Guam – this is his island Pacific Ocean where much of the fighting between the Americans and the Japanese took place during World War II could be the starting point for a Sino-American conflict, according to an Economist article.

Washington has military bases in the Pacific Ocean, and Guam belongs to the United States, but with the status of an unincorporated territory. But despite its strategic importance in the Western Pacific, Guam is not as secure as one might expect. For example, the THAAD anti-missile systems that protect the airspace are not always operational.

Andersen Air Force Base does not have Patriot missiles, unlike US bases in Japan and South Korea. US warships equipped with Aegis air defense systems provide additional protection, but most of the time they are not around.

Judging by the metal traps on the fences around the bases, it seems that the snakes are more afraid of the American military command than they are of a surprise attack by the Chinese.

The United States, for its part, is betting on the development of “flexible” strategies, in which Japan and Australia, with which joint exercises were held in February, take center stage.

Apparently, the Pentagon is gradually developing a new, more comprehensive plan to worry about the island. It has currently requested a $1.5 billion budget aimed at strengthening its air defense system.

Speaking to the Economist, Vice Admiral John Hill, director of the MDA, argues that this kind of funding is needed as the US seeks to “catch up on lost ground.” According to him, the first step should be to bring the Aegis system to the standards of the corresponding ground systems in Poland and Romania.

A bigger problem may be guided missiles due to their ability to fly low. Countering them requires a combination of military hardware such as Patriot missiles, advanced LTAMD radars, and the IFPC shorter range system. They should be delivered to Guam by 2024.