A new military risk is gaining attention in Washington — the potential for China’s cruise missiles to be launched from commercial ships, striking U.S. bases before any warning is given. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and defense analysts are urging a reassessment of how far China’s reach may extend.
Cotton recently warned that the high frequency of Chinese military activity around Taiwan has numbed the world to its real intentions. He said each incident may seem harmless on its own but could eventually serve as cover for a larger operation.
Will Guam Be America’s Next Pearl Harbor?
Donald Trump’s neocolonial foreign policy could invite a surprise Chinese attack on an underprepared American island in the South Pacific.https://t.co/uMUsbwz0xL
— That is China (@That_isChina) March 24, 2025
But beyond Taiwan, new studies suggest that American bases in Hawaii, Guam and even California may not be as secure as once believed. Chinese warships and even merchant vessels disguised as civilian cargo ships could be used to launch coordinated missile or drone attacks.
China’s latest destroyers and cruisers carry dozens of vertical launch systems, giving them the ability to strike targets at long range. Combined with China’s satellite tracking systems, experts say these ships could deliver precision attacks from unexpected directions.
More alarming is the possibility of weaponized shipping containers. Defense sources say China is developing cruise missile systems that fit inside ordinary containers, which could be quietly transported to international waters off the U.S. coast.
With China’s commercial fleet spread across the globe, identifying which ships pose a threat would be difficult. Experts believe these tactics would allow Beijing to strike key military targets without deploying conventional forces.
In addition to missiles, analysts are concerned about drones launched from offshore platforms. These drones could fly under radar, strike airfields or disable communication systems, causing disruption and confusion in the early stages of a conflict.
Cotton’s warning highlights how serious the threat has become. He believes China’s goal is to erode military readiness and catch opponents off guard, using methods that are harder to detect and faster to execute.
