RAND recommends Washington should "reduce the effect of Chinese A2AD by investing in more-survivable force platforms (e.g., submarines) and in counter-A2AD (e.g., theater missiles)." A bit too late in the game; the Chinese have been doing exactly that for years now.
Predictably, a naval blockade of China is in the cards: "US leaders should develop options to deny China access to war-critical commodities and technologies in the event of war." That's the whole rationale behind Beijing's complex energy policy, which boils down to invest in every possible source of energy supply bypassing the Strait of Malacca.
Also predictably, one should expect, even before a war situation, all sorts of dodgy US maneuvers involving Japan: "the US Army should...encourage and enable East Asian partners to mount strong defense, improve interoperability with partners (especially Japan)."
The RAND report is just one more piece of evidence adding to what the Beijing leadership already takes for granted -- even before the Clinton-announced pivoting to Asia; the Empire of Chaos, in despair, will revert to war no matter what.
The lame duck Obama administration has ruled that a Chinese naval base in the Scarborough shoal is a red line. Make no mistake this red line will be crossed. Before or after November 8.
Your move, Queen of War. We came, We saw, We sunk?
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