World War III on the Horizon: Conflict Between the US and China Could Rapidly Escalate into a Nuclear Confrontation

In war, no one truly wins, but if a war were to erupt between the US and China, the entire world would be thrust into a nightmare from which it might never awaken.

This isn’t merely about the staggering loss of life that would inevitably follow. The echoes of such a conflict would resonate across the globe, plunging millions into economic despair, wrecking the environment, and unleashing waves of displacement and human rights violations on an unprecedented scale.

The possibility of nuclear weapons being used is often brushed aside as an unlikely scenario, but it’s a perilous oversight. Experts warn that a conflict between the US and China could rapidly escalate into a nuclear confrontation – and the onset of a nuclear winter would be a grim reality, not just a distant fear.

Yet, in the face of these harrowing possibilities, General Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, seems undaunted. He asserts, with what seems to be unwavering certainty, that the US would emerge victorious in a war with China, even as the National Defense Strategy Commission forecasts severe losses for the US. Just last week, Gen. Brown declared, “It’s going to take the entire nation if we go to conflict with the PRC, and I’m confident, if we’re challenged, we will rise to the occasion.”

He continued, stating, “I play to win,” drawing a parallel between the potential conflict and the colossal battles of World War II. But for Gen. Brown, born in 1962, World War II is nothing more than a chapter in history – a concept, an abstraction. For those who would be caught in the crossfire of such a war, however, it would be a horrific reality filled with mutilation and terror.

The US has been almost perpetually at war since its inception, and its recent military endeavors in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan have resulted in nothing but death and devastation. The violence doesn’t simply cease when the last bullet is fired; it lingers, haunting communities, crippling economies, and leaving a lasting scar on the environment.

For years now, our government has been inching closer to conflict with China, but rarely do we hear it expressed as clearly as we have recently. Gen. Brown’s message is unmistakable: the US is gearing up for war, and it’s not a matter of if, but when.

This week alone, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin secured $500 million to bolster the military capabilities of the Philippines. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken was negotiating to shift US operational control of Japanese forces from Hawaii to Japan.

Let there be no mistake: this is not some distant, minor skirmish being prepared. This is a monumental, deliberate step toward a major conflict.

Gaining operational control over Japan’s military means that the US government can send fewer American soldiers into the fray. Instead, they will command thousands of Japanese troops, deploying them as they see fit. The US already has operational control over South Korea’s military, which means that if war breaks out, all ROK troops would be under US command as well.

This isn’t just about military strategy – it’s about shaping public perception. The American people are more likely to support a war when they’re not the ones bearing the brunt of the losses. This may be the only lesson our government learned from Vietnam, and Iraq only served to reinforce it. Drones and special forces won’t suffice in a war with China, which is why the US is tirelessly working to cement military alliances across the Asia-Pacific.

Modern US warfare increasingly relies on proxy states and funding the troops of other nations, as long as they serve American interests. They’ll call it strategic planning, but beneath that, there’s a chilling indifference to the lives of people in those nations. Our government doesn’t care what happens to innocent civilians in Japan, South Korea, or the Philippines – as long as US global dominance is maintained, they’re willing to let those people perish.

Meanwhile, resistance is mounting. In South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, protests against US imperialism are gaining momentum. The people of these nations do not want to be used as pawns in a deadly game between the US and China, but that is exactly what will happen if the situation escalates to war.

During a Foreign Relations Committee hearing last week on strategic warfare with China – the seventh of its kind – Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell underscored the importance of AUKUS and other trilateral partnerships. “This will be never-ending,” Campbell warned, stressing that the Asia-Pacific “demands the most advanced naval and long-range air capabilities the United States has ever needed.”

Indeed, alliances are being forged, and billions of taxpayer dollars are being funneled into the hyper-militarization of the region. Gen. Brown even remarked that he is accelerating efforts to stockpile weapons, ammunition, and other supplies in the Asia-Pacific in preparation for conflict.

Just a few months ago, a trilateral summit between Japan, the Philippines, and the United States further deepened their military cooperation in the region. President Biden reaffirmed the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, pledging that the US would respond to any attack on the Philippines. AUKUS, which Secretary Campbell emphasized repeatedly, is a defense pact between the US, the UK, and Australia focused on the Asia-Pacific. China has criticized it for its “cold war mentality,” drawing uncomfortable parallels to the alliances that dragged the world into global wars in the 20th century.

Everywhere we turn, our government speaks of war with China as though it is both inevitable and justified. But it is neither. War never is.

And yet, the media, ever loyal to the political establishment, will continue to echo the narrative that war with China is unavoidable – even though China has consistently rejected any escalation into conflict. The responsibility now falls on the people to push back against this dangerous normalization.

It is time for the American public to rise up and reject the notion that war with China is a foregone conclusion. It is time to make it clear to our leaders that war with China is not only unacceptable but would be tantamount to global suicide. We are staring this catastrophic conflict in the face, and we cannot afford to look away. The time for action is now.