Global Times, which acts under the auspices of the Chinese Communist Party‘s flagship newspaper, the People’s Daily, recently published an official commentary on the just announced US B-21 Raider stealth strategic bomber. This is the new generation of bombers that the United States launched after more than 30 years. The U.S. Secretary of Defense declared, “Even the most advanced air defense systems will find it difficult to detect the B-21 in the air.” The CEO of the manufacturer Northrop Grumman boasted that the world “has never seen any technology like the B-21.” Since the US Air Force Secretary has repeatedly stated that he wants to use the B-21 to “deter China,” many US media have focused on the so-called “response to the China’s threat” talking point. Under such a high-profile propaganda campaign, the true face of the B-21 is still mysterious, with no specifications announced. This is in stark contrast to when the B-2 debuted more than 30 years ago. It appears that the B-21 is an important link in the continuation of the U.S. military-industry chain of interests. Only by continuously exaggerating the China Threat can they get a larger budget from the U.S. Congress. In the meantime, the high-profile promotion of the B-21 also has the U.S. military taking the opportunity to build up the tension in the Taiwan Strait, thereby accelerating the transfer of military resources to the Asia-Pacific region and the intention of attracting allies. However, even those who are not professional military personnel or scholars should understand a simple truth: the so-called “deterrence” has always been a combination of military strength and political determination. During the Korean War and the Vietnam War, how much American equipment was reduced to scrap iron on the battlefield? What kind of weapons the United States develops is its own business. However, if the U.S. threatens and intimidates China with this new toy, it will only become a gently falling paper airplane.
Source: Global Times, December 4, 2022
https://opinion.huanqiu.com/article/4AjvyRzujUy