capability and the ability of china to operate at will in the pacific. absent a missile defense that we currently do not possess that can stop chinese ballistic missiles the u.s. will be hard-pressed to maintain its security commitments in asia given the advances china has made with offensive nuclear forces. the u.s. seventh fleet however capable cannot withstand the kind of nuclear missiles and nuclear-tipped cruise missiles that china could employ against it. the capability of the chinese b f 21 be against their aircraft carriers can raise the stakes of the conflict in the south china sea that would not portend well for the united states. the chinese have studied american committee is for the past 20 years and built offensive weapons meant to negate our previous advantages. weather or not these advances are effective is unknown but what we do know is the united states has not taken in my view adequate steps to modernize our forces to meet the ballistic and cruise missile th