The US Defense Department has warned that China represents a “significant and growing risk” to the US military’s industrial base and American national security, according to a new Pentagon report.
There are nearly 300 vulnerabilities that could affect critical materials and components essential to the US military and arms industry, the Pentagon said in a nearly 150-page report released Friday.
“A key finding of this report is that China represents a significant and growing risk to the supply of materials and technologies deemed strategic and critical to US national security,” the report said.
The report also examined US shortcomings that contribute to weakness in domestic industry, including inconstant US military budgets that make it difficult for American companies to predict government demand. Another weakness cited was in US science and technology education.
A number of recent developments have heightened tension between Beijing and…