Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The competition for military power from the superpowers is increasingly heating up in the current issue of international relations. Most recently, it was reported that the development of defense equipment from China was very fast at a time when the US was experiencing bureaucratic problems and the relationship between the two was deteriorating.
This was conveyed by the Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States (US), General John Hyten. According to him, with these bureaucratic disturbances and problems, China will gradually become the country with the strongest military capability in the world. He gave an example with the development of hypersonic missiles that were reportedly successfully launched by Beijing and failed to be launched by Washington.
“Calling China a threat is the right term because the speed with which China is moving is amazing,” Hyten told reporters at the Defense Writers Group roundtable on Thursday (28/10).
Regarding hypersonic missile weapons, previously the US, China and Russia successfully tested hypersonic missile technology with different timeframes this October.
Financial Times reports China has successfully tested a hypersonic glide vehicle capable of carrying nuclear weapons. They reported the glide vehicle was launched from an orbital bombing system. Even so, the Chinese side denied the existence of these reports.
“The test is not (for hypersonic missiles, but) routine tests for spacecraft,” the Chinese side said.
China briefly launched a hypersonic medium-range missile, the DF-17, in 2019. The missile can cover a range of about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) and can carry a nuclear warhead.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on the specifics of the report. But he added that he was concerned about China’s pursuit of military capabilities.
“Abilities that only increase tensions between the region and its surroundings. This is one reason why we consider China as the number one challenger,” said John.
In addition, during the military conference on weapons and equipment-related work held in Beijing last Monday and Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping has also called on his defense side to develop the country’s military weapons and equipment.
Citing the Global Times, Xi’s call was manifested in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan. Xi said this step was also necessary to welcome the centenary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in 2027.
Chinese military expert, Song Zhongping, said that China must build a strong military to prepare itself well for possible wars in the future.
“So the PLA needs to aim to become a world-class military power, the arsenal that China is developing should at least empower its military with the power to defeat the most powerful and most advanced military power in the world in the region,” he said.
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