Air Force General Mike Minihan issued a memo on January 27, 2023 to officers he commands that there will be a war between China and the US in 2025. Minihan told his subordinates to prepare by firing “a clip” at a target and “aim for the head.”
NBC News obtained the memo. In this memo, Minihan said, “I hope I am wrong. My gut tells me will fight in 2025.” Minihan is the head of the Air Mobility Command, which has close to 50,000 service members and nearly 500 planes and is tasked with transport and refueling.
Minihan noted in the memo that due to both Taiwan and the US having presidential elections in 2024, the US will be “distracted.” In turn, China will have a golden opportunity to use military force against Taiwan.
He put forward plans to build “a fortified, ready, integrated, and agile Joint Force Maneuver Team ready to fight and win inside the first island chain.”
The signed memo is directed to all air wing commanders in Air Mobility Command and other Air Force operational commanders. On top of that, the memo orders the commanders to report all major campaigns to prepare for a clash with China to Minihan by February 28.
While the Russo-Ukrainian conflict rages on, the Pentagon still has its sights set on China — the country that it views as the US’s primary strategic challenge. There are many members of the American ruling class who want a clash with China, which would be a boon for the military-industrial complex. Hence, the “pivot to Asia” that has been made since the early 2010s. While this pivot has taken time to materialize, the US’s geopolitical momentum is clearly moving there.
The China question can be addressed in a much more reasonable fashion — via immigration restriction and economic protectionism. However, pursuing the same strategy used to confront Russia in Ukraine and applying to China will result in a geopolitical catastrophe of epic proportions.