LOC00:32
21:32 GMT
WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (KUNA) -- A top US commander affirmed Wednesday that America's security and economic prosperity are linked to the Indo-Pacific region, which finds itself at a crossroads.
Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) Harry Harris Jr. told the House Armed Services Committee that the region finds itself pulled in many directions and dealing with many challenges from the ballistic missiles of North Korea, to significant pressure from China, to increasing activity from Russia and attacks from violent extremist groups.
He stressed that North Korea is a main concern, as it has continued to work on developing nuclear weapons and mating them with intercontinental ballistic missiles.
"While some might dispute the reliability and quantity of the North's strategic weapons, it is indisputable that (North Korea's leader) is rapidly closing the gap between rhetoric and capability."
He noted that South Korea and Japan have been living under the shadow of the north's threats for years "and now that shadow looms over the American homeland."
On China, Harris affirmed that it is a rapidly growing regional military power with aspirations for global effects, where it is using "military modernization, influence operations and predatory economics to coerce neighboring countries to reorder the Indo-Pacific to their advantage."
He affirmed that "China's impressive military build-up could soon challenge the United States across almost every domain."
"Key advancements include feeling significant improvements in missile systems, developing fifth-generation fighter aircraft capabilities, and growing the size and capability of the Chinese navy to include their first overseas base in the port of Djibouti," he indicated.
He added that China is also "heavily investing in the next wave of military technologies including hypersonic missiles, advanced space and cyber capabilities, and artificial intelligence."
"China's ongoing military buildup, advancement, and modernization are core elements of their strategy to supplant the United States as a security partner of choice for countries in the Indo-Pacific. But China also holds clear global ambitions," he remarked.
"China's intent is crystal clear," Harris said. "We ignore it at our peril. These types of aspirational goals could be appropriate for a nation of China's stature, but judging by China's regional behavior I am concerned that China will now work to undermine the rules-based international order, not just in the Indo-Pacific but on a global scale," he warned.
Furthermore, Harris said that Russia's "operations and engagement throughout the Indo-Pacific continue to rise, both to advance their own strategic interests and undermine U.S. interests."
He stressed that China "intentionally imposed additional costs on the U.S. whenever and wherever possible by playing the role of a spoiler, especially with respect to the DPRK." (end)
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