The U.S. Army’s top uniformed leader, Gen. Christopher LaNeve, warned that a future conflict with China could threaten American military bases and infrastructure before troops deploy overseas, forcing the Pentagon to rethink decades of assumptions about homeland security.
Army General Warns Of Growing China Threat
“During the Global War on Terror, we took a lot of things for granted, because we could,” LaNeve, the Army’s acting chief of staff, told Fox News Digital Wednesday during the Association of the United States Army’s conference in Washington.
“If we’re going against a pacing threat, power projection will be contested,” he added.
The Pentagon’s 2025 China military report warned that Beijing had positioned cyber capabilities inside American critical infrastructure networks to disrupt military mobilization during a conflict.
Chinese hackers linked to Volt Typhoon previously targeted American communications networks, raising concerns about wartime disruptions.
U.S. cybersecurity agencies have identified Volt Typhoon intrusions across energy, transportation, communications and water systems, raising concerns that disruptions to critical infrastructure could hinder military mobilization.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.
Army Updates Warfighting Strategy For Contested Operations
The Army’s October 7 ‘How the Army Fights’ framework emphasizes four elements: convergence, strike, close battle and endurance.
The guidance prioritizes defending America as a base for military deployments while sustaining operations despite disrupted communications and supply lines.
LaNeve said soldiers must learn to operate without reliable networks and reconnect when possible. The Army also emphasized maintaining fundamental combat skills alongside AI-enabled tools. “Technology will extend our reach and strengthen our combat power, but war remains a human contest of wills,” LaNeve said in the Army’s official announcement.
Pentagon Strengthens Drone Defenses Amid Emerging Threats
The Army’s Joint Interagency Task Force 401 recently awarded contracts for its Domestic Shield initiative, strengthening counter-drone protection at military installations nationwide.
The Pentagon has also expanded autonomous warfare capabilities as emerging technologies reshape military threats.
Meanwhile, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink warned that advancing surveillance could allow adversaries to track military movements almost anywhere within five years.
LaNeve stressed that technology cannot replace soldiers’ battlefield judgment. “Soldiers are our number one platform. It is the Army’s platform,” he said.
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