U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (pictured) said the Chinese Communist Party is the top U.S. pacing challenge.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Thursday that the Chinese Communist Party is the top U.S. pacing challenge, and that the right operational concepts, capabilities and programs should be developed to enhance deterrence and maintain a competitive advantage. (Fang Dehao reports)
Austin issued a “Memorandum to the Defense Department” on Thursday, addressing three major areas: “defending the nation,” “taking care of employees” and “winning through teamwork. The memo was issued on Thursday and addressed three major areas, including “defending the nation,” “taking care of employees” and “winning through teamwork.
In the “Defense of the Nation” area, Austin listed five major directions, including “defeating the 2019 novel coronavirus Epidemic,” “listing China as the top advancing challenge,” and “addressing advanced persistent threats. Austin also listed five major directions, including “defeating the new coronavirus epidemic of 2019,” “addressing progressive and persistent threats,” “innovation and modernization of the Department of Defense” and “addressing the climate crisis.
Referring to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Austin said the Department of Defense has identified the CCP as a top step-change challenge for which it needs to develop the right operational concepts, capabilities and programs to enhance deterrence and maintain a competitive advantage. DoD will ensure that its approach to China is coordinated and synchronized within programs that advance work priorities, are integrated into the Administration’s overall strategy for domestic and foreign policy, strengthen alliances and partnerships, and have cross-party support in Congress.
While confronting competition from China, Austin also noted that it is important to be prepared to respond to and effectively deter state threats from Russia, Iran, North Korea, and transnational and non-state actors from violent extremist groups in the Middle East, Africa, South and Central Asia.
He said the United States will use all tools to reduce the risk of escalation with adversaries and respond to challenges below the level of armed conflict. The U.S. Department of Defense will also continue to maintain a credible deterrent force in the face of advanced threats, and will maintain DoD doctrine with transparency to build the appropriate scale of forces globally.
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