China is the 'pacing challenge' for Defense Department amid 'acute' bioweapons threat, US says

China is the "pacing challenge" for the Defense Department as the world faces the "acute threat of biological weapons," a new Pentagon report states.

The 2023 U.S. Biodefense Posture Review, which was released for the first time ever last week, states that defending the U.S. in a manner "paced to the growing multi-domain threat posed by the People’s Republic of China" is a top priority. 

The U.S. National Defense Strategy uses China "as the pacing challenge for the Department, while accounting for the acute threat posed by Russia and remaining vigilant in the face of persistent threats posed by North Korea, Iran, and violent extremist organizations," the review report states.

The strategy "acknowledges new challenges to the Total Force, including the acute threat of biological weapons by our adversaries and rapidly evolving biotechnology that enables more advanced biological weapons," the review states, referring to the military's Total Force policy that calls for all units, including the reserves and National Guard, to be transitioned into operational forces.

The Defense Department faces numerous biodefense challenges similar to those in other sectors. 

"For example, the bulk of production, especially for key precursor materials, has moved overseas (especially to China). Subsequently, in many cases, domestic production has dwindled to a single supplier," the report states.

Semiconductors, which are used in numerous electronic devices such as cell phones, cars, light bulbs and nuclear missile guidance systems, are largely produced in Southeast Asia. Taiwan, which has been under threat of invasion from China, produced 22% of the world's semiconductors in 2020, per the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Also in that year,  South Korea produced 21% of global semiconductors while Japan produced 15%. Both South Korea and Japan face missile threats from North Korea.

In addition to potential product shortages, the posture review states that "the production workforce has shifted, leaving a dearth of talent in the United States."

The report also targeted information surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Mis-/dis-information regarding COVID-19 etiology and effective infection prevention and control measures reduced the acceptance of disease mitigation efforts by some DoD personnel and adversely impacted readiness," the review states. In the future, the Defense Department is advised to "take active steps" to dispel such information, according to the report.

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