By John Mills
May 19, 2025

Brigadier General Doug Wickert gives sobering talk to community leaders on potential of his base being hit by China in case Taiwan is invaded. There needs to be more discussions like this

When an Air Force General talks about the disparity of shipbuilding between the U.S. and China - pay attention.

When the Commander of a large American Air Force Base (AFB) in the Continental United States talks about China hitting his base in case of Chinese invasion or quarantine of Taiwan - pay even closer attention.

On May 7, 2025, the Edwards AFB Commander talked very openly about the reality of the need for local leaders to prepare for a Pearl Harbor like strike on his base and others inside the U.S.,

“Brig. Gen. Doug Wickert, 412th Test Wing commander, delivered a sobering assessment of China’s growing military capabilities during a recent briefing to community leaders at Antelope Valley College.

Sponsored by Edwards Air Force Base Civilian-Military Support Group and the college, the event focused on the need for robust military-community partnerships in preparation for potential disruption of public services, including Beijing-sourced cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.”

The General went on,

“Bringing the issue closer to home, Wickert stressed the Antelope Valley’s crucial role in national defense and deterrence, particularly Northrop Grumman's B-21 Raider production line at Plant 42, and the aircraft’s test and development facilities at Edwards.

“If I was Chairman Xi and it’s time to go [to war], guess what I’m gonna target first?” he asked. “So like it or not, we’re all in this together.”

Wickert described a recent week-long combat readiness exercise at Edwards that culminated with participation from local municipality emergency managers in a full-day tabletop drill. The exercise simulated attacks on the regional power grid and persistent communication disruptions. He acknowledged the potential for martial law and the need for close military-civilian cooperation under such circumstances.

“The only way to win the next war is to prevent it from happening in the first place,” Wickert said, paraphrasing President Dwight Eisenhower. "That’s why the technology and capability that we are developing up at Edwards, and that this community, the Aerospace Valley, is a part of, is so important.”