U.S. general: "If we go to war with China…"

Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka, deputy commandant for installations and logistics in the United States Marine Corps, said during a military exhibition in Washington, D.C. that China is no longer merely an “approximately equal” adversary, but a true rival to the United States in nearly every aspect of global influence.

“There is no greater threat than the People’s Republic of China. Don’t listen to the nonsense that they are roughly equal. They are equal because they are catching up with us in nearly every aspect of national power,” Sklenka said.

He warned that a potential conflict with China would be far more complex and dangerous than current operations against Iran. Although Iran is a much weaker power, it has demonstrated the ability to inflict serious damage on U.S. forces and allies, including drone and ballistic missile attacks on bases across the Middle East.

“Only a few months into combat operations, and we already have dead and wounded. Iran has launched hundreds of drones and missiles at our bases and allies,” Sklenka said, adding that U.S. military bases can no longer be seen as safe rear areas, but as key battle points.

According to him, China possesses far greater economic, industrial, and military capacities than Iran. He particularly highlighted the rapid development of China’s military industry, including shipbuilding, weapons production, and advanced technologies.

“In the past 10 to 15 years, China’s industrial base has surpassed our production. Their shipbuilding capacity is reportedly 230 times greater than that of the United States,” he noted.

He also warned about the rapid expansion of China’s nuclear arsenal, modernization of submarines, and the development of warfare tactics based on artificial intelligence and drone swarms.

Speaking about Beijing’s strategy, Sklenka stated that Chinese leadership aims to assume global leadership and reshape the existing international order.

“Their intent is clear. They want to take the position of the world’s leading power, and they do not intend to share it with anyone,” he said.

He also specifically warned about the vulnerability of U.S. military bases, stressing that future conflicts could begin with unconventional attacks.

“The first strike likely won’t come in the form of missiles or bombers. It could be a cyberattack on the power grid, a disinformation campaign, or a drone attack within the base itself,” he explained.

He emphasized that the United States Armed Forces must urgently strengthen infrastructure, improve counter-drone defenses, and ensure the resilience of communication and energy systems.

“Our bases must become combat platforms. We won’t just fight from them—in many cases, we will be fighting for them,” concluded Stephen Sklenka.