Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli foreign ministry: The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port, and the passengers are expected to be deported promptly.
Sumud Flotilla: Addameer vessel attacked by an Israeli military helicopter with 93 journalists, doctors and activists on board
Freedom Flotilla Coalition: The Addameer Vessel was seized by the Israeli Navy
Israeli ministry of foreign affairs says ships and passengers of the Freedom Flotilla will be transferred to an Israeli port and deported immediately
Freedom Flotilla Coalition: 3 ships attacked and illegally intercepted by Israeli occupation.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa's motorcade comes under fire in Ecuador
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: Israeli quadcopter drops two shells on cafe in Houla town in South Lebanon
Informed source to Al Mayadeen: SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi demands that al-Sharaa approve the establishment of an autonomous region similar to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Israeli media: Three drones launched from Yemen toward Eilat in span of 20 minutes.
Qatari Foreign Ministry: "Israel" should have already ceased fire under Trump plan for Gaza

Senior US general warns of possible war with China

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 28 Jan 2023 09:06
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

A senior general in the US Air Force warns that tensions could rise between China and Taiwan and escalate to a war between Beijing and Washington.

  • x
  • Chinese military helicopter gunships fire rockets during joint war games held by Russia and China held in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwestern China on Friday, August 13, 2021 (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
    Chinese military helicopter gunships fire rockets during joint war games held by Russia and China held in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwestern China on Friday, August 13, 2021 (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

A four-star US Air Force general warned of a possible conflict with China, which he said could take place as early as 2025, citing Taiwan as the most likely reason for the conflict and urging his commanders to strive for maximum operation battle readiness among their suits by the end of this year.

In an internal memo that initially emerged on social media on Friday before being later confirmed as genuine by the Pentagon, the head of the Air Mobility Command, General Mike Minihan, said the main goal should be deterring "and, if required, defeating" China. He said he hoped he was "wrong. My gut tells me we will fight in 2025."

According to Minihan, Taiwan's 2024 presidential elections could provide Chinese President Xi Jinping with a reason to move against Taiwan as the United States is distracted by its own presidential race.

"Xi's team, reason, and opportunity are all aligned for 2025," he claimed.

Furthermore, the memo calls on all Mobile Command personnel to go to the firing range, "fire a clip" into a target, and "aim for the head."

This comes amid reports from senior Biden administration officials claiming that China has been expediting its plans to take over Taiwan.

China held major military exercises in August, which were claimed by the West to have been a trial run for China to conduct an offensive against Taiwan after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island despite warnings from Beijing.

Related News

Trump attacks Blumenthal, demands investigation over military claims

Beijing: China–US trade talks to continue despite US shutdown

The United States official switched its recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, though it uses Taiwan as a market for its arms under the pretext of providing the island with the tools to "defend" itself.

Last month, a US State Department notice obtained by Bloomberg said the US has offered Taiwan to buy up to 100 of its most up-to-date Patriot air-defense missiles. The batch will also include radar and related equipment, the report stated. The total amount of the transaction is estimated at $882 million.

In June, Taiwan applauded Washington's approval of the fourth arms sale in the amount of $120 million of naval weaponry, which the two partners said would improve the island's "combat preparedness" and ability to collaborate with American forces.

Then in September, the Biden administration announced the sale of $1.1bln worth of arms to Taiwan within the framework of three contracts. The largest contract is owed to a $655 million logistics package for the Taiwanese surveillance radar program.

The US previously supplied ammunition to Taiwan with a value of $120 million last June as well. China opposed and condemned the sale, saying it "seriously undermines" US-China relations, as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. 

Back in December, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that a crisis in the Taiwan Strait will bear 'devastating' outcomes for the global economy, which is already in dire straits. 

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry stated that US Senator Todd Young and Taiwanese Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu expressed optimism for a stronger US-Taiwan collaboration.

"They reiterated Taiwan’s pivotal role in regional security and the global economy at this critical geopolitical juncture and eagerly anticipated ever stronger partnership between our countries," the Ministry tweeted.

This is in light of the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, which was formed by both Washington and Taipei last June as an attempt "to establish ways to deepen the joint economic and trade relationship."

  • United States
  • Taiwan
  • Taipei
  • Nancy Pelosi
  • China

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
ap

'Israel' pays influencers $7K per post to whitewash Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
In this May 20, 20201, photo Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, arrives in Baghdad, Iraq (AP)
Politics

US spent $33 billion on post-Oct.7 genocide, wars, Brown Uni reports

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., holds a news conference to mark the seventh day of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (AP)
Politics

US troops face unpaid wages as government shutdown drags on

Mourners wave Hezbollah and a Palestinian flag during the funeral of Hezbollah former leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and his successor Sayyed Hashem Safieddine in the Sports City Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, February 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah voices support for Gaza, Resistance on October 7 anniversary

Al-Aqsa Flood restored Palestinian cause on the global stage: Hamas
Politics

Al-Aqsa Flood restored Palestinian cause on the global stage: Hamas

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS