Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley has a clear warning for anyone inclined to belittle China's rising military.
And this time it came on national television.
U.S. military brass often more subtly expressed their concerns over the expanding size and capabilities of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA). Now, Milley says that Beijing's apparent launch of a nuclear capable missile that orbited Earth is “very close” to a Sputnik moment. (RELATED: Top Generals' Testimony Contradicts Biden's Claim)
The moment Milley referred to is the Sputnik Crisis of October 1957. The ability of the Soviet Union to launch an artificial satellite that fall sparked fears that Russia had surpassed the U.S. technologically.
As Bloomberg reports:
“What we saw was a very significant event of a test of a hypersonic weapon system. And it is very concerning,” General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in an interview for “The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations” on Bloomberg Television. “I don't know if it's quite a Sputnik moment, but I think it's very close to that. It has all of our attention.”
SEE ALSO: Invasion Fears Rise in Taiwan After Historic Chinese Incursion
Milley's comments are the most significant acknowledgment by a U.S. official of reports that China's military conducted possibly two hypersonic weapons tests over the summer, including the launch into space of an orbiting hypersonic weapon capable of carrying a nuclear payload. The Financial Times first reported the tests, citing officials it didn't name.
The next-generation technology, if perfected, could be used to send nuclear warheads over the South Pole and around American anti-missile systems in the northern hemisphere. Hypersonic weapons are normally defined as fast, low-flying and highly maneuverable weapons designed to be too quick and agile for traditional missile defense systems.
While Milley stopped short of declaring the weapons test on par with Sputnik — the pioneering 1957 satellite that gave the Soviet Union an early lead in the space race, shocking the U.S. — the comparison showed the depth of concern about Beijing's work on hypersonic arms.
How concerned are you about China's growing influence? Tell us in the comments below. While you're at it, let us know what other national security-related content you'd like to see!
Sponsored
Raise your hand if you Trust Austin or Miley. Both said they told Biden to hold troops in Afghanistan at 2500. Did they? If so, why were they withdrawn and had to be rushed back? Who ordered that? Point is, they probably told Biden, who probably didn’t grasp the situation. To say these statements counter what Biden said mean little because Biden has no clue what they are talking about.
This guy wasn’t even born when Sputnik was launched. Besides that he is a mouthpiece for China and was ready to warn them if the US was about to do something against their wishes. He is a traitor in many peoples book and has shown himself to be on the side of the Marxist, socialist, democrat insurrectionists in Washington. Why are these guys giving him space to spew his propaganda. If this is such an important event then we are left with the same choices we had when Russia launched Sputnik or put missiles in Cuba. Confront them, win an arms/space race with them, fight a cold war for 30 or 40 years, or launch first and let the cards fall where they may. Some of these are non-starters but you can’t have people like Millie act as town crier either. If they did do anything “new” it would be because there was already a system for them to copy somewhere else. That is their talent, and propaganda. Looks like it worked.
Sadly the performance of our entire General and Flag Officer Corp is only 2nd from the bottom in the mediocrity of the National Intelligence Community. Both have been corrupted by political parties and their devious behavior and profiteering by publishing and becoming consultants and TV talking heads. God help us if we ever need warriors! Anyone above O-5 should be retired forthwith. The execution of the withdrawal from Afghanistan provides all the documentation you need!
Next area of focus is getting a 21st century version of Brilliant Pebbles on orbit ASAP!