US (Washington Insider Magazine) – The US defense-industrial base is not prepared for a potential military conflict with China, as it would run out of key munitions in less than a week, according to a new Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report.
Stockpiles Depleted by Ukraine Aid
US military support for Ukraine has helped prevent a Russian victory but has also drained Pentagon stockpiles of crucial weapons. The report highlights a severe lack of long-range, precision-guided munitions—a critical weakness if the US were to defend Taiwan.
Key Findings: US Not Ready for War
- Munitions Shortages: US supplies of Javelin, Stinger, and 155mm artillery shells are already low.
- Long Lead Times: Key weapons, including Tomahawk missiles, Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs), and Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASMs), take over 20 months to produce.
- China’s Threat to Taiwan: A conflict would require long-range precision weapons to strike Chinese naval forces. The report warns that US inventories would be depleted in just over a week.
Urgent Recommendations for Defense Readiness
To address these vulnerabilities, the CSIS report suggests:
- Building a strategic munitions reserve to reduce 12-24 month lead times.
- Increasing production capacity for critical munitions.
- Streamlining foreign military sales (FMS), which currently delays weapons exports to allies like Taiwan by up to two years.
Pentagon and Congress Take Action
Top military officials, including Army Gen. James McConville and Navy Adm. Mike Gilday, are pushing for increased funding to boost missile production and stockpiles.
Meanwhile, Congress may hold hearings to assess defense-industrial base capacity and streamline funding approvals.
The Bottom Line
The US military faces a severe readiness gap for a prolonged war with China over Taiwan. Without major reforms, the Pentagon may struggle to sustain a high-intensity conflict, leaving national security at risk.
