A national security expert warns of an unprecedented Chinese military expansion, comparing its scale to Nazi Germany’s buildup in the 1930s, citing a recent Pentagon report. The expert, Chuck DeVore, highlights the disparity between U.S. spending on counterterrorism and nation-building and the escalating Chinese threat. He advocates for reallocating Pentagon resources to strengthen naval power, nuclear deterrence, missile defense, and logistics.
DeVore, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, emphasizes the significant differences between China’s focus on naval power, compared to Nazi Germany’s land-based strategy. He stresses the urgent need for the U.S. to modernize its nuclear arsenal and bolster missile defenses.
DeVore detailed findings from the Department of Defense’s 2024 report on Chinese military and security developments. This report indicates a substantial expansion of China’s nuclear arsenal, projecting at least 1,000 warheads by 2030, exceeding the U.S. Navy in terms of the number of ships, and possessing significantly greater shipbuilding capacity.
The report notes China’s addition of 50 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), increasing its total to 400, along with 300 medium-range and 100 long-range cruise missiles. Its operational nuclear warheads now exceed 600, expected to surpass 1,000 by 2030. China also possesses the world’s largest arsenal of hypersonic missiles, including the DF-27, capable of evading U.S. defenses and targeting U.S. territories.
China’s navy, already the world’s largest, is projected to grow from 370 to 435 ships and submarines by 2030. The report also highlights the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) efforts to expand its influence globally and achieve information dominance through cognitive domain operations (CDO).
The DoD describes CDO as a sophisticated form of psychological warfare leveraging internet technologies and communication platforms to manipulate public opinion and achieve strategic goals. This involves utilizing AI, big data, and neuroscience to influence target behavior and decision-making. The PLA aims for “mind dominance,” using information to shape societal systems and reduce resistance to its actions, potentially deterring or influencing conflicts.
The report concludes that the PLA views CDO as a superior form of warfare, aiming to subdue adversaries without direct conflict.