Congressman McCaul on Air Force general’s prediction of war with China in 2025: ‘I hope he’s wrong … I think he’s right’

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, weighed in on the forecast from four-star Air Force Gen. Mike Minihan, who warned his commanders to prepare for war with China after about two years.

Minihan predicted the fighting would come after China took advantage of the US preoccupation with the 2024 election to take action against Taiwan, which will also focus on its elections next year.

“I hope he’s wrong,” McCall said “Fox News Sunday” hosted by Shannon Bream. “Still, I think he’s right, unfortunately.”

McCall explained that China very much wants the “unification” of Taiwan with mainland China. He said this could be done by influencing Taiwan’s elections in early 2024.

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“But if they don’t win in that, they’re going to be looking at a military invasion, in my estimation. We have to be prepared for that.”

McCaul said that “as long as Biden is in office and projects weakness,” there is a “very good” chance of that happening. He cited the failure of the Biden administration with withdrawal from afghanistan, which he says led to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Later in the program, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, Adam Smith, D-Washington, disagreed with McCaul and Minihan’s assessment of a possible war with China.

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“I want to be perfectly clear. Not only is this not inevitable, it is highly unlikely,” he said.

Smith acknowledged that “anything is possible” and the military should be prepared, said that “generals should be very careful” with what they say and should not tell the world that the U.S. is going to war with China, the most important because we are no.”

The Democrat said that while the U.S. should be able to deter China, he is “very confident” that military conflict can be avoided.

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NBC News reported Friday that Minihan, the Air Mobility Command chief, warned air wing commanders in a memo that his “gut instinct” was telling him a conflict with China was coming.

The general said a “hardened, ready, integrated and agile Joint Force Maneuver Team ready to fight and win in the first island chain” must be created to prepare for the looming battle, and instructed commanders to report to February 28 steps they will take to prepare for war against China.