The United States spends billions of dollars on weapons research and development. However, there’s a risk that much of the tech we are paying for winds up in the hands of the Chinese, allowing them to copy our tech without having to invest in its development. The Pentagon just released an expansive report examining the issue, and the conclusions are troubling.
The report claims: “China uses a variety of methods to acquire foreign military and dual-use technologies, including targeted foreign direct investment, cyber theft, and exploitation of private Chinese nationals’ access to these technologies, as well as harnessing its intelligence services, computer intrusions, and other illicit approaches.”
The report explained that the Chinese were able to steal military equipment, including anti-submarine and aviation technology. The report also noted that China has doubled its military budget over the last decade alone, making the country one of the biggest spenders in the world.
China’s navy is becoming a particularly bright spot. China has some 300 ships, including 130 large ships, and is expected to rapidly grow its submarine fleet in the years ahead. China is expected to launch its first domestic-built aircraft carrier in the near future as well.
China’s navy will allow it to exert a tremendous amount of influence throughout the Asia Pacific. It will also be harder to challenge China’s claims to the South China Seas. With such a large navy on hand, the risks of a conflict between the United States and China will only increase. The United States rejects China’s claims to the South China Seas.
