US Industrial Base Dependence On China For Defense

The New York Times reports the United States requires a larger and more flexible industrial capacity to manage China's economic and military growth in the coming years. The report suggests Congress should pass laws to assist the private sector in increasing production capacity. Additionally, the newspaper indicates the US should prioritize cooperation with other industrialized democracies. The United States needs to invest in drone technologies and increase production of cheap, single-use weapons. A discussion highlighted the United States' ability to scale defense production for items such as ships and drones. The speaker noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, it required a "COVID disaster" to mobilize companies like General Motors to build ventilators and 3M to produce masks.