Dar es Salaam, April 2 -- UNITED STATE: The US military would be unprepared for a protracted war with China due to shortcomings in the defense industrial base, President Donald Trumps pick to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff has said.

In his written testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday – part of the confirmation process – retired Lieutenant General John Caine stressed that rivalry with China remains one of the most pressing issues facing the US.

”The threat posed by China to American interests in the Indo-Pacific is real and growing. The US needs to work with allies and partners to deter Chinas aggression in this region,” he claimed.

He warned, however, that the US is not currently in a...