The Pentagon’s annual report to Congress should be enough to alarm even the most diehard pacifists. Cross your fingers it does.

     Topping the report’s worries: China has been rapidly expanding its military capabilities, is on pace to triple its nuclear warheads by 2035 and will be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027.  Yikes! America needs to step up to the challenge, by boosting defense funding — and focusing on readiness rather than wokeness.  It would be a smart move for the US.

     Beijing’s nuclear stockpiles have now topped the 400 mark and are expected to pass 1,500 in 13 years. And it’s expanding other capabilities, such as in space, developing kinetic-kill missiles, ground-based lasers, orbiting robots and other tech.  Its overall goal: the ability to invade Taiwan by 2027, a “complete modernization” of its armed forces by 2035 and a “world-class military” by 2049. 

     In an Oct. 16 report, President Xi Jinping described Taiwan’s reunification as Beijing’s top priority, vowing to “never” renounce the use of force and to “reserve the option” to take “all measures necessary” in pursuit of that mission.  Doubt China’s intentions? Look at its record: This month, it cracked down hard on protesters furious over its insane zero-COVID lockdowns. Over the past two years, it repeatedly provoked Taiwan with flights near or over its territory, as well as with nearby live-arms drills.

     It reneged on its treaty with Britain to let Hong Kong rule itself until 2047, persecutes dissidents, Uighurs and other minorities, represses its population, builds artificial islands in international waters — and has refused to cooperate in fighting COVID, making it responsible for countless deaths around with world.  Washington, meanwhile, works overtime to ensure maximum wokeness among its troops.