US to strengthen security in Indo-Pacific amid increasing Chinese military buildup

Asia-Pacific, News, US July 22, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The United States is working to strengthen security in the Indo-Pacific and enhancing partnerships with regional allies amid China’s increasing military capabilities, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said.

While speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, U.S. Navy Adm. John C. Aquilino said the increasing Chinese military buildup, as well as its nuclear capabilities, is one of the main concerns of the United States, therefore the U.S. remains “focused on protecting the homeland and U.S. forces” in the region.

The commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said, “It’s critical that the U.S. continues the modernization of our strategic capabilities.”

He stressed that “It is the bottom-line defense of this nation through strategic nuclear deterrence. That said, the Chinese are going very quickly … what matters is that we modernize our force and we’re ready to be able to respond if need be.”

According to the Pentagon statement, in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility, “the U.S. is also working to strengthen security in the region by building relationships there with partners and between partners, including with South Korea and Japan,” Aquilino said.

“We have a mutual defense treaty alliance with both Japan and Korea and that means the entire … United States Armed forces is ready to support [those] alliances. Demonstrating our willingness and our capabilities to our allies is reassuring,” he added.

^{The Republic of Korea and the U.S. Air Force conduct a combined aerial exercise with the deployment of U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress over the Republic of Korea, on June 30, 2023. (Image Credit: ROK Air Force)}

The Department of Defense statement highlighted that “the U.S. also flew a B-52 bomber over the Korean peninsula. That flight was accompanied by South Korean and U.S. fighter aircraft as escorts. Before the bomber’s arrival in Korea… it had also been escorted by Japanese aircraft as well.”

The U.S. INDOPACOM commander stated that last week, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. Mark A. Milley visited Hawaii for a trilateral meeting with Japanese and South Korean partners. “The uniformed members of Japan, [South] Korea and the United States are working together more frequently and more easily,” the admiral said.

“That trilateral relationship is important. It doesn’t come without some long historical issues between [Japan and South Korea]… But the leadership in Japan and Korea right now — very, very impressive for what they’re doing to defend their nations,” he added.