China stepped up its stance on Taiwan, warning the US of potential conflicts if the issue is not handled properly, amidst a showcase of China's growing military, technological, and geopolitical confidence during Trump's visit.
The United States faces significant munitions shortages following the conflict in the Middle East, forcing difficult choices about where to sustain military capabilities. According to The New York Times, some critical ground-attack and missile-defense munitions were already short before the war and are now even shorter. The Wall Street Journal reported the US used over 1,000 Tomahawk missiles and 1,500-2,000 interceptor missiles for THAAD and Patriot systems. Fully replenishing stockpiles could take up to six years, potentially affecting combat readiness of US forces in Asia.
