US intelligence prepared a report on how China is using the US and Israeli war with Iran to enhance its superiority over Washington in the military, economic, diplomatic and other fields. This was reported by The Washington Post on May 14, citing sources.
According to the journalists’ interlocutors, the intelligence agencies submitted the report this week to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Cain. The intelligence assessment, WP wrote, raised concerns in the Pentagon about the geopolitical costs of the US confrontation with Iran.
The report said that during the war in the Middle East, China sold weapons to US allies in the Persian Gulf and helped countries around the world with energy resources amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
In addition, intelligence indicated that because of the war, the United States was left without huge reserves of ammunition, which “could play a decisive role in the event of a possible confrontation with China over Taiwan,” the newspaper wrote. The Washington Post points out that the conflict with Iran also allowed Beijing to learn how the United States wages wars and learn lessons to plan its future operations.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell described “allegations that the global balance of power has shifted in favor of any country other than the United States of America” as false. He also added that the Pentagon “possesses the strong and flexible arsenal and industrial capabilities necessary to protect the country, secure its interests, and deter any adversary.”
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wells said that during the 38 days of war, the United States dealt “a crushing blow to the Iranian regime’s military capabilities,” and the American armed forces are “the greatest fighting force on the planet.”
The Chinese embassy in the United States said that Beijing is committed to “promoting peace and working to calm the situation.” Chinese diplomats called for preventing the resumption of hostilities in the Middle East and not exploiting the situation to “throw mud at other countries.”
US intelligence prepared its report before US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14. During the talks, the Chinese leader warned that there could be “clashes and even conflicts” between the two countries over Taiwan.
China considers Taiwan its territory. It is assumed that a military invasion of Taiwan by Chinese forces could begin as early as 2027. The United States has historically been Taiwan’s main ally.