The US has burned through a significant amount of munitions in the war with Iran, leaving some officials concerned that the country may not be able to fully execute contingency plans to defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion in the near term.
According to US officials, the country has fired over 1,000 long-range Tomahawk missiles and 1,500 to 2,000 critical air-defense missiles since the war began on February 28.
Replacing these stockpiles could take up to six years, officials said, sparking discussions about adjusting operational plans in preparation for any potential presidential order to defend Taiwan.
The Pentagon plans for multiple scenarios, regardless of shifting geopolitical tides and political winds in Washington. However, US officials say there is no sign of a conflict with China on the horizon.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is preparing to hold a high-stakes summit with President Trump next month in Beijing, and China's military is reeling from a purge of generals.
The US follows a "One China" policy, acknowledging that there is only one Chinese government - the People's Republic of China - even as the US maintains relations with the self-governing democracy of Taiwan.
Trump, like most of his predecessors, hasn't publicly committed to sending American forces to protect the island against an invasion. But if a conflict were to materialize, officials say the US would suffer from a munitions gap in the short term while it restocks, potentially exposing troops to increased risk.
