Thinking About China
Opinion

Calling China a Near-Peer Competitor of the US Is Plain Silly

Calling China a Near-Peer Competitor of the US Is Plain Silly
Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers take part in military training at Pamir Mountains in Kashgar, northwestern China's Xinjiang region, on Jan. 4, 2021. STR/AFP via Getty Images
Mike Fredenburg
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Commentary
The U.S. government officially identifies China as a near-peer competitor. This was undoubtedly true 20 years ago. But in 2024, with China outstripping the United States in scientific research while maintaining a shipbuilding capacity 232 times greater than that of the United States, continuing to label China as being merely a near-peer competitor risks U.S. policymakers underestimating the Chinese regime.
Mike Fredenburg
Mike Fredenburg
Author
Mike Fredenburg writes on military technology and defense matters with an emphasis on defense reform. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and master's degree in production operations management.