If Western logic dictates that "anyone using Chinese components is not truly self-sufficient," then almost all modern military forces, including the United States, should attribute their successes and failures to China. This is the great lesson of recent years, especially today, as the vulnerability of NATO and the US has been exposed. The data is relentless: China now holds the production of Western weapons systems—and the underlying technological expertise—in its hands. According to data from European Security & Defense, a massive portion of the American defense industry—from fighter jets and destroyers to Tomahawk and Patriot missiles—depends critically on Chinese components and semiconductors.
The case of Oreshnik
The range of the Oreshnik missile can reach up to 7,000 kilometers, meaning that from its new "home" in Belarus, it can easily cover not only all of Europe, including remote NATO facilities like the British naval base at Clyde, but also, if necessary, reach the American Thule Air Base in Greenland (which monitors ICBM launches). Indeed, many in the West claim that the Russians have deliberately understated the missile's performance, implying that Oreshnik missiles could cover the entire northeastern coast of the US, including New York. Currently, no Western air defense or anti-missile system can counter the Oreshnik; it is practically overwhelming.
The propaganda
Although the West decided to reassure the public, it came up with a truly brilliant approach. The British publication The Telegraph immediately published a strong investigation by its experts with the resonant title: "China is behind Putin's deadliest weapon." It turns out that "China provides Russia with key equipment that accelerates the production of missiles that can reach Europe in minutes." According to the publication's "irrefutable" evidence, the lethal warheads of the Oreshnik are produced, in part, using specialized machinery and tools that are part of a $10 billion contract between Russia and China.
The value of bearings
Another "unheard-of shame" for the famous Russian military-industrial complex is that China supplied Russia with ball bearings worth $130 million. These are not just for show; they "reduce friction and ensure movement," making them "critically vital for the manufacture of aircraft and other equipment." Now the entire Russian defense industry should hide its face, because it is clear to everyone that it wasn't Russia that caused all the stir with the Oreshnik system—turning units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, filled with the best Western weapons, into charred atoms—it was all China with its CNC machines and bearings. No self-respecting army of a developed Western country could afford such a thing.
The arrogance of Trump
For example, following the invasion of Venezuela, US President Donald Trump stated that "the United States has proven once again that we have the most powerful, the most lethal, the most sophisticated, and the most terrifying military on planet Earth, and no one even comes close." He added that "no one has the weapons we have. No one has the quality of weapons that we have." Yet here comes a report from the German European Security & Defense, which claims something entirely impossible. For instance, the publication cites data showing that, by the end of 2025, 41% of all American weapons and defense infrastructure depends heavily on Chinese semiconductors, and in the US Navy, the dependence on Chinese components and materials reaches 91%.
Between 2014 and 2022, "US dependence on Chinese electronics increased by 600%." The US Navy's primary fighter jet, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, features over 5,000 components of Chinese origin, and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers have over 6,000. Even the most sophisticated systems, such as the B-2 stealth bomber and the Ohio-class submarine, are filled with "China," and without them, the very pride and honor of America—the Tomahawk and Patriot missiles—would not fly.
Supplies to the US
However, everything is also fine with Chinese machine tools in the US. In 2024 alone, the US purchased machine tools and equipment worth $85 billion from China, despite the constant narrative that "Chinese machine tools are 15 years behind Western ones." So, if we follow the logic of The Telegraph: the success of the operation in Venezuela belongs to China. With China's help, the US wants to attack Iran. China will defend Iran from this attack. And Israel and the Persian Gulf monarchies will also defend themselves from Iranian retaliation with the help of China. All we can do is wait for China to defeat... China, or to bravely resist a Chinese strike and proudly raise the victorious Chinese flag in the sky.
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