China Has Mass. Can America Catch Up?

Manufacturing & Industrial Base - US technological superiority is not sufficient for winning conflicts; industrial production has a deterrence factor and mass matters [1] - The US systematically outsourced key-scaled manufacturing, eroding skill sets, and now lags in mass manufacturing at scale [1] - The US needs to address the skilled labor replacement problem in manufacturing, as many skilled workers are nearing retirement [2] - China has strategically controlled rare earths and magnet-making technology, creating supply chain bottlenecks [3] - China's manufacturing autonomy is estimated to be 20 years ahead of the US due to a lack of pressure to put software engineering automation in manufacturing [3] Defense & National Security - US war games show that the US would run out of key high-end munitions in about 8 days, which is not a deterrence factor [1] - Russia is currently outproducing NATO on 155 munitions, highlighting the need for increased production capacity [4] - The US lacks a strategic plan for preserving supply in a catastrophic situation [4] - China has invested in technologies that push back the US and cripple the US war apparatus, such as space-based sensing and carrier killer missiles [20][21] - The US military is better at infusing technology into war fighting, but faces challenges in producing enough at scale and affording it [4] Policy & Economic Strategies - The US government should create large offtake agreements to support domestic manufacturing and create a commercial market [5] - The US needs to identify key supply chain constraints and implement strategies such as stockpiling and regulatory relaxation [5] - The US should leverage its capital market system to create incentives for industries to grow, such as low-cost loans and risk-sharing with banks [5][9] - China's success is due to subsidizing capex, energy, and export subsidies, creating an uneven playing field [7] - The US should counteract unfair practices from other countries and incentivize growth through targeted policies and protectionism [13]