US territory Guam is ‘highly vulnerable’ to Chinese missiles: Top Republican demands Pentagon provide assurances that 20,000 troops on Pacific outpost are protected

A top Republican lawmaker is sounding the alarm that China has the capabilities to attack Guam, where more than 20,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., chairman of the House Select Committee on the Communist Party, worries about how Guam is “highly vulnerable” to an attack from China, which has the ability to launch “potentially hundreds of incoming cruise missiles.” . aimed at US territory.

In a Monday letter to Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth, obtained by DailyMail.com, the chairman warned that the US has “significant capability gaps” to defend its more than 20,000 troops if Chinese cruise missiles are fired at Guam.

Guam is the site of the Navy’s only submarine base in the Western Pacific. It also hosts a ‘strategically important’ air base with bombers and fighter jets.

“Such deficiencies greatly jeopardize our ability to use Guam as a vital undersea port and base to support operations in the event of a contingency with the People’s Republic of China,” Gallagher wrote.

The warning comes as President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco, California, on Wednesday.

Biden and Xi last met at a G20 meeting in November 2022 in Bali. They haven’t spoken since

An aerial view of the US Naval Base Guam, located in a strategic position for the US military

The two leaders will meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco Bay.

Topics for their meeting are expected to include the war between Israel and Hamas against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea’s ties with Russia, Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific, human rights, fentanyl, artificial intelligence, as well as ‘fair’ trade and economic relations. , government officials told DailyMail.com last week.

Biden and Xi last met at a G20 meeting in November 2022 in Bali. They haven’t spoken since.

‘The PRC, where Guam is much closer in range than to Hawaii, has spent decades developing short- and medium-range ballistic missiles that can target Guam and U.S. airfields in Japan, as well as U.S. aircraft carriers and warships operating in the Western Pacific,” Gallagher continues in the letter.

“The People’s Republic of China has also developed a formidable inventory of highly capable cruise missiles that can be launched from multiple platforms, including ships, submarines and bombers. ‘

He says “significant gaps” in U.S. capabilities to defend Guam against cruise missiles from the People’s Republic of China are of great concern.

“Such deficiencies greatly jeopardize our ability to use Guam as a vital undersea port and base to support operations in the event of a contingency with the People’s Republic of China.”

The Republican lawmaker goes on to say in the letter to Wormuth that while the U.S. has sent advanced missile systems to Ukraine during its ongoing war with Russia, it has not delivered the same to Guam.

In addition, the arrival of the Army’s ground-based missile defense system – Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc 2) – has been significantly delayed.

The chairman said that due to ‘supply chain issues’ the delivery, scheduled for September 2022, has still not taken place and the system is unlikely to be operational until 2024.

Gallagher said “potentially hundreds” of missiles could be launched toward Guam and immediate action should be taken.

He is demanding a response from the Pentagon regarding the timeline for the delivery of the IFPC Inc 2.

In addition, the Chairman wants assurances that “adequate” defense will be provided to Guam before the IFPC Inc 2 is fully operational.

Members of the United States Air Force, Japanese Air Self Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force conduct troop movements during Pacific Defender at Pacific Regional Training Center-Andersen, Guam

The Chinese Navy’s missile frigate Yulin (R) and minesweeper fighter Chibi (C) are seen docked at Changi Naval Base during the IMDEX Asia warships exhibition in Singapore on May 4, 2023

The recommendations were compiled based on a ‘war games’ scenario that the committee carried out in April

In the meantime, Gallagher proposed deploying an Iron Dome defense system in Guam as a gap filler.

DailyMail.com reached out to the Army for an update on when the system will be delivered and deployed.

China has increased its aggression against neighboring Taiwan in recent years.

Gallagher previously told DailyMail.com that the CCP’s aggression is “global,” and his committee has been working with allies to push back on China’s rising hostility in the wake of perceived U.S. “weakness.”