Recently, retired US Admiral James Stavridis once again pushed the topic of war to the center of the world, hyping up the future of Sino-US relations. In an interview, he said that China would not be ready for war with the United States in the next decade, but this statement contradicted the Pentagon data and caused widespread concern.
In 2021, Stavridis co-wrote a book about "World War III", in which the plot of the "South China Sea War in 2034" was fictionalized. His remarks have caused heated discussions, especially about his confident attitude towards the balance of power between China and the United States.
Although Stavridis believes that even the current Chinese Navy will not be able to match the US Pacific Fleet, this contradicts some data and opinions within the US Navy. The U.S. Navy itself has been complaining about the lack of ships, and the 2021 report considers China "the world's number one naval state," emphasizing that the number of liberated boats exceeds 355. The US side also leaked intelligence that the US shipbuilding capacity is only 1,232 of China's.
Stavridis's words undoubtedly had a big impact on the US Navy's plans to secure more military spending. Biden recently signed a new National Defense Authorization Act with a record budget of $886 billion. However, there is still fierce competition between the various branches of the U.S. military for funding, and Stavridis's argument may have further undermined the Navy's confidence in securing congressional support.
Stavridis's remarks may be interpreted as a reflection of different views within the United States, or it may be an attempt to win more military support. However, China has always emphasized defensiveness rather than expansionism in its development. The distance between China and the United States has led China to develop its navy and other forces in response to its defense needs, rather than in pursuit of world hegemony.
Stavridis's excessive conceit and overestimation of American power may be the independent opinion of individual military figures, but such statements should still be noted. In the face of the clouds of war, China has been emphasizing peaceful development while remaining vigilant, especially in the face of frequent U.S. activities in places such as the South China Sea.
The internal contradictions of the US Navy and the exaggerated views on China's development show the game between military spending and peace. China is cautious about the future of U.S.-China relations, emphasizing peace and development. However, different voices within the U.S. may bring more uncertainty to the U.S.-China relationship. China will remain vigilant and respond to possible challenges in line with the principle of maintaining peace and stability.