US Commander gives strident warning about China's threat

Almost everywhere one looks,
China
is ramping up pressure against neighbours and would-be adversaries. This is happening diplomatically, economically and militarily, even as Chairman Xi Jinping rapidly builds up the combat capabilities of the People's Liberation Army (
PLA
) and prepares China for a drawn-out "struggle".
Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command (
INDOPACOM
), addressed these concerns in a
House Armed Services Committee
testimony on 10 April. He warned, "China continues to pursue unprecedented military modernisation and increasingly aggressive behaviour that threatens the US homeland, our allies and our partners."
Military threats are just one element in China's toolbox for those who disagree with its imperious perspective. As Paparo explained, "China employs a multifaceted approach combining military pressure, cognitive and cyber operations, and economic coercion."
GIF89a����!�,D;
5
5
Next
Stay
Playback speed
1x Normal
Back
0.25x
0.5x
1x Normal
1.5x
2x
5
5
/
Skip
Ads by
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Google Brain Co-Founder Breaks His Silence: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around
Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List
Undo
Andrew Erickson, a professor at the US Naval War College, commented on Paparo's credentials: "Nobody outside of China," he related, "has a better view into developments of concern regarding China's armed forces than Admiral Sam Paparo..." He has led INDOPACOM since 3 May 2024, and before that, he was in charge of the
Pacific Fleet
from 5 May 2021.
Erickson said Paparo has had "four years of daily observation of Chinese military developments down to the smallest externally observable detail. His prepared statement and related responses in his Congressional testimony last week show just how much progress he sees, and how serious it is."
Live Events
Paparo noted: "China is developing and integrating cutting-edge technologies - artificial intelligence, hypersonic and advanced missiles, and space-based capabilities - at an alarming pace. China's anti-access/area denial capabilities are designed to prevent US forces from operating within the First and Second Island Chains. China is outpacing the US in testing not only these critical technologies, but also technologies from across their military industrial base."
The American admiral warned of other capabilities such as chemical and biological weapons, a growing nuclear arsenal and expanding maritime projection as all being worthy of "a challenge to regional stability".
Furthermore, Xi is accelerating the pressure against Taiwan. As Paparo pointed out, "Beijing's aggressive manoeuvres around Taiwan are not just exercises - they are dress rehearsals for forced unification. The PLA escalated military pressure against Taiwan by 300% in 2024, through activities such as air defence identification zone entries and centerline crossings."
The Philippines is another victim of Chinese bullying and aggression. Xi's change of heart towards the Philippines stemmed from the current President Bongbong Marcos' decision to stand up to Chinese encroachment, unlike his pusillanimous predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.
Chinese actions have become increasingly pernicious in the Yellow Sea as well. A standoff between the Chinese and Korean coast guards occurred on February 26 after Beijing earlier erected a large steel rig in waters separating China and South Korea. This was in the
Provisional Maritime Zone
(PMZ) located near Socotra Rock, southwest of Jeju Island. Established in 2000, the PMZ is a jointly managed stretch of water where South Korean and Chinese exclusive economic zones overlap.
China claimed the 71.5 m-tall structure was an aquafarm, but Seoul complained because it was illegally set up without consultation. This is not the first time China has done this in the Yellow Sea either, but previously it removed similar structures after Seoul complained.
These actions are remarkably similar to China's salami-slicing tactics in the South China Sea, where it makes territorial claims and enforces them with squatters like the Chinese
Maritime Militia
. Incremental deployment of rigs of growing size in the Yellow Sea fits China's pattern of escalation and militarisation. This is easy for China to do, because there is minimal separation between its military, law enforcement and civilian sectors.
The key strategic change over the past 15 years has been the rise of multipolar authoritarianism, accompanied by an increasing activity among its practitioners to reshape the world in their image. This is clearly evident in the confluence of interactive relationships, if not strictly alliances, among China, North Korea, and Russia. These three countries fill one another's weaknesses to their mutual benefit, something the INDOPACOM commander noted in his testimony.
As one example, Paparo said, "Russia's growing military cooperation with China, including joint exercises in the Pacific, adds another layer of complexity to the Indo-Pacific security environment. Their combined operations demonstrate increasing sophistication that potentially complicates USINDOPACOM response options in a crisis." Last year, China and Russia conducted an inaugural coast guard patrol, two naval patrols, three naval exercises and two bomber patrols -the latter including bomber patrols near Alaska and Guam featuring Chinese nuclear-capable H-6N bombers.
Nor is China neutral in the Ukraine War. The
Pentagon
assesses that China has provided 70% of machine tools and 90% of legacy computer chips to enable Russia to rebuild its industrial war machine. In return, Russia is assisting China with technological advances such as submarine quieting.
The senior US military officer in the Indo-Pacific region stressed how "a US network of allies and partners represents a tremendous asymmetric advantage in the Indo-Pacific. No competitor or adversary can match the combined strength and capabilities of this network." Paparo added that "USINDOPACOM must enable key allies and partners to acquire the necessary capabilities to defend themselves, while improving combined interoperability through bilateral and multilateral exercises and operations".
However, President Donald Trump's erratic behaviour may pose the biggest obstacle at present, as allies, friends, and onlookers watch with horror as Trump throws one friend after the other under the bus. Trump has embittered many with his insistence on extorting tariffs, and Southeast Asia was initially particularly hard-hit.
As Evan Feigenbaum, Vice President for Studies at the
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
, tweeted: "The US is pretty much done strategically in Southeast Asia. The region is filled with pragmatists, who can and do navigate all kinds of crazy stuff from outside powers. But that depends greatly on those players being either principled or strategic - and Washington is now neither." India also garnered a mention in the testimony, with INDOPACOM highlighting enhanced operational coordination, information sharing, collaboration and defence industrial and technology cooperation. "A strong and capable India - in durable partnership with the United States - can help provide security and deter conflict in the Indo-Pacific," Paparo stated.
However, the underbelly for any US military response in the Indo-Pacific is the tyranny of distance, plus limited numbers of bases to which it will have access. Logistics, sustainment, stockpiles, agile combat deployments and base access are thorny issues for the USA. The nation requires close allies in the Indo-Pacific region, but wild US political behaviour is making the situation worse.
"Give the bully an inch, he will take a mile," said Chinese Foreign Spokesperson Lin Jian on 11 April. He was referring to Trump's irrational imposition of tariffs, but ironically, China can be justifiably accused of treating smaller countries exactly the same way. Beijing is actively drawing others into its embrace, even as Xi visited the three Southeast Asian nations of Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam from April 14-18.
Earlier, China and Cambodia announced on 5 April that the China-Cambodia Ream Port Joint Support & Training Centre had begun operations. China has been furtively investing in and building infrastructure at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base. The PLA stated the base is there to "ensure that the two militaries carry out regional counterterrorism, disaster prevention and mitigation, humanitarian rescue, joint training and other operations."
PLA troops are now permanently stationed at this facility in Cambodia. The two parties added, "The construction and use of the centre is the result of mutual respect and equal consultation between China and Cambodia." They noted that the base is not directed at any third party, but "is conducive to further strengthening the pragmatic cooperation between the two militaries and better fulfilling international obligations and providing international public security products."
At the end of his testimony, Paparo concluded: "As the most consequential opponent, China poses real and serious challenges to our military superiority. However, these challenges also present opportunities for reform and establishing an enduring advantage.
While USINDOPACOM faces significant challenges, I remain confident in our deterrence posture and ability to defend US interests and maintain regional stability, but the trajectory must change. China is out-producing the United States in air, maritime and missile capability."
Indeed, China is constructing combat warships at a ratio of 6:1.8 compared to the USA, which represents more than three times the quantity. Such ratios are reflected in just about every force element, according to Paparo. He described PLA modernisation as a "step-level change". Astonishingly, he assessed that the PLA has increased its military capability tenfold to fifteenfold in the past 20 years alone.
China also has 2,100 fighters in its order of battle, as well as more than 200 H-6 bombers. Fighters are being produced at a rate of 1.2:1 compared to the USA. Their long-range air-to-air missiles "present a tremendous threat," said the chief. He also assessed that China has "high marks in their ability" to deny US air superiority in the First Island Chain. Neither side would gain complete mastery of the air, with INDOPACOM contesting air superiority and, when required, providing windows of air superiority to achieve specific aims.
An unwanted war over Taiwan could result in a 25% GDP contraction in Asia, a 10-12% GDP reduction in the USA, and 7-10% higher unemployment in the States. Paparo also warned of this about any loss of Taiwan to the PLA, "The knock-on effect of the brittleness of that network of alliances and partnerships means that some of the states could confer and submit to the PRC's mode of exploitation en route to their long-range goal of setting the rules of the world and reaping the benefits of that.""If you do not hold the high ground along the First Island Chain, you are vastly limited in your ability to operate," he underscored.
This led Senator Tom Cotton to say, "So the key then is to prevent the war from happening in the first place. We do not want to be in a situation where we have to win a war over Taiwan. We want to stop it from happening, and the way to do that is through a strong military and resolute, confident leadership."
When Cotton asked the INDOPACOM head what he needed most, he responded, "counter-C5ISR [command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] capabilities in cyber, space, counter-space to ensure that the United States can see, understand, decide, act, assess, learn faster than the PRC can, to enhance our ability to blind, to deceive and to destroy the adversary's ability to see and sense." He said a second requirement is long-range fires and effects so the joint force is "effective in attacking centers of gravity, the platform that they ride on, the sustainment that sustains them."
Paparo acknowledged that China frequently attempts to sabotage undersea internet cables, particularly around Taiwan, through gray-zone tactics. Senator Jacky Rosen remarked that China's "reckless, coercive and aggressive activities pose a threat to democracies around the globe, and its sabotage of those undersea cables has emerged as a particularly alarming tactic".
Paparo proposed two countermeasures. The first is deterrence, "the ability to penetrate from an intelligence standpoint and to be there in the locations where they would be otherwise cutting those cables". Second is resilience, such as redundant networks to ensure the information environment continues unabated, as well as the proliferation of multiple constellations in low Earth orbit. Paparo admitted that anticipating and countering Chinese moves consumes his duties.
He likened it to "a constant stare, the constant analysis of intelligence sources, of open-source sources and then the physical movement on the ground, to be able to see and understand, to anticipate and to be able to pace their actions that look to coerce Taiwan and to demonstrate the prospect of settling the matter by force".
His second focus of attention is Chinese "encroachment on treaty allies in the Philippines, as well as encroachment on partners in the South China Sea, with their excessive and illogical claims and their Nine-Dash Line claim."

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Business Standard

26 minutes ago

• Business Standard

Did he casually use 'N' word? Trump slams Medvedev over Iran nuke comments

US President Donald Trump has hit out at former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for suggesting that some countries may be ready to supply nuclear warheads to Iran in response to recent American airstrikes. In a strongly worded post on Truth Social, Trump said: "Did I hear Former President Medvedev, from Russia, casually throwing around the 'N word' (Nuclear!), and saying that he and other Countries would supply Nuclear Warheads to Iran? Did he really say that or, is it just a figment of my imagination? If he did say that, and, if confirmed, please let me know, IMMEDIATELY," he wrote. "I guess that's why Putin's 'THE BOSS,' he added. Trump also highlighted the technological edge of the United States in nuclear weaponry. He said US nuclear submarines are '20 years advanced over the pack' and expressed gratitude to the submarine crews involved in the recent strikes on Iranian nuclear targets. 'Russia has no intention of supplying nuclear weapons to Iran' Responding to Trump's concern, Medmedev, in a post on X, said, "Regarding President Trump's concerns: I condemn the US strike on Iran – it failed to achieve its objectives. However, Russia has no intention of supplying nuclear weapons to Iran because, unlike Israel, we are parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty." — Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) June 23, 2025 He added, "I know quite well what this would entail, having overseen our nuclear forces as president. But other countries might – and that's what was said. And we definitely shouldn't be arguing over who has more nukes. All the more so because the New START treaty, which I once signed with a US president, is still in force — for now. The question is: what comes next?" Strikes failed to damage Iran's nuclear programme: Medvedev The Trump-Medvedev comes after a series of posts by Dmitry Medvedev on X (formerly Twitter), where he claimed that the US-led strikes failed to cause serious harm to Iran's nuclear infrastructure. He argued that the attacks might have strengthened Iran's position and escalated tensions in the Middle East. 'Critical infrastructure of the nuclear fuel cycle appears to have been unaffected or sustained only minor damage. The enrichment of nuclear material — and, now we can say it outright, the future production of nuclear weapons — will continue. A number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads,' Medvedev wrote. 'US now entangled in new conflict' Medvedev painted a grim picture of the situation in the region: 'Israel is under attack, explosions are rocking the country, and people are panicking. The US is now entangled in a new conflict, with prospects of a ground operation looming on the horizon.' In his posts, Medvedev blamed Trump for pushing the US into yet another war and mocked any chances the American president might have had of receiving international recognition for peace efforts. 'Iran's political regime has survived — and in all likelihood, has come out even stronger. The people are rallying around the country's spiritual leadership, including those who were previously indifferent or opposed to it. Donald Trump, once hailed as 'president of peace,' has now pushed the US into another war,' he stated. 'The vast majority of countries around the world oppose the actions of Israel and the United States. At this rate, Trump can forget about the Nobel Peace Prize — not even with how rigged it has become. What a way to kick things off, Mr. President. Congratulations!' Medvedev added.

Hindustan Times

29 minutes ago

• Hindustan Times

Iran-Israel conflict: What are the key US military bases in Middle East?

As tensions surge in the Middle East, Iran has warned of 'severe consequences' for the United States after US and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Iranian state television declared that every American citizen or military personnel in West Asia is now on Tehran's radar, per Reuters. The warning came after US airstrikes hit key sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. This handout satellite photo obtained from Planet Labs PBC and dated May 20, 2025, shows a view of the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility in central Iran.(AFP) Iranian editor Hossein Shariatmadari, a close associate of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reportedly wrote an editorial urging immediate retaliation. 'We must launch a missile strike on the US naval fleet in Bahrain and simultaneously close the Strait of Hormuz,' he wrote. With Washington bracing for likely retaliation, here's a breakdown of major US military bases across the Middle East: Bahrain Bahrain hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and the US Naval Forces Central Command. The Gulf kingdom provides deep-water port access for large US vessels, including aircraft carriers. It also houses four anti-mine ships, two logistical support ships, and several US Coast Guard vessels. The facility has been used by the US Navy since 1948, initially operated by Britain's Royal Navy. Qatar Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar is the largest American military installation in the Middle East. It houses CENTCOM's forward headquarters, US Air Force elements, and special operations units. The base also supports the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and routinely hosts rotating combat aircraft. Iraq US military installations in Iraq include Al Asad Air Base in Al-Anbar Governorate and Al Harir Air Base in Erbil. Approximately 2,500 US troops are stationed here under the anti-ISIS coalition. Al Asad was previously targeted by Iranian missiles in 2020, following the killing of General Qasem Soleimani. ALSO READ: US strikes on Iran: What are Tehran's options against Donald Trump-led nation? Syria In southern Syria, near the borders with Iraq and Jordan, the US maintains Al Tanf Garrison. The base has served as a strategic point for operations against the Islamic State. It also plays a role in monitoring regional movements of Iranian-linked militias. Kuwait Kuwait's Ali Al-Salem Air Base is situated around 20 miles from the Iraqi border. It is used by the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing for airlift operations. Camp Arifjan, another key site, serves as the forward headquarters of the US Army's CENTCOM component and hosts prepositioned military equipment. UAE Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE is home to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The facility operates F-22 Raptor fighter jets, MQ-9 Reaper drones, and surveillance aircraft. It also hosts the Gulf Air Warfare Centre, which supports air and missile defense training for US and allied forces. FAQs: 1. Why has Iran threatened US military bases in the Middle East? Iran issued the threat after US and Israeli airstrikes targeted three of its nuclear facilities. 2. Which is the largest US military base in the Middle East? Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar is the largest US military installation in the region. 3. Has Iran attacked any US base before? Yes, Iran targeted Iraq's Al Asad Air Base in 2020 after the killing of General Qasem Soleimani. 4. What is the role of the US base in Bahrain? Bahrain hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, responsible for key naval operations across the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.

Time of India

31 minutes ago

• Time of India

Iran Israel war: Why has Iran attacked US military base Al Udeid air base in Qatar? Here are reasons

Iran Israel war witnessed a massive escalation as Tehran attacked US military base in Qatar -- Al Udeid Air Base. While, Iranian authority has multiple options, why did it target Al Udeid Air Base. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the U.S. attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads US military base in Qatar -- Al Udeid Air Base -- was attacked on Monday by Iran. Tehran said that Iran launched missiles in answer to the American bombing of its nuclear enrichment facilities at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz. Earlier, Iran sent a stringent warning to Washington that it would target US military assets anywhere. Reports said that they saw missiles in the skies, followed by explosions, but it wasn't clear if there was any damage, AP the past, Iran has threatened American forces at Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the forward headquarters of the U.S. military's Central Command. Al Udeid is also home to the Combined Air Operations Center, which provides command and control of airpower across the region as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest expeditionary wing in the reporter on X tweeted that trump administration was aware of in advance of Iran's attack on Al-Udeid across the Persian Gulf from Iran, maintains diplomatic relations with Iran and shares a massive offshore natural gas field with announced on state television that it attacked American forces stationed at Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base. A caption on screen called it 'a mighty and successful response" to "America's aggression' as martial music attack came shortly after Qatar closed its airspace as a precaution amid threats from before the explosions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: "We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer."A1. Al Udeid Air Base is located in Qatar. Al Udeid is also home to the Combined Air Operations Center, which provides command and control of airpower across the region as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest expeditionary wing in the world.A2. Qatar, across the Persian Gulf from Iran, maintains diplomatic relations with Iran and shares a massive offshore natural gas field with Tehran.