan’s remarks “are not representative of the department’s view on China.”
Department of Defense press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said in a statement, “National Defense Strategy makes clear that China is the pacing challenge for the Department of Defense and our focus remains on working alongside allies and partners to preserve a peaceful, free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Earlier this month, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin acknowledged that China has “increased aerial activity in the straits, we’ve seen increased surface vessel activity around Taiwan.” He added, “But whether or not that means that an invasion is imminent, you know, I seriously doubt that.”
In September, President Joe Bidensaid he would send American troops to defend Taiwan “if in fact, there was an unprecedented attack” by China.
Xi has made it clear that his intention is to reunify Taiwan with mainland China – even if it requires military force by an invasion.
In January 2019, Xi said, “Reunification is the historical trend and it is the right path. Taiwan’s independence is a reversal of history and a dead-end road.”
“We make no promise to renounce the use of force and reserve the option of taking all necessary means,” Xi said, adding China would not be deterred by any “external interference.”
In October 2021, Xi declared, “Taiwan independence separatism is the biggest obstacle to achieving the reunification of the motherland, and the most serious hidden danger to national rejuvenation.”
“No one should underestimate the Chinese people’s staunch determination, firm will, and strong ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Xi said. “The historical task of the complete reunification of the motherland must be fulfilled, and will definitely be fulfilled.”
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