China's New 004 Nuclear Carriers to be larger than Fords

China has a continuous build aircraft carrier program that may be catching up to the US Ford carrier program in quality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_programme#List_of_carriers

Despite Western criticism (mainly reliance on conventional propulsion) see here and here China’s latest carrier, the Fujian Type 003, appears relatively successful. It boasts the latest functioning electromagnetic (EMALS) CATOBAR system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_Fujian already used on USS Ford.

The Type 004 is planned to be larger than the Type 003, even 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes larger than a Ford. China has suggested the 004s may use novel TMSR-LF1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TMSR-LF1 thorium-based molten-salt reactors. This may be a false claim or at least a technical risk, likely to have a PWR backup plan. Construction of the first 004 started in 2024–2025. The large size of a 004 would permit larger, heavier carrier aircraft (like the J-20) with a higher war-load, and longer range than aircraft on Ford carriers.

Along with China’s 3 existing carriers, 6 x 004s in all may be built to give China regional dominance in the Western Pacific by 2035 over the Fords. This is if Fords continue to have global responsibilities or withdraw to a US coastal defensive posture under America First.

US National Security Strategy 24 Jan 2026 bad for Australia

Inspired by Anonymous' questions at 1/24/2026 6:01 PM :

The US NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY of January 23, 2026 at https://media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/2003864773/-1/-1/0/2026-NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY.PDF written by the US "Department of War" is very America First, saying:

“We [the US] will deter China in the Indo-Pacific through strength, not confrontation. We will increase burden-sharing with allies and partners around the world. And we will rebuild the U.S. defense industrial base as part of the President's once-in-a-century revival of American industry.”

There are 15 references to NATO in the Strategy, but no mention of Australia, ANZUS, the QUAD, or even AUKUS. This may mean the US is downgrading age old links and understandings with Australia. The US seems to be implying US allies, including Australia, should shoulder more of the burden against China.

You ask "why are we spending most of our budget on small numbers of costly platforms interchangeable with the USN and USAF" Only with Australian nuclear submarines (used Virginias probably sent to us in the mid 2040s) could our navy move safely and quickly enough to patrol and defend seas between China and Australia as well as the Taiwan Strait.

Until we have Virginias Australia will be weak against Chinese naval movements. This is noting China is likely to have one or more Type 093 or new 095 SSNs in front of any taskforce near Australia.

Greenland: Trump Loses Control of Republicans and of Big Money

 

Here and above uploaded 12:40am, January 25, 2026 New York time.
The first 10 minutes of the video says it all.

China's nuke sub fleet surpasses Russia's & China's next carrier nuclear powered? after Fujian's flaws

Two excellent articles by Kaif Shaikh writing at Interesting Engineering which is headquartered at New York and Istanbul are:

China’s nuclear submarine fleet size surpasses Russia, closes in on the US: Once a distant competitor, China has surged past Russia in the nuclear submarines count tally, of January 13, 2026 at https://interestingengineering.com/military/china-russia-nuclear-powered-submarine

and

China could use nuclear propulsion for next aircraft carrier after Fujian’s flaws emerge: China’s Fujian carrier has key design limits and its next nuclear carrier could be built to overcome them, of January 19, 2026 at https://interestingengineering.com/military/china-nuclear-propulsion-aircraft-carrier

Trump's Demented Peace Prize Invasions: Iran No Hope

Trump has so many future invasions to go to strangely justify his Peace Prize illusions:

- as some sage said pressuring Mexico's police and military (especially with US Reaper drones with Hellfire missiles) against drug cartels.

- re-invading Cuba to remove the Cuban stand against US Monroe Doctrine imperialism over the Western Hemisphere once and for all

- invading Columbia (less drugs - more oil)

- re-invading Panama to save it from Russia or Cuba

- aggressively seizing Greenland to "save it" from non-existent Chinese ships sailing by and from Russian aggression. US will offer to buy Greenland "or else". (more oil and rare earths for the USA).

- another regime change in Iran - reassuring Iranian protesters that the US can help them in some vague way. US bombing Iran would increase deaths on all sides in Iran. More oil for the US to control. Recall the contentious role of Voice of America/Radio Free Europe in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 that gave many Hungarian protesters misplaced hope. 

- the false ceasefire in Gaza involves a permanent Israeli occupation of much of it and Israeli bombings right up to now. Meanwhile Trump is threatening US force only against Hamas-Gazans. 

The race to fix the world Trump style is on - before Trump's Dementia becomes official.

Signs of dementia in Trump include:

- memory loss (especially recent events)

- confusion with time/place

- communication issues (talking and acting inappropriately)

- poor judgment

- personality changes (like apathy, depression, Aggression) and

- difficulty planning or solving problems.

Trump Drunk, Drugged, Demented or all Three?

Trump the non-drinking alcoholic's personality is one of the worries.

Trump's vein problems and possible stroke in 2025 were worries. In 2026 Trump dozing off in meetings, like the old man he is, like his predecessor Biden, has brought concerns. His medical tests eg. an MRI and lack of details about medication intake are becoming concerns.

On January 13, 2026 Trump delivered a speech at the Detroit Economic Club. As he started his speech he made strange grunting sounds. Here are Trump's grunts:

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Earlier in Japan in October 2025, see Trump wander off. Doing the Biden zombie walk.

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Here and below Hilary a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (M.A. CCC-SLP) specializing in concussion and neurological rehabilitation since 2014 examines Trump's increasingly odd behaviour. In support of her arguments she refers to Dr Frank George's telling article that I republished yesterday. She is concerned that Trump suffers from the beginnings of frontal lobe (aka frontotemporal) dementia. 

She notes Trump's memory loss, word salad his paraphasia and lack of inhibition. A major concern she identifies is confabulation where Trump is caught in his own reality -  he is not lying - rather he honestly believes what he says is true.

Pete Comment

Putin and Xi may consider the unpredictable Trump dangerous to their national interests. But overall they may be pleased to watch Trump destabilize the Western alliance and damage relations with the developing world. They may also appreciate Trump causing social unrest in the US and damaging US economic standing.

Trump's bizarre behaviour goes unremarked and unchecked by the Yes men who surround him.