CHINA.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew

"China is the U.S. military's pacing threat," is an oft repeated statement appearing in speeches, think tank discussions, reports and official documents.

It implies that the nation is catching up and catching up quick when it comes to military technology and capabilities.

Military leaders single out the People's Republic of China in their public speeches--especially when talking about much needed resources to modernize their equipment--giving rise to criticism that the nation serves as a convenient foil to convince lawmakers and their constituents that an increase in funding is needed for big ticket weapon systems.

That sounds plausible unless one examines the rhetoric and doctrine emerging from China. Its leaders clearly see the United States as its greatest rival. It wants to prevail in any conflict--as any military would want to do--and is concentrating on developing weapons that would take away any edge the U.S. military might have.

And actions speak louder than words. China in 2007 shot down one of its own spacecraft in an anti-satellite test, irresponsibly spreading debris in orbit that will remain there as a hazard to any spacefaring nation for decades to come. It has illegally built man-made islands in disputed territory in the South China Sea and turned them into military bases.

It broke its word to the world and the people of Hong Kong in 2019, unleashing its repressive regime on citizens there virtually overnight.

It took a virulent disease, COVID-19, that originated within its borders and used the global pandemic as a propaganda tool, with some Chinese officials going so far as to say the disease was America's fault.

It regularly steals military and commercial intellectual property.

But military technology is only one part of the picture.

What should really concern Americans is China's stated goals of coming out on top of every emerging technology destined to shape the rest of the 21st century. Whether it is artificial intelligence and other advanced computing...