U.S. military planners are expressing growing apprehension regarding potential conflict with China. Congressional officials report that the Pentagon may soon need to redistribute long-range precision weapons from stockpiles in the Asia-Pacific region to the Middle East.

This shift is driven by the significant consumption of munitions during a bombing campaign in Yemen, authorized by President Trump. The ongoing operations are placing a strain on existing resources.

Furthermore, the Pentagon's deployment of warships and aircraft to the Middle East, following the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023 and the subsequent attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Houthi forces, is negatively impacting U.S. readiness in the Pacific.

The increased operational tempo of American ships, aircraft, and personnel in the Middle East is creating challenges. The military is experiencing difficulties maintaining even basic equipment under these demanding conditions.