'My Gut Says We'll Fight In 2025': US General Warns Of Possible War With China

In his memo, General Mike Minihan wrote both the United States and Taiwan will hold presidential elections in 2024 which would potentially create an opportunity for China to take military action.

A four-star US Air Force general in an unusual memo told troops under his command that the United States would fight China in the next two years. "I hope I am wrong," General Mike Minihan, who heads the Air Mobility Command, disclosed in a memo to the leadership of its roughly 110,000 members. "My gut tells me will fight in 2025," he said in the memo, reported news agency Reuters.

However, Pentagon officials said that the comments were not in line with American military assessments.

In his memo, the top general wrote that both the United States and Taiwan will hold presidential elections in 2024, potentially creating an opportunity for China to take military action.

“Xi secured his third term and set his war council in October 2022. Taiwan’s presidential elections are in 2024 and will offer Xi a reason. United States’ presidential elections are in 2024 and will offer Xi a distracted America. Xi’s team, reason, and opportunity are all aligned for 2025," the Washington Post quoted General Minihan as saying.

The letter was dated February 1 but had been sent out on Friday.

"These comments are not representative of the department's view on China," a US defence official said according to Reuters.

Even though the general's views don't resonate with the Pentagon but raise potential concern at the highest levels of the US military in regard to a possible attempt by China to exert control over Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.

Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said in a statement that military competition with China is a central challenge. "Our focus remains on working alongside allies and partners to preserve a peaceful, free and open Indo-Pacific," he said.

Earlier this month, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that he seriously doubted that ramped-up Chinese military activities near the Taiwan Strait were a sign of an imminent invasion of the island by Beijing.

In recent years, China has beefed up its diplomatic, military, and economic pressure on the island to accept Beijing's rule. Taiwan's government says it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked.

The current US defence budget proposal, which enables up to $10 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, has drawn criticism from China for exaggerating the threat of China and meddling in its internal affairs.

(With inputs from Reuters)