על הרקע האיומים מסין, בארה"ב מגבירים משמעותית את קצב ייצור הטילים וכלי הנשק

A rare sight on the world stage. Russia's Vladimir Putin, North Korea's Kim Jong-un, and China's Xi Jinping appeared together at a recent military parade in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Since then, tensions between the East and West have worsened. Now, could rising tensions spark a direct conflict between the United States and China? And what do the Pentagon's quiet preparations reveal about how close we are to a potential flashpoint? Let's dive in. Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared that the United States is prepared to go to war with China. But the question is, does Washington have enough weapons for a potential conflict with China? After more than three years of supplying weapons to Ukraine, and continuing support for Israel's war against Hamas, American stockpiles are running low. Meanwhile, China has been rapidly building its arsenal, especially in missiles and nuclear weapons. Now the Pentagon is ramping up its production, urging suppliers to double, even quadruple, missile output. Top priority is the Patriot Interceptor, one of America's most advanced air defense systems. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon is now ramping up building 12 critical weapons, from long-range anti-ship missiles to joint air-to-surface standoff missiles. Earlier this month, Hegseth spoke with his Chinese counterpart. He made it clear that the U.S. has vital interests in the Asia-Pacific and will protect them. Before visiting Guam in March, Hegseth circulated a classified memo urging full readiness for a potential war with China over Taiwan. The democratic island has long been coveted by Beijing's authoritarian regime. A new report from a British think tank says Russia is already helping China prepare for a possible Taiwan invasion. The assistance includes supplying high-altitude parachute systems. It also involves training Chinese troops in live combat scenarios. This Tuesday, Hegseth will meet with top U.S. military leaders in Virginia, where he'll be emphasizing what he calls the warrior ethos. President Trump is expected to attend.