If US and China Go To War, Who Loses (Hour by Hour)

Summary

In this detailed scenario, China's leader Xi Jinping initiates a coordinated cyber and missile attack on the United States and its Pacific allies. As China targets American infrastructure and military bases, the U.S. scrambles to defend itself while facing unprecedented cyber disruptions. Xi's bold moves to secure the Pacific and invade Taiwan are met with fierce resistance. The U.S. and its allies, leveraging economic sanctions and NATO support, counterattack, leading to a devastating conflict that ultimately forces China to capitulate. The scenario highlights the complexity and global impact of a potential war between these superpowers, exploring strategic decisions, military tactics, and geopolitical alliances.

Takeaways

• 🚀 China’s military modernization under Xi Jinping has made significant advancements, including nuclear weapons and one of the largest navies in the world.
• 💻 The initial stage of China’s attack on the United States focuses on cyber warfare, targeting American infrastructure and military systems to disrupt responses and aid delivery to Taiwan.
• 🎯 China's strategic goal is to secure a passage through the Pacific, with Taiwan as a primary target to break through U.S. allies like Japan and South Korea.
• 🔥 The missile attacks target U.S. bases in Japan, South Korea, Guam, and Hawaii, aiming to weaken America's rapid response capabilities.
• 🛡️ Despite cyber and missile assaults, the U.S. activates its missile defense systems, which manage to intercept many but not all of China’s missiles.
• ⚔️ Taiwan's defense, including its Patriot air defense system, withstands initial missile barrages, preparing for a ground invasion that faces extensive fortifications.
• 🌏 U.S. allies in NATO and Asia rally to support America, leveraging economic sanctions and trade blockades to further weaken China.
• 🚢 The U.S. counterattacks with a powerful naval force, including NATO and allied navies, and utilizes advanced tactics like the Rapid Dragon missile drops to turn the tide.
• ✈️ Air superiority shifts as the U.S. and its allies conduct continuous missile barrages, crippling Chinese airbases and cutting off naval routes into Taiwan.
• 🛑 The economic and military strain on China, coupled with the strong allied response, forces Xi to consider the possibility of losing the war without resorting to nuclear options.

Q & A

What are some of the key military assets that China has developed over the past decade?

China has modernized its military with nuclear weapons (around 500), one of the world's largest navies, and 2.035 million active military personnel.

Why is Xi Jinping planning cyberattacks as the first stage of his assault on the United States?

Xi plans cyberattacks to hack into American infrastructure and military defense systems, limiting America's response to the attack and disrupting critical services.

How did the United States previously counter Chinese cyberattacks?

In December 2023, the United States conducted an operation to disrupt a network of SOHO routers that China had taken control of using the KV Botnet.

What is the strategic importance of Taiwan in Xi Jinping's plan?

Taiwan is crucial because by securing it, China can break through the Pacific nations allied with the United States, including Japan and South Korea, and clear a route to the American mainland.

What are the primary targets of China's missile barrage in the initial stages of the conflict?

China targets U.S. bases in Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, as well as the U.S. Pacific Fleet and American ships in the Pacific.

How does the United States plan to defend against China's missile barrage?

The U.S. relies on its missile defense systems, including DSP satellites and Ground-Based Interceptors stationed in Alaska and California, to detect and destroy incoming missiles.

What role does the U.S. Space Force play in the conflict?

The U.S. Space Force oversees DSP satellites, which detect China's missile launches, giving the U.S. time to organize its defenses.

How does the international community, including NATO, respond to China's attack on the United States?

NATO and other U.S. allies support America, invoking Article 5 of the NATO charter, which considers an attack on one member an attack on all, thereby bringing Europe and other allies into the conflict.

What are some of the economic measures taken by the United States to weaken China during the conflict?

The U.S. organizes heavy sanctions against China, cutting off its import of goods, equipment, and oil, creating a trade blockade that limits China's resources.

What is the outcome of the initial invasion attempts on Taiwan by China?

China's attempts to invade Taiwan face fierce resistance, with Taiwan using missile strikes, beach combat, and urban warfare tactics to delay and repel Chinese forces.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ Xi Jinping's Strategic Preparations

Xi Jinping, in his office with trusted advisors, feels prepared after spending billions modernizing China's military. China has nuclear weapons, one of the largest navies, and the most active military members globally. Xi plans to bring war to the US but must first secure the Pacific. The strategy begins with cyberattacks to cripple US infrastructure and military defense systems, followed by targeting key military installations and disrupting aid to Taiwan.

05:02

⚔️ China's Cyber and Missile Assault

China initiates cyberattacks, disrupting US infrastructure and military logistics. The People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) launches thousands of missiles targeting Taiwan, US Pacific Fleet, and bases in Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Despite the risks, Xi prioritizes weakening US naval capabilities to pave the way for a broader assault.

10:08

🌐 Escalating Conflict and Economic Warfare

As China attacks, the US scrambles to defend and counteract. Xi's missile strikes cause significant damage but also bring Japan and South Korea into the war. Biden responds with economic sanctions, leveraging alliances to block China's imports, especially oil. This strategy aims to strain China's resources, creating a time-sensitive conflict.

15:11

🛡️ NATO and Allied Counterattack

Biden invokes NATO’s Article 5, rallying European and Asian allies. The US, with NATO support, prepares a massive naval and aerial counteroffensive focusing on the Taiwan Strait. China’s attempts to secure Taiwan face fierce resistance and strategic setbacks. The US and allies' combined naval power begin turning the tide against China.

20:12

🚀 Rapid Dragon and Allied Superiority

The US employs the Rapid Dragon tactic, deploying cruise missiles from cargo aircraft to overwhelm Chinese defenses. Despite Chinese submarine attacks, the US and allies gain control of the Taiwan Strait, cutting off Chinese forces. The effective counterstrategy significantly diminishes China's ability to continue its offensive.

25:13

🛑 China’s Retreat and Capitulation

Facing overwhelming allied forces, China retreats. Xi contemplates but avoids nuclear options due to the assured mutual destruction. The failed invasion of Taiwan, combined with effective US and allied strategies, forces China to capitulate. The war leaves China isolated and heavily sanctioned, while the US and its allies reinforce military restrictions on China, showcasing the power of international cooperation in defense.

Keywords

💡Cyberattacks

Cyberattacks refer to the deliberate exploitation of computer systems and networks, often to cause disruption or gain unauthorized access to data. In the video, China initiates cyberattacks on American infrastructure, such as water systems, electrical grids, and communication systems, to cripple the U.S. response capabilities before launching a physical military assault.

💡People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF)

PLARF is a branch of China's military responsible for strategic missile forces, including both nuclear and conventional missiles. In the video, Xi Jinping activates PLARF to launch a barrage of missiles targeting U.S. military bases in Japan, South Korea, and other strategic locations, aiming to weaken American defenses and delay their response.

💡Taiwan

Taiwan is a significant island nation claimed by China as part of its territory. In the video, Taiwan is the primary target of China's invasion as securing it would provide a strategic route for China to advance through the Pacific towards the U.S. mainland. The video describes intense missile barrages and ground troop landings as part of China's effort to control Taiwan.

💡NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance of 31 member countries committed to mutual defense in response to an armed attack. In the video, the United States invokes Article 5 of the NATO charter, which declares that an attack on one member is an attack on all, thereby bringing NATO allies into the conflict against China.

💡Article 5

Article 5 of the NATO charter stipulates that an armed attack against one or more NATO members is considered an attack against them all, prompting collective defense measures. In the video, the U.S. leverages Article 5 to rally NATO allies to support its defense against China's military aggression.

💡Missile Defense Systems

Missile defense systems are designed to detect, track, and intercept incoming missiles. The video describes the U.S. and its allies using missile defense systems to counter Chinese missile barrages. Systems like Ground-Based Interceptors in Alaska and California play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of Chinese attacks.

💡Rapid Dragon tactic

The Rapid Dragon tactic involves retrofitting cargo aircraft to drop pallets of long-range missiles, enabling a large-scale missile barrage. In the video, the U.S. uses this tactic to launch cruise missiles from MC-130J aircraft, overwhelming Chinese missile defense systems and striking naval targets in the Taiwan Strait.

💡Sanctions

Sanctions are restrictive measures imposed by countries to penalize and pressure other nations. In the video, the U.S. organizes heavy sanctions against China, cutting off its access to vital imports such as oil and goods from Europe and other allied nations. These sanctions aim to weaken China's economic stability and reduce its ability to sustain the war.

💡Urban warfare

Urban warfare refers to combat conducted in urban areas such as cities and towns. In the video, Taiwanese and American forces engage in urban warfare against Chinese troops attempting to reach Taipei. The fortified defenses and challenging terrain make it difficult for China's forces to advance, contributing to the overall attrition strategy.

💡Pacific Fleet

The Pacific Fleet is a major component of the U.S. Navy, responsible for operations in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In the video, China's initial missile attacks target the U.S. Pacific Fleet to disrupt its ability to respond to the invasion of Taiwan. The fleet's ships and personnel play a critical role in the subsequent counteroffensive against China.

Highlights

Xi Jinping feels ready to bring war to the United States after modernizing China’s military over the past decade.

China has around 500 nuclear weapons and one of the world’s largest navies.

China’s military has more active members than any other nation, with 2.035 million people.

The war strategy starts with cyberattacks targeting American infrastructure and military defense systems.

Xi Jinping plans to secure the Pacific before directly attacking the American mainland.

A network of Chinese hackers initiates cyberattacks on American water systems, electrical grids, and communications systems near key military installations.

China targets the networks of companies providing critical services to America’s military.

The primary target is Taiwan, which China has claimed for decades should be part of the People’s Republic.

Xi Jinping activates the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) with a missile barrage aimed at Taiwan and U.S. Pacific Fleet bases.

Missiles target American bases in Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, aiming to weaken the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

China’s missile attack includes the DF-26 and the hypersonic DF-27 missiles aimed at Guam and Hawaii.

American missile defense systems detect the launches, and President Joe Biden organizes the country's defenses.

Xi Jinping launches a three-pronged missile attack targeting American naval bases, ships in the Pacific, and bases in Guam and Hawaii.

Missile strikes on Okinawa and Kadena Airbase cause significant damage, but American bases are not fully out of commission.

China’s cyberattacks cause temporary disarray in the U.S., allowing Xi to focus on invading Taiwan.

Transcripts

Hour 0.

Sitting in his office surrounded by his most trusted advisors, Xi Jinping feels ready.

Over the past decade or more, he’s spent billions upon billions modernizing China’s

military.

His nation now has nuclear weapons – around 500 of them[a] – and he’s built one of

the world’s largest navies.

Add to all of that the fact that China’s military has more active members than any

other nation, with 2.035 million people to call on.[b]

He's going to bring war to the United States.

But to do so, he has to carefully coordinate attacks throughout the Pacific.

He knows that the United States has bases in Japan and South Korea – around 190 in

those two countries alone – and a powerful navy that, though smaller than his, packs

a lot more firepower.

A full-frontal assault on the United States without taking care of those problems first

would be suicide.

He needs to secure the Pacific, giving China a route toward the American mainland, as a

priority.

His attack doesn’t begin with missile launches.

It starts on the cyber front.

For years, China has been working on cyber technology that would allow it to hack into

American infrastructure and military defense systems, limiting America’s response to

an attack in the process.

On occasion, China gets caught out.

In December 2023, for instance, the United States conducted an operation to disrupt a

network of small office/home office, or SOHO, routers that China had taken control of using

the KV Botnet to mask its hacking activities.

That was unfortunate for Xi.

But it won’t stop the first stage of his attack.

Xi gives the okay and dozens of cyberattacks begin.

Chinese hackers work feverishly, targeting American water systems, electrical grids,

and communications systems, with a special focus on any that are located near key military

installations.

Further attacks take place within the networks of companies that provide critical services

to America’s military, as well as attacks on the systems and transportation methods

that will be used by the United States to deliver aid to Taiwan in the case of a Chinese

invasion.

That last step is critical.

To reach the United States, China has to secure a passage through the Pacific.

Taiwan, which China has claimed for decades should be part of the People’s Republic

anyway, is chosen as the main target.

By securing that island, China can break through the nations in the Pacific that are allied

to the United States, including Japan and South Korea, and clear its route to the American

mainland.

Hour 1.

The United States is scrambling.

It’s no stranger to Chinese hackers, but it’s never faced an operation of this scale

before.

The country’s success against Volt Typhoon – the elite group of Chinese hackers that

were responsible for the KV Botnet attacks mentioned earlier – revealed that China

has its fingers in major networks.

Rail, mass transit, maritime, water, and pipeline systems were all under threat.

And though Volt Tycoon has been mostly eradicated, the sheer scale of the disruption occurring

in the U.S. reveals that it was far from the only hacker group China had in play.

America is left chasing shadows, at least for a couple of hours, which is all China

needs to start the next stage of its assault.

Xi Jinping gives the okay for the next – and boldest – part of his strategy.

Activating the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, or PLARF.

The group has around 120,000 members, who combine to operate six known ballistic missile

bases throughout China.

However, PLARF’s real strength lies in the sheer number of missiles it has at its disposal.

Recent estimates from the U.S. Naval Institute place the number at somewhere around 4,000,

all of which are capable of targeting ships moving at sea, in addition to static land-based

targets.

Both capabilities will be needed by Xi.

In arranging this attack, he’s had to make some difficult decisions.

He knew that a launch against Taiwan was inevitable, and the island nation became his first target.

A missile barrage begins, with air support being provided by the recently upgraded airbases

at Longtian, Zhangzhou, and Huian.

All three are supporting China with fleets of Shenyang J-16 fighters, launching missiles

of their own while engaging Taiwanese defenses in the air.

The tougher attacks focus on the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Numbering around 200 ships, along with 1,500 aircraft and 150,000 military personnel, that

fleet is the biggest barrier that stands in the way of Xi’s ambitions to invade the

United States.

It covers almost half of the world’s surface, stretching from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle,

taking in the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean in the process.

Xi can’t hit everything in that fleet.

But his goal is to strategically weaken the fleet in the early hours of his new war, eliminating

America’s ability to rapidly respond to his actions.

To do that, he needs a three-pronged missile attack.

First, he has to target the naval bases the United States has set up in Japan, South Korea,

and the Philippines.

It’s a risky move.

Any missile strike on these nations will surely cause collateral damage, potentially bringing

all three of them into the war in support of the U.S.

But failure to strike now means leaving nearly 200 bases ready to launch an immediate counterattack

supported by around 79,000 troops.

Xi can’t take that risk.

Hordes of Dongfeng 26, or DF-26, missiles are launched toward America’s bases in Japan

and South Korea.

Each missile has a range of 2,485 miles, easily ensuring they can reach their targets.

They’re accompanied by shorter-range missiles, such as the DF-16, for a simple reason:

Xi needs his DF-26s for attacks further afield.

Those very missiles are also part of the second part of China’s missile barrage – attacking

closer to the United States.

More are sent flying toward Guam, targeting the Andersen Air Force Base in Yigo, as well

as Naval Base Guam in Santa Rita.

Xi also unleashes the new jewel in China’s missile crown to strike Hawaii.

The DF-27 is a hypersonic missile that can just about reach America’s east coast and

is capable of evading U.S. missile defenses.

It’ll be Xi’s chief weapon when attacking the American mainland, at least during the

early stages of the war.

Finally, the third strike: Attacking American ships that are currently

in the Pacific.

Chief among the targets will be the small fleet of cruisers America has in the waters

near China, including the USS Shiloh and USS Mobile Bay.

All told, there are nine of these ships – all packed with heavy armaments and strong anti-air

defenses – that China hopes to either eliminate or damage heavily.

Secondary targets include the much larger fleet of U.S. Navy Destroyers, which pack

less of a punch than the country’s cruisers but will still be enough to cause serious

damage to the Chinese fleet if they’re allowed to go unchecked.

There are dozens to target and Xi knows that he won’t be able to take out all of them.

But the more he can destroy with missiles now, the easier he’ll find his invasion

of Taiwan and subsequent passage to America.

However, Xi’s missiles won’t have clear paths to their targets.

Though his cyberattacks have left the United States scrambling, it hasn’t shut down the

country’s missile defense systems.

America’s DSP satellites – overseen by its Space Force – easily detect China’s

missile launches, giving President Joe Biden time to organize the country’s defenses.

Chief among these will be its Ground-Based Interceptors, or GBIs, of which there are

currently 44 active in the United States.

Most of those systems, 40, are stationed in Alaska, though they’re still capable of

destroying intercontinental ballistic missiles, ICBMs, traveling at around 15,000 miles per

hour.

The other four are stationed in California, much closer to China’s Hawaiian targets,

and will be responsible for providing most of America’s defenses against China’s

missile barrage.

There’s just one problem: What if any of the missiles contain nuclear

warheads?

Biden consults his advisors, who conclude that possibility is unlikely.

American satellites show that the missiles are on course to hit its Pacific bases and

Hawaii, suggesting a conventional strike.

If Xi were going nuclear, his ICBMs would be on their way to Washington and other key

strategic locations in the American mainland.

Right now, the strategy is clear – evacuate troops from the anticipated strike zones and

hunker down.

A counterattack will come.

But at present, the U.S. has to rely on its missile defense systems.

Across the Pacific, Xi watches and waits as the first of his missile barrages travel toward

their targets in Japan and South Korea.

Both have activated their missile defense systems to guard America’s bases, with the

platform they rolled out alongside the U.S. toward the end of 2023 giving them advance

notice of the missiles China has launched.

Many get shot out of the sky, falling harmlessly into the Pacific.

But the sheer number of Chinese missiles overwhelm the defenses.

Okinawa is practically destroyed.

As home to most of America’s overseas military in Japan, it was the chief target of these

strikes.

At the Kadena Airbase, missiles rain down on F-15 Eagle fighters, E-3 Sentry planes,

and KC-135 Stratotankers.

The latter are especially important targets.

They’ll limit America’s ability to refuel its aircraft in the air, restricting them

to using the bases that China is so steadfastly attacking.

The strike could be considered a success, killing thousands of American troops in the

process.

But Xi knows the bases aren’t fully out of commission.

He can’t launch a ground-based invasion just yet, meaning the surviving crews at these

bases will be able to rebuild quickly enough to continue to serve as launching points for

the U.S. Air Force.

That’s okay.

He only needs them down for a few days.

More missiles make their way toward cruisers and destroyers that the U.S. has stationed

in the Pacific.

These ships are a little harder to strike, not least because they’re not remaining

still.

Orders from American command have told all to start moving in erratic patterns, hoping

to send Chinese missiles off course in the process.

The tactic works in some cases, though not in others.

China is successful in cutting down about half of America’s cruisers, as well as several

dozen destroyers.

Again, a qualified success for Xi.

A few minutes later, China’s DF-27 and DF-26 missiles are drawing nearer to Hawaii.

Dozens are shot out of the skies by California’s missile defense systems, but they can’t

provide complete coverage.

Many more break through, striking ships including the USS Frank E Petersen and USS Hopper.

Xi had hoped his strike would also take out at least some of the 13 submarines stationed

in Hawaii, but no such luck.

Even with his cyberattacks wreaking havoc, the commanders and crews of those submarines

received orders to submerge underwater, safe from the missile barrage, until the U.S. was

ready to fight back.

By the end of the first few hours of the conflict, China has expended nearly a quarter of its

4,000 missiles.

It has wreaked devastation on the American bases in Asia, though at the cost of drawing

Japan and South Korea into Xi’s war.

America’s Pacific fleet has been severely weakened, with Xi’s cyberattacks also limiting

the speed in which the U.S. can respond to what he’s going to do next.

The strike’s success wasn’t total.

But it was enough.

Day 2.

Having bought himself time with his attack on the United States, leaving his main enemy

in a temporary state of disarray, Xi can focus on his immediate target – Taiwan.

China has spent the last day battering Taiwan with short-range missiles.

The barrage has been successful in taking out several targets, including the smaller

islands surrounding Taiwan, but it’s also faced a steadfast defense from the U.S.-made

Patriot air defense system stationed on the island, as well as Taiwan’s own “Sky Bow”

surface-to-air ballistic missile defense systems.

Still, the barrage will have to end soon, if only because Xi wants to send ground troops

in to take the island.

He can’t risk killing his own people in friendly-fire situations.

After a 24-hour bombardment in which China expends hundreds of missiles, Xi assesses

the damage he’s caused.

Crucially, his attacks on America’s overseas bases, as well as America itself, will delay

its navy in reaching the Taiwan Strait.

And the missiles he’s fired at Taiwan have severely weakened its naval defenses while

fighter planes from the Longtian, Zhangzhou, and Huian keep the country’s air force occupied.

He feels ready to start landing troops on the Taiwanese mainland, but therein he finds

a problem: His landing options are limited.

That’s partially due to the actions of Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen.

She’s been preparing for an attack from China for several months, especially in the

wake of Beijing growing bolder by conducting military and naval options in the Taiwan Strait.

As soon as the missiles started flying, Tsai sent orders to defensive positions on both

sides of the island.

To the east, Taiwan benefits from having an extensive network of cliffs.

Tsai anticipates that Xi will look to blockade that side of the island with his navy, but

is unlikely to launch a full invasion from the east.

Still, soldiers are placed on alert, telling them to prepare to fight against ground troops

that might try to climb the cliffs, which have gradients of at least 15%.

If need be, those troops will receive orders to destroy the routes built through the cliffs

that lead to the mainland.

Her main focus lies in Taiwan’s west.

As the coast closest to China, it’s going to be the point of ingress into the island.

Tsai places all 15 major ports and harbors on that coast on high alert, with orders for

their destruction in place if China’s forces get near.

Tsai can’t afford to allow China to set up a naval presence on the island itself if

it manages to invade.

Then, there are Taiwan’s beaches.

All are heavily fortified, with any Chinese troops that manage to land having to make

their way through scores of barbed wire-laden defenses just to achieve any hope of reaching

the roads that lead to Taipei.

The waters leading to most of those beaches are less than 50 feet deep, meaning China

can’t land troops en masse.

It must take them most of the way before ferrying them across in smaller vessels, all while

being subjected to missile fire from Taiwan.

Those waters are also packed with shallow mines, with the beaches also containing anti-landing

spikes that will prevent China’s tanks from making inroads.

And, if worst comes to worst, Tsai can collapse the roads leading into Taipei from the West,

forcing Chinese troops to navigate challenging terrain if they ever hope to reach Taiwan’s

capital.

Tsai is going to make this a war of attrition.

And that spells bad news for Xi. Day 3.

The United States is almost ready to counter the initial Chinese offensive.

But before it does, Biden puts on his diplomatic hat as he prepares to exploit a key weakness

in Xi’s plan.

One of China’s biggest challenges in a war is economic.

The country relies heavily on importing goods, spending $2.56 trillion in 2023 alone.

Biden has spent the last three days organizing heavy sanctions against China, with America’s

network of allies finally paying off.

China will not only struggle to import goods and equipment from the United States, but

it’ll also be cut off from its European trade partners.

All agree not to sell to – or buy from – China, essentially creating a trade blockade for

as long as the war lasts.

That blockade extends to oil.

China imports 11.8 million barrels of oil per day to keep itself running.

Much of that oil comes from Russia, which is now responsible for about 19% of the oil

China buys annually.

However, the other 81% comes from countries like Saudi Arabia, which are allied to the

United States.

Leveraging diplomatic pressure, as well as the concerns that other Asian nations, such

as Saudi Arabia, have related to Chinese expansion, Biden is able to cut off most of the oil reaching

China.

Yes, Russia will still supply Xi, though it isn’t able to cover the massive shortfall

that results from America’s sanctions.

And given Putin’s war in Ukraine, he also can’t risk Russia’s trade with other countries

for the sake of solely supporting China, especially given that he faces his own sanctions.

Xi didn’t expect this.

Now, he faces a countdown.

China has to defeat the United States in a matter of months, or else its resources will

dwindle to the point where it’s practically starved out of the fight that it started.

Day 4.

With sanctions in place and trade routes in the process of being cut off, Biden’s next

move is to speak to his allies in NATO.

After all, China directly attacked America on its own soil by launching missiles at Hawaii.

It also attacked America-owned military bases overseas, which would also constitute an attack

on the U.S.

All of this plays in Biden’s favor for one reason:

Article 5 of the NATO charter.

According to this article, if any NATO ally or member nation is the victim of an armed

attack by another country, every other NATO member will consider this an act of violence

against themselves.

In short, China’s attack on the United States has brought most of Europe into the fold.

Biden has been cooperating with NATO members from the moment he detected China’s missiles.

Collectively, that makes him ready to utilize the power of 31 nations, including what’s

left of the United States’ defenses.

The focal point of the counterattack is obvious – the Taiwan Strait.

Xi has failed to take Taiwan with his missile barrage and now faces an extended conflict

in which he’s losing thousands of troops every day to his attempts to land on Taiwanese

beaches.

Even if he manages to break through Taiwan’s defenses by simply throwing sheer numbers

at the island, his troops will face an urban warfare campaign that will see them fight

tooth and nail for every street they manage to claim.

Xi didn’t expect this.

And this war of attrition all adds up to time that the U.S. and its allies can take to prepare

and attack.

The strategy is to combine America’s naval resources with those of its NATO allies, as

well as the navies of South Korea, Japan, and Australia.

The latter will also be a focal point of the counterattack, as China neglected to destroy

the bases America has set up in Australia.

The United States sends a fleet of ships, including most of its stock of 11 aircraft

carriers, toward the Taiwan Strait.

They’re accompanied by one of the U.K.’s aircraft carriers – the HMS Queen Elizabeth

– loaded with Typhoon FGR4 and F-35B Lightning jets.

Similar support comes from Canada, which commits half of its 12 frigates to the American cause,

as well as Japan, which sends most of its fleet of 36 destroyers.

South Korea hesitates.

It’s happy to support the U.S. in any way that it can.

But it also has to be wary of North Korea, which could see China’s attack as an opportunity

for it to start a war with its southern neighbor.

If South Korea commits its naval or aerial resources to America now, it leaves itself

open to attack.

Biden understands this, resulting in South Korea’s role being to keep watch over North

Korea to ensure it doesn’t get involved in the conflict.

And now, the U.S. has an allied fighting force that’s capable of fighting against China

in the sea or air.

The fleet sets sail.

Week 2.

Xi has been bombarding Taiwan to no avail.

Every attempt to land ground troops on Taiwan’s beaches is met with missile strikes and fierce

beach combat.

Yes, he’s slowly whittling away at those defenses.

But for each victory he achieves, a road is destroyed or a tunnel collapsed by Taiwan,

forcing his troops to divert over difficult terrain to get to Taipei.

The few who manage to reach Taiwan’s capital have been destroyed in urban warfare.

This was supposed to be a quick victory.

It had to be.

Every day that China doesn’t control Taiwan is another day in which the American counteroffensive

draws nearer.

Finally, two weeks after his missile launches, Xi faces the prospect of American naval and

aerial assets reaching the Taiwan Strait.

Worse yet, they’re supported by NATO and Japan, neither of which wants to see China

gain more influence, be it in the Pacific or the Americas.

Worse yet for China, its navy, though larger than America’s, doesn’t compare in terms

of sheer firepower.

Though Xi was successful in destroying almost two dozen of America’s destroyers in his

missile barrage, that still leaves 68 to contend with – around 20 more than China has.

And though China has more Corvettes and patrol boats, neither will withstand the combined

naval firepower being brought into the Taiwan Strait.

Worse yet for Xi, America has an ace in the hole – its Rapid Dragon tactic.

Over the past couple of years, the United States has been retrofitting some of its cargo

aircraft so they’re capable of dropping pallets of long-range missiles.

Each pallet can be stocked with up to 30 AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles, which have a range

of between 229 and 1,118 miles, depending on which version of the missile is launched.

Stacked into America’s MC-130J aircraft – which Xi didn’t target as he didn’t

believe them to be a threat – these pallets start raining cruise missiles down onto the

Taiwan Strait.

Those missiles serve two purposes.

If they hit a Chinese ship, their 990-pound WDU-42/B-Penetrator warheads can easily destroy

most targets.

But even if they fail to hit, such a large barrage of missiles launched simultaneously

will confuse the missile defense systems built into China’s larger ships, as well as those

in the three airbases that are the launching point for China’s fighter jets.

While the missile defenses are focused on a flurry of JASSM cruise missiles, more targeted

strikes can take out targets.

The allied forces turn the tide in the Taiwan Strait.

Month 2.

Xi has lost the clear passage into Taiwan that he’d established during his initial

invasion.

He’s still getting troops onto the mainland, though each landing is subjected to Taiwanese

defenses along with assaults from the U.S. and its allies’ navies.

Worse yet, he’s lost air superiority.

In truth, he never truly had it.

Taiwan’s 142 F-16 fighter jets, many of which have been upgraded, may be technologically

inferior to China’s J-20s.

The Infra-Red Search and Track, or IRST, built into the J-20 means it’s more capable of

tracking and eliminating a target than the F-16.

But Tsai knew this, and knew that support was coming from the U.S. She’s used her

F-16s to delay rather than defeat China, just as she’s used her beach and urban warfare

tactics to keep China from sending hundreds of thousands of troops into Taipei.

Now, the U.S. and NATO are in the Taiwan Strait, and they’re pushing Chinese forces back

to their home country.

Constant missile barrages on the Longtian, Zhangzhou, and Huian air bases have rendered

them practically unusable, making it a struggle for China to get new fighters into the air

as quickly as it had managed before.

America’s aircraft carriers – of which it brings eight to the Taiwan Strait – can

each hold around 75 fighters, bringing the allied forces to a total of 600 when at full

capacity.

Add to that the Rapid Dragon strategy and America and its allies are shutting down every

attack China attempts.

It’s not long before America’s navy cuts off the passage into Taiwan.

Cut off from their target, China’s naval and air forces begin a retreat, leaving the

few thousand Chinese troops still in Taiwan stranded.

They’ll be picked off by Taiwan’s forces in Taipei, assuming they get there.

And with the U.S. now firmly entrenched in the Taiwan Strait, it’s able to land troops

onto the island’s beaches to attack the remnants of China’s forces from the rear.

It’s a lethal pincer movement that soon puts paid to Xi’s invasion.

Still, it hasn’t all been clear sailing for the U.S.

China has managed to use its strong submarine fleet, with its six Shang-Class nuclear submarines

leading the way, to take out two of America’s aircraft carriers.

It’s a difficult loss, especially given that those carriers housed about 150 fighters

between them.

But America’s submarines are just as lethal.

Though it has fewer submarines than China – around 60 to China’s 78[c] – its crews

are better trained and have fewer targets to strike.

Both of China’s aircraft carriers, brought into the conflict due to the American assaults

on its air bases, are taken out, minimizing China’s impact from the air.

Xi has to face a very real possibility: He’s about to lose this war.

Month 3.

China has stubbornly refused to give in to the overwhelming force being applied to it.

The country’s navy lies in tatters, with only a fleet of patrol boats guarding its

coast to back the few corvettes and frigates it has left.

Xi has called his ships back, anticipating an invasion by the United States into the

Chinese mainland.

Xi has failed to take Taiwan.

And in attacking the United States directly, he’s only discovered that America’s NATO

allies take Article 5 very seriously.

The same goes for other allies, including Japan and South Korea, which have aided the

U.S. both because of their military alliances with the country and because neither wants

to see the spread of Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Xi knows he miscalculated.

Now, he faces a very big question: Does he launch nuclear weapons?

China has around 500 nukes, as well as ICBMs capable of reaching the continental United

States.

His country’s CSS4 Mod2 Mod3 missiles [d]could do the job thanks to their 8,000-mile range.

The DF-41 can also hit the mark as it’s capable of traveling nearly 7,500 miles.

But Xi thinks better of it.

Launching his nuclear weapons against the United States would mean a response in kind.

And while America’s Minuteman III ICBMs lack the range of his missiles, the country’s

submarines and aerial bombers could easily drop nukes all over China if provoked.

Ultimately, China is forced to capitulate.

Though its military would prove a strong match for the United States alone, and could even

have the potential to defeat its American counterpart, it simply can’t stand up to

such a powerful united front.

Taiwan proved stronger than Xi expected, with his failed invasion meaning plans to reach

the American mainland never got off the ground.

And with most of Europe – thanks to NATO – gunning for him, he can’t escape the

fact that he’s been overwhelmed.

Add to all of this the effects of the sanctions and trade blockades America created within

days of him starting his war.

They’ve slowly sapped the morale of the Chinese people, resulting in them being ready

for surrender.

America wins the war.

But it's a win that came at a cost.

It will take the U.S. years to rebuild its war-torn navy.

And along with its NATO allies, it will be heavily involved in imposing military restrictions

on China for years to come.

However, it’s proven the impact that its cooperative approach to defense can have in

a battle against one of its greatest rivals, putting any other major military power that

might dare to attack the U.S. on notice in the process.

Of course, this is just one of many potential scenarios that could play out if China and

the U.S. went to war.

It’s also optimistic in favor of the U.S.

But what could China do to prevent this series of events from happening?

Would they happen at all, or do you think the U.S. may struggle to receive the support

it needs from NATO and its allies in Asia?

Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Now go check out US Navy's Plan to Defeat China in War or click this other video instead!