Tom Cotton Warns of Rising Risk of Surprise Attack from China

Senator Tom Cotton isn’t mincing words when it comes to Communist China’s military ambitions. In a candid interview this week, the Arkansas Republican issued a grave warning the risk of a surprise attack by China particularly on Taiwan is far greater than Washington and the media want to admit.

Speaking with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Cotton explained how China's constant military exercises in the Pacific have desensitized the world, potentially setting the stage for a sudden and devastating conflict. Cotton's new book, Seven Things You Can’t Say About China, further outlines the existential threat Beijing poses not years from now, but today.

“China is justly unpopular with the vast majority of Americans,” Cotton noted. “But if anything, it’s actually much worse. The threat is pervasive. It’s present today.”

At the heart of the danger is China’s use of “gray zone” warfare a strategy that walks the line between peace and open conflict, utilizing coercive tactics like cyberattacks, economic pressure, and constant military harassment. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has weaponized these activities to wear down opponents without ever firing a shot at least, not yet.

Cotton pointed to China’s relentless naval and air incursions into Taiwanese and Japanese territory as a major red flag:

• Chinese jets have violated Taiwan’s airspace thousands of times in the past two years, a number that has surged even faster in recent months.

• Japan has seen a 75% increase in Chinese naval patrols near its southern islands since 2021.

• Each incursion forces Taiwanese and Japanese forces to scramble delaying maintenance, training, and troop recovery all while China rehearses for a full-scale assault.

“They are conditioning the region to accept these provocations as normal,” Cotton said. “Then, on the 2,000th flight into Taiwanese airspace, it’s just another routine day until it’s not. That’s when they might go for the jugular.”

This is not just about a hypothetical war in Asia. Cotton emphasized the domestic implications China’s aggressive posture affects Americans’ daily lives, from national defense to economic stability. China dominates rare earth minerals, controls pharmaceutical exports, and has infiltrated U.S. supply chains all vulnerabilities that would explode in a shooting war.

Let’s not forget: the Biden administration has remained shamefully quiet as China’s military plays chicken with our allies in the Pacific. And while Democrats bicker over woke policies and pronouns, Beijing is building the most powerful military force the world has ever seen right under our noses.

If America fails to treat this threat seriously, we may not get a warning shot.

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