US Admiral Samuel Paparo sounds alarm on growing Chinese threat in the Pacific
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has backed a leading US Admiral’s grim assessment of China’s growing threat to the Indo-Pacific.
Australia’s Defence Minister has echoed concerns about Beijing’s ‘significant military buildup’ after the Admiral in charge of US operations in the Indo-Pacific reportedly warned Congress that the threat of war with China is growing.
Admiral Samuel Paparo, who heads the recently renamed US Pacific Command based in Hawaii, is also believed to have urged American lawmakers to approve $US67.4 billion ($95.4b) for new missiles and $US18b for countermeasures.
“The security environment in the Indo-Pacific is becoming more dangerous and defined by an increasing risk of confrontation and crisis,” Admiral Paparo said in a 221-page unclassified report obtained by The Washington Times.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“China’s aggressive military modernisation, territorial expansion and deepening relationships with Russia and North Korea present key challenges in an increasingly complex security environment,” the admiral wrote in the document dated April 6.
His assessment includes details of weapons-buying plans and identifies numerous systems that remain secret, are under development or were only recently disclosed, including advanced electronic warfare tools and hypersonic missiles.
Last month The Nightly revealed Admiral Paparo had flown to Canberra for high-level talks amid warnings his nation needed more naval firepower in the region to match an “increasingly aggressive” China.
During a visit to Rockingham in Western Australia, where US nuclear-powered submarines are scheduled to begin rotations next year, Defence Minister Richard Marles was asked whether the Government agreed with Admiral Paparo’s assessment.
“What we share is that we have seen a very significant military build up by China over a significant period of time now, but it does represent the largest conventional military build-up that the world has seen since the end of the Second World War”.
“It’s really why we need to be seeing deterrence put in place, balance put in place, so that we can maintain the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific, of the region in which we live, and that’s very much behind our thinking in terms of why we’re increasing our defence expenditure and defence capability in such a significant way.
“We welcome the statements that you will find in America’s key strategic documents, the National Security Strategy and the National Defence Strategy, which were released at the end of last year, which placed an emphasis on deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, in terms of being able to maintain that peace and stability in this region.”
On Wednesday the Defence Minister also confirmed that the Pentagon was proceeding with plans for a permanent war-ready weapons stockpile for the US Marine Corps in on Australia’s southeast coast beyond the range of most Chinese missiles.
Documents published by the US Navy this month show plans for $30 million allocated to build warehouses and offices in southeastern Victoria state for “critical forward provisioning,” including “crew served weapons.”
“We are seeing a growing US footprint in Australia, that is important in terms of building our own military capability, but also it’s very important for Australia’s national security,” Mr Marles told reporters.
Asked specifically whether the weapons were being stored out of range from possible Chinese attack, the Minister said: “I wouldn’t describe it in the context of a particular country”.
“What we’re doing is seeing America build its footprint in Australia, which is very good for our national interest and for our national security, and as we see America do more or engage in greater number in exercises like Talisman Sabre”.
