How might a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan unfold? China’s anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) strategy—a combination of missiles, submarines, sensors, and air defenses—is designed specifically to block and disrupt US air, sea, and even space and cyber power. But the true outcome of the operation will hinge on the rapid mobilization of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) ground forces, argues recently retired four-star general Charles Flynn, former commander of U.S. Army Pacific. He warns that the real “center of gravity” of a Chinese invasion will lie in its ability to rapidly assemble, deploy, and transport land forces across the Taiwan Strait. “What keeps me up at night is their ability to actually pull that off in 96 hours,” Flynn says. He is convinced that building a “strategic land power network” and forging deep, enduring ties with partner armies in Asia will be vital to deterring the Chinese regime. In this episode, Flynn lays out a roadmap for how the U.S. military should rethink its strategy, technology, and partnerships to deter Beijing and safeguard its allies in the Indo-Pacific. “This century is going to be defined by the relationship between the United States and China. … We’ve said we’ve pivoted to the Pacific for more than a decade, and in actual behavior and actions, that’s not accurate,” Flynn says. Before commanding U.S. Army Pacific, Flynn served as the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Training (G3/5/7). He is the brother of General Michael Flynn, former national security advisor to President Donald Trump. Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
