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Coronavirus Reveals Weakness in US Military Supply Chain, Officials Say

Li Bao

   A top U.S. military official and some members of Congress are raising
   concerns that the United States is too dependent on pharmaceutical
   products made in China as the spread of the coronavirus highlights
   supply chain weaknesses. Thisissue aroseas the U.S. government reported
   the nation's first drug shortagerelated tothe outbreak.

   "We have got a military medical system, and we have the same access to
   all the drugs that are available in the commercial system, etcetera,"
   Joint Chiefs ChairmanMark Milley said at a congressional hearing last
   week."You rightly pointed out that it is a vulnerability to have a
   country such as China manufacturing high percentages--I don't know if
   it is 97%, 98% or 80%,whatever it is, but I do know it is high
   percentages of the ingredients to [the] American pharmaceutical
   industry across the country, both military and civilian.

   "Soit is a vulnerability. In a time of armed conflict--if that were
   ever to happen, hopefully it will never happen--that would obviously be
   a significant vulnerability to the U.S."

   Milley added that the United States neededa national strategy to
   address the issue.

   Beijing's response

   Responding to the outbreak, which was first reported in Wuhan, China,
   the government in Beijing has dramatically [1]restricted the movement
   of people since late January in a bid to control the spread of the
   disease,officially known as COVID-19. Many assembly lines remain shut
   and roads closed. These limitations on the flow of goods include
   critical pharmaceutical products and medical supplies that China
   exports worldwide.

References

   1. https://www.voanews.com/science-health/coronavirus-outbreak/coronavirus-lockdown-transport-restrictions-depress-china

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