The US has intensified its military preparations to prepare for possible conflict with China. The Pentagon has asked the missile manufacturers of the country to double the production of 12 important weapons systems. Along with this, China has increased strictness on smuggling of its strategic mineral material, which is used in defense equipment manufacturing.

Target to increase the production of Pentagon
The Pentagon has formed the Municipal Acceleration Council to increase production. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Fineberg is regularly discussing strategy to increase production by contacting heads of companies. Under this scheme, in the next 6, 18 and 24 months, a target is to increase the production of arms 2.5 times the current quantity.

Major weapons in focus
Production-enhancing weapons include Patriot Interceptor, Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, Standard Missile-6, Procession Strike Missile and Joint Air-Surface Standoff Missiles. Pentagon is aiming to produce around 2,000 units annually for the Patriot missile, which is about four times more than the current rate.

Financial and supply challenges
Companies need additional funds and pentagon procurement commitment to increase production. The time and cost of making missiles is very high, the qualification process for new supply companies can take several months and millions of dollars.

China’s security link
Meanwhile, China has increased strict surveillance by foreign countries to prevent strategic minerals like antimony. Recently, eight suspects were arrested, who are accused of sending the mineral abroad illegally. Antimony is widely used in high -performing arms systems and defense equipment.

Global strategic stress
China banned the export of Gallium, Germanium and Antimony to the US in December 2024, which has increased the prices of these materials in the international market. The initiative to increase the production of the Pentagon and the strict monitoring of China can increase the global defense and pressure on the mineral supply chain.

US President Donald Trump recently claimed that the US is trying to regain control over the Bagram airbase of Afghanistan, which has created a possibility of increasing regional tension. Located about 40 km from Kabul, this base was the largest military base before the US in 2021 from Afghanistan. Trump said that this base has strategic importance as it is close to the nuclear weapon manufacturing centers in Xinjiang, China.

He said in a press conference with Britain’s Prime Minister Kir Stmper, ‘We are trying to get it back. We gave it unnecessarily (to the Taliban). Bagram is fine from where China makes its nuclear missile and from there it is just one hour away.

China’s strict response
China objected to this statement of Trump. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that such actions will increase tension in the area and create instability. Beijing insisted that the future and security of Afghanistan will decide the people there and not external military intervention.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lynn Gian said, ‘China respects Afghanistan’s regional integrity and sovereignty. No one will get support from inciting tension in the area. We hope that all sides will play a creative role in regional stability.

Afghanistan also rejected the proposal
Afghanistan also dismissed Trump’s proposal outright. Foreign Ministry official Zakir Jalal said on social media that Kabul is ready to talk to America, but in any case, the US Army will not be allowed to make a hideout in Afghanistan. He wrote, ‘Afghanistan and America should carry forward political and economic relations on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests, but American military presence will not be tolerated in any part.’

What is Bagram Airbase?
Bagram Airbase is a huge military hideout, which was left by American troops in 2021, when the US had suddenly returned from Afghanistan on the order of the then President Joe Biden and at the same time the Taliban captured Kabul.