An American general warns of war with China in 2025

Gen. Mike Minihan.

A senior US Air Force general, in comments the US Department of Defense quickly distanced itself from, warned of a war with China likely over Taiwan within the next two years.

Four-star General Mike Minihan, who heads the US Air Transport Command, warned in a letter to the command of nearly 110,000 personnel that the command must accelerate preparations for the looming conflict, according to the Japan Times.

Minihan pointed to Chinese President Xi Jinping's goals and the possibility that Washington and Taipei would be preoccupied with other domestic issues in the next two years.

"I hope I'm wrong," Minihan said in the letter, dated February 1 but sent last Friday.

"My gut tells me we will be fighting in 2025," he added.

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