US Cannot Beat China in a War

Well, this is a fine how do you do.  Our allies in Asia doubt that the United States could defeat the Chinese Military.

“The overwhelming assessment by Asian officials, diplomats and analysts is that the U.S. military simply cannot defeat China. It has been an assessment relayed to U.S. government officials over the past few months by countries such as Australia, Japan and South Korea. This comes as President Bush wraps up a visit to Asia, in which he sought to strengthen U.S. ties with key allies in the region.”

The Governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara,  has even gone so far as saying “the United States would lose any war with China”

This site has taken the position that there will be a Chinese American war in the future, America is woefully unprepared for this war.  Our Navy has been gutted, out Army and Marines are gaining valuable experience in urban warfare, but lack the experience and now the training in conducting large scale land warfare that we had been honed to fight in the 80’s.  

The war with China will be a very deadly one.  It will involve large scale blue water operations, something that our military is decidedly ill equipped to fight, now.  Over the last 15 years the US Navy has focused it policy, training and budget planning on littoral warefare which is operating against the coasts, lobbing missiles at targets in land.  

Carriers: 12 (+1 under construction)
NIMITZ (CVN-68) Class has nine active and one building
ENTERPRISE (CVN-65)
There are only two conventional powered carriers, USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) and USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67).  KENNEDY is in poor material condition (in 2001 he CO was stripped of command because the ship could not be deployed, but has since made two deployments) KITTY HAWK was commissioned in 1961 and is the oldest vessel in commission in the fleet at 45 years old.    

Battleships: 0 (2 in decommission/reserve status)
The US Navy owns only two battleships, both decommissioned.  This leaves the navy with the largest caliber gun of 5”.
IOWA (BB-61) Stricken for disposal 12 January 1995 but retained as a parts source.
Reinstated on the Naval Vessels Register and returned to reserve status 4 January 1999.
NEW JERSY (BB-62) Stricken for disposal 12, January 1995. Retained in reserve; reinstated on the Naval Vessels Register, in reserve, 12, February 1998. Stricken for preservation in New Jersey, 4 January, 1999. Towed to Philadelphia, 12 Sept 1999 - 11 Nov 1999 for Museum.
MISSOURI (BB-63) Stricken for disposal January 12, 1995. Donated for preservation May 4, 1998, preserved as a museum at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, June 1998
WISCONSIN (BB-64) Stricken for disposal 12 January 1995 but retained in reserve. Reinstated on the Naval Vessels Register, in reserve, 12 February 1998. Berthed at Norfolk, VA; to become a museum-in-reserve, with the weather decks open to the public, but the ship still maintained in reserve and owned by the Navy.

Cruisers:  23
TICONDEROGA (CG-47) Class - 23 ships of this class of 27 are in service, with more scheduled for decommissioning.  
All previous cruises are decommissioned including all nuclear powered guided missile cruisers.

Destroyers: 47 (+8 under construction or planned)
All of the SPRUANCE (DD-963) class destroyers have been decommissioned and most have been or are slated to be sunk as targets, not even keeping them in reserve.  This leaves only the 47 (plus 8 planned or under construction) Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class destroyers in the fleet with no back up.

Frigates: 30 (26 Active 4 Reserve)
20 of the 51 OLIVER HAZZARD PERRY (FFG-7) class frigates have been decommissioned and have been either transferred, or scrapped. All of the KNOX (FF-1052) class have been stricken or sold.

Attack Submarines (SSN): 60
1+6 (building or planned) Virginia (SSN-774) Class
3 SEAWOLF Class
50 LOS ANGELES (SSN-688) Class (86 LA’s built)

Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBN): 14
14 OHIO (SSBN-726) CLASS

Guided Missile Submarines (SSGN): 4
4 OHIO (SSGN-726) Class – The four lead ships of the OHIO class are being converted to carry 154 guided missiles (tomahawks, vice nukes) and for conducting SEAL operations.


We have a decent navy, but it has lost its focus. The command authority needs to realize that without control of the seas, they will not be able to conduct their coastal support operations.