A top US Marine general has warned that China now stands as America’s military equal and urged urgent preparations for a possible future conflict.
A senior United States Marine Corps general has warned that China is no longer a “near-peer” rival but a full military equal to America. Lt. Gen. Stephen Sklenka said Beijing now rivals Washington “in nearly every single measure of national influence” and poses the biggest strategic threat facing the United States.
Speaking at the 2026 Modern Day Marine Expo in Washington, Sklenka said any future conflict with China would dwarf the current Iran crisis. He cited China’s industrial strength, expanding missile arsenal, rapid shipbuilding capacity and growing nuclear stockpile as evidence of its rising power.
The general urged the US to harden military bases and prepare for cyberattacks, drone swarms and supply disruptions. He said future wars may begin through attacks on infrastructure rather than missiles, adding that American installations must now be treated as frontline warfighting platforms.