House of Representatives agrees US is likely headed for war with China

The head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee reluctantly agreed Sunday with an Air Force general’s prediction that the United States would go to war with China over Taiwan in 2025.

House Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas), appearing on Fox News Sunday, commented on four-star General Mike Minihan’s grim warning after NBC News reported that Minihan, in a Friday memo to officials, wrote that while he hopes he’s wrong, “My gut tells me we’re going to fight in 2025.”

“I hope he’s wrong too,” McCaul said. “I think he’s right, unfortunately.”

The Republican added that war is more likely with President Biden in office and “projecting weakness.”

McCall explained that China is seeking “reunification” with nearby Taiwan and could achieve that goal by influencing Taiwan’s 2024 elections.

If that fails, fighting could break out, he said.

“They will, I think, consider a military invasion,” McCaul told Fox of China. “We have to be prepared for that.

“I think as long as Biden is in office and projecting weakness like he did with Afghanistan that led to Putin invading Ukraine, the chances are very high that we could see a conflict with China and Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific ‘ McCaul said.

The Department of Defense downplayed Minihan’s memo, with a representative noting, “These comments are not representative of the Department’s view of China.”

A Democrat, who is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, disagreed with Minihan and McCaul’s prediction of a fight.

“Anything is possible, but I’m really concerned if anyone starts talking about war with China being inevitable,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said on the Fox program. “And I want to be very clear that not only is it not inevitable, it’s highly unlikely.”

Smith said generals should be careful with their comments on China.

“I don’t think we should be out there telling the world we’re going to go to war with China, mostly because we’re not,” Smith said.

“We have interests, we must be able to deter China. War is not inevitable. It is a very dangerous situation that we must be prepared for, but I firmly believe that if we take the right approach, we can avoid this conflict.”