U.S. Army Officer Warns Military Must Relearn Retreat Tactics as China Rises

When America goes to war, it prefers offense over defense. Gen. George S. Patton once stated, “Nobody ever defended anything successfully.” It’s all about relentless aggression, with no signs of stopping. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. military found itself in a position where retreat was the only option — a situation that some analysts suggest could become pertinent once more.

In a recent essay for Military Review, Maj. Patrick Smith emphasized the necessity for the U.S. armed forces to reacquaint themselves with the strategy of executing fighting withdrawals as they brace for potential conflict with China in the Pacific. “Small clusters of U.S. assets — both on land and at sea — surround the imposing presence of mainland China,” Smith wrote. “Functioning along fragile outer boundaries, they are susceptible to being overwhelmed by a vast assortment of long-range weapons or encirclement.”

Smith cautioned that replenishment efforts will face challenges due to the Chinese missile threat, with personnel and munitions reserves being constrained, and regional allies potentially changing their loyalties swiftly, which could leave U.S. forces isolated. He pointed out that insufficient sealift capabilities and training deficiencies represent significant weaknesses. “Combating withdrawals and delays will be crucial tools for operational leaders engaged in the initial phases of a Pacific conflict,” he remarked.

An Army officer reflected on historical events, notably the 1941 campaign in the Philippines, where Gen. Douglas MacArthur orchestrated a strategic withdrawal to Bataan. Despite the absence of reinforcements, the six-month resistance effectively stalled Japan’s operations. Smith highlighted instances from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s cunning tactics in Virginia in 1864 as inspirations for contemporary retrograde strategy.

Experts concur that trickery, distribution, and adaptability will be crucial. Smith emphasized the importance of employing deceptive tactics akin to Grant’s maneuvers against Robert E. Lee, asserting that “feints, demonstrations, and advances both within and outside of the theater can immobilize enemy actions, allowing for the necessary time and space for the movement of allied forces.”

Eric Heginbotham, a researcher at MIT’s Center for International Studies, reiterated the caution but highlighted that contemporary warfare will hinge on enduring long-range missile attacks. “This is more about avoiding placing our forces in highly vulnerable positions than it is about retrograde,” he told Defense News. He pointed out that the geographic advantage of America — its extensive maritime depth — provides greater flexibility in operations compared to the limited space available for China's fleet.

While Patton remains confident in the offensive, both Smith and Heginbotham emphasize that U.S. forces need to excel in retreat—not as a sign of failure, but as a strategy to regroup, adapt, and ultimately succeed.

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