Umair Nawaz
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PACOM Chief Says US Losing Military Dominance to China in Asian-Pacific
The U.S. commander in the Pacific is warning that the United States is losing its military air and sea dominance to China in the Asia-Pacific region.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III described the power shift at the annual Surface Navy Association conference in Virginia Wednesday, adding that the growing Chinese military is a risk factor for U.S. Navy ships and troops stationed in the Pacific, Defense News reports.
"Our historic dominance that most of us in this room have enjoyed is diminishing, no question," said Locklear, chief of the United States Pacific Command (PACOM).
"We need to think about all scenarios, not just the ones we've been dealing with over the last several years where we've enjoyed basic air superiority and basic sea superiority," he added. "There are places in the world where in this century we won't have them."
While it is clear that China's military power is on the rise, Locklear said, the question remains whether China will actively seek to challenge U.S. dominance in that region. The goal in Washington, he said, should be pushing Chinese officials to work with the United States to secure the region.
"China is going to rise, we all know that. [But] how are they behaving? That is really the question," the Navy commander said. "The PACOM goal is for China to be a net provider of security, not a net user of security."
According to The Washington Times, Locklear's remarks raise a lot of questions about how the Pentagon expects China to provide security in the region when Beijing and Moscow are both considered challengers to U.S. dominance there.
PACOM Chief Says US Losing Military Dominance to China in Asian-Pacific | ASIAN DEFENCE NEWS
http://www.newsmax.com/
The U.S. commander in the Pacific is warning that the United States is losing its military air and sea dominance to China in the Asia-Pacific region.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III described the power shift at the annual Surface Navy Association conference in Virginia Wednesday, adding that the growing Chinese military is a risk factor for U.S. Navy ships and troops stationed in the Pacific, Defense News reports.
"Our historic dominance that most of us in this room have enjoyed is diminishing, no question," said Locklear, chief of the United States Pacific Command (PACOM).
"We need to think about all scenarios, not just the ones we've been dealing with over the last several years where we've enjoyed basic air superiority and basic sea superiority," he added. "There are places in the world where in this century we won't have them."
While it is clear that China's military power is on the rise, Locklear said, the question remains whether China will actively seek to challenge U.S. dominance in that region. The goal in Washington, he said, should be pushing Chinese officials to work with the United States to secure the region.
"China is going to rise, we all know that. [But] how are they behaving? That is really the question," the Navy commander said. "The PACOM goal is for China to be a net provider of security, not a net user of security."
According to The Washington Times, Locklear's remarks raise a lot of questions about how the Pentagon expects China to provide security in the region when Beijing and Moscow are both considered challengers to U.S. dominance there.
PACOM Chief Says US Losing Military Dominance to China in Asian-Pacific | ASIAN DEFENCE NEWS
http://www.newsmax.com/
