American Magazine: Houthi Threats to Aircraft Carriers Indicate a Larger Chinese Danger

NYN | Reports and analyses

The American magazine The National Interest has highlighted that the anti-ship ballistic missiles possessed by U.S. adversaries and rivals represent a significant threat to the U.S. Navy. These missiles can bypass the defenses of any American warship and strike with precision. The magazine noted that the Houthis in Yemen have demonstrated the effectiveness of these missiles in the Red Sea, and the situation could become even more complex in the event of a conflict with China, which possesses a vast arsenal of such weapons.

In a recent report titled “America’s Enemies Have More Missiles Than U.S. Warships Can Stop,” the magazine explained that “the U.S. Navy faces an increasing threat from anti-ship ballistic missiles deployed by hostile nations like China. These missiles, combined with mass attack tactics, could overwhelm American naval defenses, especially as the Navy remains stretched thin with deployments primarily focused on the Middle East.”

The magazine, which specializes in political, international, and military strategy issues, emphasized that “a comparison with Israel’s Iron Dome highlights how even advanced defense systems can be overwhelmed by sheer numbers. The current situation in the Red Sea, where the U.S. Navy exercises caution due to the Houthi missile capabilities, serves as a warning of the greater threat posed by China. The magazine urged the U.S. Navy to urgently reassess its strategies to avoid being outmatched by the sheer number of missile swarms.”

The report added that “among the 37 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States ranks 22nd in overall mathematics achievement and has remained at this level for years. So, no one should be surprised when Americans realize how the anti-ship ballistic missile arsenals of multiple enemies can negate any clear advantages the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet might have.”

Comparing the capabilities of U.S. warships with Israel’s Iron Dome, the magazine noted that “between Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Tehran may possess enough missiles aimed at Israel’s Iron Dome to simply overwhelm it. According to some reports, Israel’s ammunition supply is dwindling.”

The magazine further stated, “Applying the same logic to anti-ship ballistic missiles, an American warship operating within the range of these missiles might find itself unable to adequately defend against a barrage of missiles.”

The report also pointed out that “mathematics always wins, and America’s enemies have understood this fact. China doesn’t need to match a U.S. Navy ship with another ship, as that would actually be a waste of valuable resources. Instead, China could seek to draw the U.S. Navy into a battle near its anti-ship systems using missile swarms.”

“The Houthis as a Model for China”

The magazine noted that “interestingly, the Red Sea is the only waterway in the Middle East currently experiencing active hostilities from the Houthis. So, it may be forgivable if one is puzzled as to why the mighty U.S. Navy maintains a safe distance from it.”

The magazine continued, “The reason for this is that the Houthis serve as a ‘testing ground’ for Chinese missiles. This is key to understanding not only why the Navy gives the Red Sea a wide berth, but also why there is so much alarm over China’s more advanced capabilities.”

The magazine concluded its report by asking, “If the Houthis can threaten U.S. Navy surface warships, including aircraft carriers, how much worse will the Chinese anti-ship threat be?” It added that “the answer to this question lies in logic and mathematics, and hopefully, U.S. policymakers will relearn these skills before American sailors pay the heavy price for such folly.”