Kurt Campbell

On critical metrics, China has already outmatched the United States. Economically, it boasts twice the manufacturing capacity. Technologically, it dominates everything from electric vehicles to fourth generation nuclear reactors, and now produces more active patents and top cited scientific publications annually. Militarily,

On critical metrics, China has already outmatched the United States. Economically, it boasts twice the manufacturing capacity. Technologically, it dominates everything from electric vehicles to fourth generation nuclear reactors, and now produces more active patents and top cited scientific publications annually. Militarily,

It features the world's largest Navy bolstered by shipbuilding capacity 200 times as large as that of the United States, vastly greater missile stocks and the world's most advanced hypersonic capabilities. All results of the fastest military modernization in history. Even if China's growth slows and its system falters, it will remain formidable strategically.

It features the world's largest Navy bolstered by shipbuilding capacity 200 times as large as that of the United States, vastly greater missile stocks and the world's most advanced hypersonic capabilities. All results of the fastest military modernization in history. Even if China's growth slows and its system falters, it will remain formidable strategically.

Real pleasure. Thanks very much, Lynn. Thank you, Lynn.

Real pleasure. Thanks very much, Lynn. Thank you, Lynn.

Rush, why don't you lead on that?

Rush, why don't you lead on that?

If I could just add to that, Lynn, just one quick thing. I really like the way Rush put it. And I think the one pillar that, frankly, is more open to interpretation and questioning in this particular arena is the one associated with population dynamics. The truth is, we do not know how both the combination of AI and robotics

If I could just add to that, Lynn, just one quick thing. I really like the way Rush put it. And I think the one pillar that, frankly, is more open to interpretation and questioning in this particular arena is the one associated with population dynamics. The truth is, we do not know how both the combination of AI and robotics

will have an impact on the economy in ways that perhaps reduces the ultimate premium put on younger workers historically that has driven dynamics associated with growth and productivity. And so what Rush and I have seen in the debate China is demonstrating some weakness in either growth or structural challenges. But in reality, we tend to overestimate and put too much emphasis on a few dynamics.

will have an impact on the economy in ways that perhaps reduces the ultimate premium put on younger workers historically that has driven dynamics associated with growth and productivity. And so what Rush and I have seen in the debate China is demonstrating some weakness in either growth or structural challenges. But in reality, we tend to overestimate and put too much emphasis on a few dynamics.

And so I would say that the focus on China as an aging society tends to get more focus and critical consideration than other dynamics of the kind that Rush just listed, which are investments that have been made that are going to have longstanding significance on the military manufacturing and technological frontiers.

And so I would say that the focus on China as an aging society tends to get more focus and critical consideration than other dynamics of the kind that Rush just listed, which are investments that have been made that are going to have longstanding significance on the military manufacturing and technological frontiers.

Let me just say that the US military remains the gold standard. We have tremendous operational capacity. The United States over the course of the last 40 years has been in conflict in many domains on a number of occasions, and there is nothing like

Let me just say that the US military remains the gold standard. We have tremendous operational capacity. The United States over the course of the last 40 years has been in conflict in many domains on a number of occasions, and there is nothing like

frankly, in the operational military realm, nothing like experience to ensure that best practices and evolution more generally, where China really has not fought in any fundamental way and seen shots fired in anger since really along the Vietnamese border in 1979, 1980. That's a long time. And so there are clear advantages that come with being forward deployed and engaged.

frankly, in the operational military realm, nothing like experience to ensure that best practices and evolution more generally, where China really has not fought in any fundamental way and seen shots fired in anger since really along the Vietnamese border in 1979, 1980. That's a long time. And so there are clear advantages that come with being forward deployed and engaged.

We have areas of remarkable, I would say, close to dominance, the quieting of our submarines, our submarine capacity. We have some aerospace, satellite, other arenas of information dominance that continue to be decisive.

We have areas of remarkable, I would say, close to dominance, the quieting of our submarines, our submarine capacity. We have some aerospace, satellite, other arenas of information dominance that continue to be decisive.