America has made it clear that the process of selling arms to Taiwan has nothing to do with the ongoing war with Iran. A reliable source said that the sale of arms to Taiwan has been an ongoing process for many years and should not be linked to the Iran war. Recently, a senior US official had said that there is a delay in the supply of weapons to Taiwan because America needs ammunition on a large scale for the ongoing Operation Epic Fury against Iran, but now this claim has been rejected.

According to sources, America has enough arms, ammunition and military stocks to fulfill all the strategic goals of President Donald Trump. He said the arms sales process often takes several years and is part of the normal process.

Also read: America can attack Iran again, Trump held a meeting with officers in the White House, Munir in tension!

Concern increased due to Trump’s statement

President Donald Trump recently said after meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping that he has not yet decided on the package for selling arms to Taiwan. After his statement, concern increased in Taiwan. Taiwan has been waiting for an arms package worth about $14 billion from America for a long time.

China continues to protest

China considers Taiwan as its part and has been continuously opposing America’s sale of arms to Taiwan. On the other hand, America is committed to providing Taiwan with the necessary weapons and assistance for its security under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. The US government has said that there has been no change in its policy regarding Taiwan.

What did Taiwan say?

The Taiwan government said on Friday that it has not received any official information from America regarding any delay in arms sales. At the same time, China is continuously pressurizing America to stop selling arms to Taiwan. Taiwan says that its future will be decided by its people themselves.

Big issue of US-China tension

The issue of Taiwan has been a major cause of tension between America and China for a long time. On one hand, America supports Taiwan’s security, while on the other hand, China sees it as its internal matter. This matter has become even more sensitive amid the Iran war and increasing tension with China. It is believed that President Trump may soon take a final decision on the Taiwan arms package.

Also read: White House duty first! Why is Trump not going to his son’s wedding? He himself told this big reason

There has been no direct conversation between the Presidents of America and Taiwan for almost 47 years. Now US President Donald Trump has indicated that he can talk to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. This one statement has intensified the diplomatic stir between Washington, Beijing and Taipei. China has called it a ‘wrong message’, while Taiwan is considering it a big diplomatic victory for itself. The question is, what happened in 1979 that direct contacts between the American and Taiwanese leaders almost stopped, and why is Trump now trying to change it?

What happened in 1979 that the US President did not talk to Taiwan?

1979 was the year when America officially recognized China in place of Taiwan. At that time, US President Jimmy Carter established diplomatic relations with Beijing and approved the ‘One China Policy’. This meant that America accepts China’s position in which Beijing considers Taiwan a part of China.

After this America ended formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. This was the reason why public or official talks between the US President and the President of Taiwan almost stopped. However, America did not completely distance itself from Taiwan. In the same year, the US Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, through which America continued security and defense cooperation with Taiwan.

That means America created a balance. On one hand, it kept giving official recognition to China, on the other hand it also kept giving military and economic help to Taiwan.

What is the difference between America’s ‘One China Policy’ and China’s ‘One China Principle’?

Most of the deception takes place here. China says that Taiwan is its part and the world should accept this. China calls this ‘One China Principle’. But America does not technically ‘recognize’ this claim of China, but only believes that China makes such a claim. America has its own ‘One China Policy’, in which it does not openly support Taiwan’s independence and also does not formally approve China’s occupation. This strategic turmoil has been the basis of American policy for the last several decades.

Donald Trump broke this tradition for the first time in 2016. After winning the presidential election, he spoke on phone to the then President of Taiwan Lai Ching-te. This was the first time since 1979 that a US President or President-elect spoke directly to the President of Taiwan. At that time China had given a sharp reaction and called it against American policy.

However, at that time Trump was before assuming power, so Beijing protested. But now the situation is different because Trump is indicating to talk to the President of Taiwan while in office.

Why did a new controversy arise now?

In recent days, there was a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. During this time, the issue of Taiwan again came into focus. According to reports, Xi Jinping told Trump that Taiwan is the most sensitive issue in US-China relations and if it is mishandled, the conflict could escalate.

A few days later, Trump said that he could talk to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. He also presented the arms deal to Taiwan as a tool to exert pressure in talks with China.

Why is China in so much trouble?

China considers Taiwan as its part and says that if any foreign government makes official contact with the President of Taiwan, it would be a step like considering Taiwan as a separate country. Beijing considers it against its sovereignty.

China has been reacting aggressively to such cases in the past also. In 2022, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi went to Taiwan, after which China conducted major military exercises around Taiwan. This time too China has warned America not to give ‘wrong signals’. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has been continuously saying that America should avoid official contact with Taiwan.

Why is Trump doing this?

Experts give 4 big reasons behind this:

• Strategy to put pressure on China: Trump has been adopting a tough stance against China for a long time. He has often been putting pressure on Beijing on the issues of trade, technology and military influence. Now the issue of Taiwan is also being considered a part of the same strategy. Many reports say that Trump is using Taiwan as a negotiation tool against China.
• Balance of power in the Indo-Pacific: America believes that China’s increasing military influence can change the balance of power in Asia. Taiwan is very important in this strategy because it is located very close to China and is also important for US allies like Japan and the Philippines.
• Semiconductor Factor: Taiwan is one of the world’s largest chip manufacturing powers. Companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company make up a large portion of the world’s advanced semiconductor supply. America does not want China’s influence to increase on this industry.
• Domestic Politics: In America, the tough stance against China has now become popular in both parties. In such a situation, this step of Trump presents him as a strong leader in domestic politics also.

Is America now going to consider Taiwan as a country?

Experts believe that this does not appear to be the case at present. America still officially sticks to the ‘One China Policy’. Trump also did not publicly say that America would recognize Taiwan’s independence. But if there is a direct conversation between the US President and the President of Taiwan, it will definitely weaken the decades-old diplomatic tradition.

Meanwhile, what does Taiwan want?

Taiwan considers itself a sovereign democratic country. The elected government there has been continuously trying to increase international recognition. President Lai Ching-te recently said that if Trump talks to him, he will raise the issues of China’s increasing pressure and regional peace. However, Taiwan also officially says that it wants to maintain the current situation and does not want war.

So what can happen next in this case?

Foreign affairs expert and retired JNU professor A. Of. Pasha says, ‘If Trump really talks directly to the President of Taiwan, then there may be a strong reaction from China. This could include military exercises, economic pressure or diplomatic opposition. US-China relations are already under tension over trade, technology and security issues, so the Taiwan issue could become the biggest flashpoint between the two countries.

But on the other hand, it is also true that security and military cooperation between America and Taiwan is continuously increasing. Arms sales, military training and technology partnerships have increased significantly in the last few years.

President Xi Jinping has clearly said that the issue of Taiwan is the “most important and sensitive” topic in the relations between America and China. He warned that if this issue is not handled properly then a situation of conflict may arise between the two countries.

Amidst the increasing diplomatic contacts between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, the issue of Taiwan has once again come to the center of US-China relations. According to China’s official news agency Xinhua, the Taiwan issue was the most important topic in the closed-door meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, President Xi Jinping told Trump that US-China relations could enjoy “overall stability” if the Taiwan issue was handled properly. However, Xi also warned that if this sensitive issue is mishandled, it could lead to “confrontation and even conflict” between the two countries. He said that if this happens, bilateral relations will be in serious danger.

Read more: Donald Trump will go to China today amid Iran war, praised Jinping before leaving, know what he said

Xi also met American businessmen

In a statement issued in Beijing, Xi Jinping told American representatives and business leaders that stable relations between China and the United States are essential for the economic and strategic stability of the entire world. Inviting American companies to increase investment and cooperation in China, he said that there are vast opportunities ahead for American companies in China. China has given this message at a time when tension between the two countries regarding trade, technology and security is continuously increasing. Meanwhile, American chip manufacturer Jensen Huang also expressed hope for improvement in relations between the two countries. According to China’s government channel CCTV, the Nvidia chief said that he hopes that the top leaders of the two countries will improve bilateral relations by taking forward good relations. It is noteworthy that the competition between America and China regarding semiconductor and AI technology has intensified in recent years.

from taiwanYoga will increase Indo-Pacific peace in

Taiwan has reacted sharply to China’s statements. A Taiwan government spokesperson said China’s military threats are the only source of insecurity in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Expressing gratitude for America’s support, the spokesperson said that Washington has consistently reiterated its strong support for Taiwan. Taiwan also said it would continue to work with democratic allies to maintain regional peace. In fact, in the last few years, China has intensified military activities around Taiwan. Beijing considers Taiwan as its part and has said that it will take control over it even by using force if necessary. On the other hand, America talks about following the “One China Policy”, but has also been providing military and strategic support to Taiwan. This is why the issue of Taiwan remains the biggest tension point in US-China relations.

Trump reached “Temple of Heaven”

Meanwhile, Chinese government media informed that Donald Trump reached the historic “Temple of Heaven” located in Beijing. Trump’s visit and Xi Jinping’s statements are being seen at a time when efforts are being made to increase dialogue between the two countries, but the rhetoric regarding Taiwan has clearly indicated that the geopolitical tension in the Asia-Pacific region is not going to subside yet.

Read more: Taiwan card, Iran war, blockade on Hormuz and trade deal… Why is US President Trump’s visit to China very important?

US President Donald Trump is currently on a tour of China. Even before his visit, Xi Jinping gave a strict warning to the US that there would be no talk on the issue of Taiwan. Marco Rubio has also made it clear that there will be no change in America’s policy regarding Taiwan. A few days ago, Trump used to threaten China with tariffs and called Corona virus a Chinese virus. Now in Beijing they are calling Jinping a great leader of a great country.

Taiwan, located just 128 kilometers from the eastern coast of China, may appear to be a small island, but today this region has become the biggest center of conflict between the world’s two biggest superpowers, America and China. Xi Jinping said before Trump’s visit that if the Taiwan issue is not handled properly, there could be a conflict between America and China.

Why is Taiwan important for China?

China’s ruling Communist Party considers Taiwan one of its provinces. Xi Jinping has said many times that he will not shy away from using force to merge Taiwan with China. Taiwan, on the other hand, considers itself an independent and sovereign country, which has its own government, army and democratic system. This contradiction is the root of this entire controversy. Relations between America and Taiwan are also very complicated. According to America’s ‘One China Policy’, it accepts that Taiwan is a part of China, but it has never recognized China’s claim on Taiwan.

If China captures Taiwan, it will have direct access to the Pacific Ocean. For America, Taiwan is a strong means of maintaining its power in the Asia-Pacific region. This is also the reason why the eyes of the world are fixed on Taiwan and especially at a time when Trump is on China tour.

America’s policy regarding Taiwan

Under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, the US is committed to selling arms to Taiwan for self-defense and to continuing relations with the people of Taiwan. However, to avoid direct war with China, America has always adopted a policy of ‘Strategic Ambiguity’. This means that America has never openly said whether it will intervene militarily if China attacks Taiwan. This very thing acts as a shield to stop China from taking any major step.

How important is Taiwan to the global economy?

Apart from this politics, Taiwan is also recognized as the engine of the global economy. It is the world’s largest semiconductor chips manufacturer. At present, most of the chips used in smartphones, laptops, cars, refrigerators and even advanced weapon systems are made in Taiwan. If there is a war in Taiwan or China stops its supply chain, then there can be a danger of the entire world economy coming to a standstill. Just like when Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, there was shortage in many countries of the world.

At present, the entire world is keeping an eye on Trump’s visit regarding the situation in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz. According to the US President, Jinping has offered help in resolving the ongoing tension between America and Iran. There are very deep relations between China and Iran and China is also the largest buyer of Iranian oil. According to Trump, Jinping wants an agreement between the two countries. The issue of Strait of Hormuz remained in focus in the conversation between the two leaders.

Why did Rubio get angry when Trump asked for Jinping’s support?

Trump wants China to put pressure on Iran so that the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened. China also seems to agree that this route should remain open and is against its militarization or collecting any kind of tax (toll) there. However, there are different opinions on this issue within the American administration. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio clarified that America has not asked for help from China and they do not need it. According to Rubio, America raised this issue only so that China has complete clarity about America’s stand, because the issue of Iran is currently dominated by global politics.

Also read: Chinese President Xi Jinping said – We want to buy oil from US, Donald Trump gave this answer

Amid the ongoing tension with Iran, US President Donald Trump’s three-day visit (May 13-15) is starting from Tuesday night. Trump’s visit to Beijing is considered very important due to China’s closeness to Iran. Because Trump has started playing the Taiwan card against China before the start of the tour.

Before the start of Trump’s China tour (US President Donald Trump’s limousine car and a convoy of US Secret Service agents were seen on the streets of Beijing. Trump’s tour of Beijing is starting tonight from Air Force-1 aircraft. Amid the Iran war, Trump’s China tour is considered very important. Because Iran has close relations with China. During the war, China gave Iran everything from satellite tracking to intelligence information and coordinates of the US military base. China imports 85 percent of Iran’s oil. In such a situation, there is a strong possibility of Trump putting pressure on the Chinese President for a permanent ceasefire and opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Also read: ‘Trump’s entire tenure is a therapy session’, Iranian Embassy taunts after rejecting Tehran’s new proposal

It has been 75 days since the Iran war started, but Tehran has not made a permanent ceasefire with America. On the contrary, America’s peace proposal regarding the Strait of Hormuz and enriched uranium has been rejected. In such a situation, Trump is furious and has once again discussed the option of military action against Iran with his National Security team.

On the other hand, the spokesperson of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament, Ebrahim Rezaei, created a sensation by saying that if America and Israel attack again, Iran can enrich uranium up to 90 percent. Currently, Iran has about 460 kg of enriched uranium, which is 60 percent enriched. Nuclear weapons can be prepared from 90 percent. In such a situation, clouds of war have once again started looming in West Asia.

Even before the Beijing visit, Trump has started putting pressure on China. Because if China does not listen to Trump, in such a situation America can start selling arms directly to Taiwan. Trump has indicated this. While talking to the media on Monday night, Trump himself said that selling arms to Taiwan would be discussed with Xi Jinping.

During the China visit, a state banquet will be hosted by Xi Jinping to welcome Trump. There will be delegation level talks between the two heads of state. Apart from this, a visit to China’s world-famous Temple of Heaven is also included in Trump’s tour.

Also read: Pakistan had hidden Iran’s fighter jets, Trump’s close ones got furious after the revelation, said a big thing about mediation

China’s military activities around Taiwan seem to be intensifying once again. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry (MND) informed on Wednesday that seven Chinese naval ships and one official ship were found active in its vicinity. This development has once again underlined the increasing tension in the Indo-Pacific region.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry posted on social media platform

7 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around #Taiwan Detected up until 6 am (UTC+8) today. #ROCArmedForces Have monitored the situation and responded. No flight path illustration is provided, as we did not detect #PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan during this… pic.twitter.com/cbSaSQ8sbZ

— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan) (@MoNDefense) May 6, 2026

That is, this time no activity of the Chinese Air Force was recorded, but movement was clearly visible on the maritime front.

Activity increased for the second consecutive day

This is not an isolated incident. A day before this, on Tuesday, Taiwan had also recorded China’s military activities. That day, one Chinese military aircraft, six naval ships and one government vessel were found active around Taiwan.

The MND then said, “As of 6 a.m. today (UTC+8), activity of 1 PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships, and 1 official vessel was detected in the vicinity of Taiwan. 1 of the 1 aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern ADIZ area. The ROC Armed Forces monitored the situation and responded.”

1 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 am (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 1 sorties entered Taiwan’s northern part ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces Have monitored the situation and responded. pic.twitter.com/Y3D9larU05

— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan) (@MoNDefense) May 5, 2026

The special thing is that the Chinese aircraft also entered the northern part of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), which is generally considered a sign of increasing tension.

Maritime pressure strategy?

Experts believe that China is now increasingly using “gray zone tactics” to put pressure on Taiwan—that is, a sustained military presence without direct war. This time the absence of air activity and presence of only naval ships is being considered a part of this strategy. This allows China to demonstrate its power without open confrontation and forces Taiwan to remain alert.

Taiwan’s military said it monitored the situation and took necessary countermeasures. However, the nature of this “retaliatory action” was not made public. The increase in Chinese naval activities for two consecutive days is a clear indication that Beijing is continuing its policy of pressure. Although these activities are currently “low-intensity”, but if this pattern continues, larger military exercises or more aggressive steps may be seen in the future. For Taiwan, this is not just a question of security, but an issue of survival and identity.

Taiwan–China dispute: history and present

The dispute between Taiwan and China is not new, but its roots go deep in history. China claims that Taiwan is its integral part. This claim is part of its official policy and is repeated from domestic laws to international forums. Taiwan, on the other hand, considers itself a region with a separate identity. It has its own democratic government, army and strong economy. If we look at history, the Qing dynasty captured Taiwan in 1683. After the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Taiwan came under the control of Japan and remained a Japanese colony for about 50 years. Taiwan returned to Chinese control after World War II, but a formal determination of its sovereignty was never made clear.

Taiwan Indian Migrant Workers: The Taiwan government said on Tuesday that the plan to bring Indian migrant laborers will go ahead only when there is demand from local industries and India fulfills the set conditions. The government has made it clear that this scheme will not be implemented if both the conditions are not fulfilled.

Taiwan is currently struggling with the problem of declining birth rate and rapidly increasing elderly population. For this reason, apart from countries like Indonesia and Philippines, it is also exploring options to bring laborers from new countries. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Taipei and New Delhi in February 2024, under which a plan was made to recruit Indian workers in Taiwan.

pilot project plan
Taiwan’s Labor Minister Hung Sun-han had said earlier this month that about 1,000 Indian workers could come to Taiwan this year under the pilot program. However, opposition to this scheme has increased among the political and general public, due to which the government now seems cautious. During a question-and-answer session in Parliament on Tuesday, Labor Minister Hang Sun-han said, “If the demands of the industry and India’s conditions are not met, then the question of bringing workers does not arise.” He also said that security is the first priority of the government. “Security is of utmost importance to us and it is a top priority,” he said in Parliament.

Situation of foreign workers in Taiwan
According to government figures, more than 8.7 lakh foreign laborers are currently working in Taiwan. More than 60% of these people are employed in manufacturing, construction, agriculture and caregiving sectors. This plan has been opposed by the leaders of the main opposition party Kuomintang (KMT). They say that this could pose a threat to the safety of women and children.

Concern about missing workers
KMT MP Wang Hung-Wei said that there are many migrant workers in Taiwan who have lost contact with the administration. He described it as a “black hole” like situation. According to government data, more than 93,000 foreign workers were reported “missing” as of the end of February but are still present in Taiwan. A petition has been filed demanding an indefinite halt to the scheme, which has been signed by more than 42,000 people. At the same time, India’s representative office in Taipei has refused to comment on this matter.

Thousands of Chinese fishing boats were seen gathered in geometric shapes in East China Xi in recent months. Experts believe that this activity could be part of preparation for a possible regional crisis or military situation. Jason Wang, an analyst who monitors the activity of ships, noticed that a large number of Chinese fishing boats were standing in two inverted L-shaped parallel lines. The length of these lines was approximately 400 kilometers. At that time about 2,000 boats were seen simultaneously and several thousand ships were passing through that busy sea route.

These ships were identified by their Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals, which works like GPS and helps avoid collisions with ships. According to reports, some boats were parked just 500 meters away from each other and remained in place for about 30 hours amid strong winds. After this they suddenly scattered in different directions. It is believed that such straight and precise lines are rarely seen in natural conditions. This is the reason why this activity has attracted the attention of defense experts. This incident was recorded about 300 kilometers north-east of Taiwan.

Where does China’s boat work?

Even in early January, a large group of about 1,000 Chinese fishing boats was seen in the same area, spread in a rectangular shape for about 400 kilometers. Recently about 1,200 boats again stood in two parallel lines at one place for about 30 hours. Let us tell you that China has the world’s largest fishing fleet, which works in Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea. Fishermen from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and Philippines also fish in this area. Although there is no complete consensus as to why these boats gathered together, many experts believe that they were not there for fishing. Gregory Poling said that he had never seen such a large gathering of fishing boats outside the port before.

China can siege Taiwan

According to AFP report, this could be a test of China’s capability, in which a large number of civilian ships can be mobilized together and used in military operations. For example, these boats can be used during the siege of Taiwan or any regional conflict. According to Jennifer Parker, having so many boats at such close distance cannot be normal fishing activity. He said that this activity could show the ability to coordinate from a military point of view. David Krudsma also said that China’s fishing fleet is very organized and it is possible that the vessels have been ordered to stop fishing in a particular area or to gather in one place for some exercise. It is believed that China is working on a strategy to include its civilian ships in military plans. If there is any major military operation regarding Taiwan, then such civilian ships can be used to help the army.

China’s plan against Taiwan

Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, China has increased military pressure around Taiwan in recent years. According to the 2025 report of the United States Defense Department, China is trying to achieve such military capability by 2027 that it will be able to fight a war against Taiwan. Many experts believe that China’s maritime militia provides military assistance when needed. He can get involved in such activities. This network has already been used to strengthen China’s territorial claims in South China Xi.

America and Israel attacked Iran and the war continues on full scale. On the other hand, Russia has been fighting a war with Ukraine for the last four years. China also seems to be continuously exerting military pressure on Taiwan. At such a time, there is a lot of discussion on social media about North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. People are making memes and asking what is Kim Jong doing when military tensions are at such a peak in the world? In memes, Kim Jong is shown like a child who has weapons from all over the world, but no one to play with.

Elections are being held in North Korea

North Korea will elect representatives for its national assembly this month. Government media gave this information on March 4, 2026. This election is taking place after the recent big meeting of the ruling party. The focus in this election will be on whether leader Kim Jong Un will be made the President. It is the country’s highest government post, which was previously reserved for the country’s founder and Kim’s late grandfather Kim Il Sung.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Pyongyang’s official news agency, said that the election of representatives will be held on March 15, 2026. This decision has been taken on the basis of the decision of the Standing Committee of Parliament. The elected representatives will be to the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA), which is often considered the only formal approving parliament. This election is being held after the summit of the ruling Workers’ Party held every five years. In this meeting, from diplomacy to war planning, the direction of many policies and actions of the state is decided.

Kim Jong Un’s attitude towards South Korea and America

Kim Jong Un has said many times that South Korea will be defined as an ‘enemy’ and a separate country. This idea is now expected to be included in the Constitution. He described Seoul’s recent peace efforts as “a crude and deceitful drama and a very bad thing.”

US President Donald Trump may try to meet Kim Jong Un during his possible visit to China in April. After the party summit on February 25, Kim Jong Un said that his country could “live together” with the United States if the United States accepted North Korea’s nuclear power status.

America’s stance on North Korea’s nuclear program

America has been trying to end North Korea’s nuclear program for several decades. For this, summit meetings, sanctions and diplomatic pressure were used, but so far it has had very little effect.

The US Air Force is in dire need of manufacturing at least 200 new B-21 Raider stealth bombers to counter China’s growing military power. This demand has been made in a new report, which warns that the current number is very low and a large number of advanced bombers are necessary for America’s victory in a possible war with China, especially in case of an attack on Taiwan.

Shocking revelations in American think tank report

The report Strategic ‘Attack: Maintaining the Air Force Capacity to Deny Enemy Sanctuaries’ report by US-backed think tank Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, released on 9 February 2026, was authored by retired Colonel Mark A. Gunzinger (USAF) and Heather R. Penny has written. Main points in this:

• The current bomber strength of the US Air Force is only ‘Red Force’ (one-time attack), not ‘Campaign Force’ (long-lasting operation). Stealth bombers have become very few in number due to force reductions and delays in modernization over the decades since the Cold War.
• In a war with China (such as an attack on Taiwan), it is necessary to prevent the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from launching air and missile attacks from ‘sanctuary’ (safe base) on the mainland. The report says that ‘a strong attack is the best defense.’ The US strategy is limited to preventing the occupation of Taiwan, but a balanced strategy should include strategic strikes on China’s military leadership, command and control, and long-range forces.
• China’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) networks and geography provide it with safe havens from which it can launch high-density threats. America needs long-range penetrating airpower to deny these sanctuaries.

B-21 bomber made for long range missions

The B-21 Raider is a sixth-generation stealth bomber, which dodges radar, performs long-range missions, can carry nuclear weapons and can penetrate advanced air defenses. America currently wants to make at least 100 B-21, while the new report recommends making 200 B-21 bombers. Also retain the existing 76 B-52 (upgraded). If B-52s are retained, a total of 224 B-21s may have to be purchased to meet the target of 200. Do not retire the B-1 and B-2 until 100 B-21s are operational.

What other recommendations are on Mitchell Institute’s list?

The report asked the US government to increase the number of Kathi generation F-47 fighter jets from 185 to 300. A total of more than 500 next generation fighters and bombers (B-21 + F-47) are required to attack targets in China from the inside out and destroy the PLA’s missile capabilities. Also increase the number of F-35.

What is the strategic importance of this report?

The 200 B-21s are needed not for ‘World War III’, but for hold back, credible deterrence and attrition reserves in a protracted conflict. B-21 and F-47 together will enter the enemy airspace and carry out decisive attacks.

The report says a force with less strength cannot achieve ‘peace through strength’ and cannot win if deterrence fails. This is a strategic decision of the nation, not just of the Air Force. The report emphasizes that there is a need for additional funding, conduct cost-per-impact analysis and determine the force mix through wargaming.

This report has come amid US-China tension, where the Pentagon is focusing on increasing its power in the Indo-Pacific. However, these recommendations are not official policy, but advice from think tanks, which could spark major debate on budget, production and defense spending. B-21 is in production and the first flight test has been done, but increasing the number will increase both cost and time.