China has become the dominant political and military power in the Pacific. The US state of Hawaii, located in the middle of the Pacific ocean, is among the most strategically important islands in the region. So, as China’s power grows, could we ever see a Chinese invasion of the islands in an attempt to have full control over the Pacific and deny the US a key territory?
China would not invade Hawaii. Although China could have the military power needed to take the islands, an invasion of Hawaii by China would begin a full-scale war with America. China does not see Hawaii as strategically important enough to risk all-out war with the US.
It’s important to add that China makes no claim to the islands of Hawaii and has never expressed a desire to control them.
With that said though… it’s not that simple. Let’s go a bit deeper…
Can China Invade Hawaii?
A Chinese invasion of Hawaii is extremely unlikely. It would only really happen as part of a major war between China and the US. However, if that did break-out, could China actually takeover Hawaii?
China has a military strength to invade and conquer Hawaii. With only 50,000 American troops there, China could take over the islands if it dedicated its forces. However, the US military is likely stronger than China’s overall, so would be able to retake the islands by committing more forces.
So, that’s an overview. Now, let’s go into a bit of detail…
Hawaii is a key military base for the US. America has a major military presence across the islands, including air force and naval bases. Around three per cent of the US armed forces is based in Hawaii. This may not sound like a lot, but remember the US has troops stationed in 80 countries around the world.
China has an enormous armed forces. With over two million soldiers, 1,700 combat aircraft and 350 naval vessels, China has one of the most powerful militaries in the world. Compared to the US forces stationed in Hawaii, China could easily take the islands if it committed enough troops.
Although China definitely has the military strength to defeat the US forces in Hawaii and seize the islands, China would probably not be able to hold them against an American counterattack. The US would commit enormous amounts of military power to retake Hawaii from the Chinese. Overall, the entire strength of the US armed forces is probably stronger than China’s and would very likely win in a battle over the Hawaiian islands.
Is China a Threat to Hawaii?
Over the last few decades, China has risen to become the dominate power in east Asia. Now, China is looking to project that power in the Pacific region. They make overt threats to Taiwan. However, to control the Pacific, Hawaii is the key. Does this make China a threat to Hawaii?
China is not a major threat to Hawaii. However, Hawaii’s strategic location in the middle of Pacific Ocean does mean China would likely to try and seize Hawaii in any war with the US. This is unlikely, but it is the main way that China is a threat to Hawaii.
As we’ve said, a Chinese attack on Hawaii is incredibly unlikely. China has no historical claim to the islands. Although Hawaii’s location is strategically important, the Chinese do not directly pose a threat to the islands.
The main threat China does pose to Hawaii is not militarily. The main ways China is a threat to Hawaii is similar to how it threatens most of the Western world. Cyber-attacks, political subversion and trade wars are the main menace that China poses. Although these tactics are not specifically deployed against Hawaii, the islands are definitely not immune from there impacts.
Why Would China Attack Hawaii?
A Chinese attack on Hawaii is extremely unlikely. However, as tensions rise between China and the US and the threat of war with over Taiwan increases, the risk of a Chinese invasion of Hawaii is forever a posibility, even if a tiny one. But why would China attack Hawaii? Let’s look at the four main reasons:
- To control Hawaii
- To deny the US control to Hawaii
- To gain a strategic location in Pacific Ocean
- As a location to stage an invasion of the mainland US
Now we’ve had an overview, let’s break each of these down…
To Control Hawaii
If China invaded Hawaii it would likely be to try and control the islands. This could be as part of a wider attack on the US, or as an attempt to push America out of the Pacific region and for China to build a stronger sphere of influence in the region.
To Deny The US Control To Hawaii
A Chinese attack on Hawaii could be an attempt to stop the US from controlling the islands. If a major war broke out between China and America then the US is likely to use Hawaii as a staging-point for forces moving west towards China.
The Chinese could try and seize the island to deny the US the ability to launch attacks from there and as an attempt to push American forces further from China.
To Gain A Strategic Location In Pacific Ocean
Hawaii’s location almost directly in the middle of the Pacific ocean makes it strategically important. This is a key reason the US controls it and has stationed their naval fleet there since the 1890s.
If China was to invade Hawaii, a major reason would to be gain a strategic foothold from which to better control the Pacific. If China took over Hawaii it could deny the US a major naval port and exert influence over shipping across the Pacific ocean.
As a Location To Stage an Invasion of The Mainland US
If China was to invade the mainland United States, they would first need to control Hawaii. This is because China would need to use Hawaii as a point to station troops for the invasion and from where to resupply the army landing in the western US. China would also need to destroy the US forces in Hawaii before an invasion of America, to prevent them from taking a rear-guard action.
What Would Happen if Hawaii Was Invaded By China?
So, we’ve looked at whether China could invade Hawaii and what kind of threat it poses. We’ve also looked at the reasons China might have to launch an attack against Hawaii. Now, let’s think about what a Chinese invasion of Hawaii might look like…
An invasion of Hawaii by China would begin a major conflict with America. The US would fight to defend Hawaii against a Chinese invasion and would battle to recapture it if China seized it. A Chinese attack on Hawaii would likely begin a full-scale war between the China and the US.
There is no way that a Chinese attack on Hawaii does not result in a major war between China and the US. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 pulled the US into World War Two and began the entire Pacific theatre of the war. China is aware of this, and it’s a major reason why it would almost never attack Hawaii.
A full-scale war between America and China would result in enormous loss of life and destruction. Both countries have huge armed forces and are nuclear powers. If a Chinese attack on Hawaii lead to a major war – which it almost certainly would, it could essentially be the beginning of World War Three.