Adm. Phil Davidson, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, prepares for a courtesy call on Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, Oct. 22, 2020.
The head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Phil Davidson warned Tuesday (March 9) that the Chinese Communist Party‘s anti-ship ballistic missile test launch in the South China Sea last August was sending a threatening message and that the U.S. needs to strictly guard Guam, which will be key to the U.S. response to any conflict in the Asia-Pacific region.
In August 2020, the Chinese Communist Party military launched the Dongfeng-21 medium-range ballistic missile (DF-21), which the Communist Party says is an anti-ship ballistic missile, toward the South China Sea.
Davidson, appearing before a Senate committee Tuesday, said the Chinese Communist Party’s “these medium-range anti-ship ballistic missiles have the capability to attack aircraft carriers in the Western Pacific.
He also warned that the Chinese military’s deployment of these missiles during a large-scale exercise demonstrates the Communist Party’s focus on countering any potential third-party involvement during a geographic crisis.
Davidson also told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Chinese Communist Party’s beginning to use missiles in the exercises was a turning point.
“It is notable that China (CCP) is not only developing advanced weaponry, but they are increasingly using these weapons in training and exercise scenarios, sharpening the CCP military’s operational capabilities while sending a clear message to the region and the globe.” Davidson said.
Davidson also emphasized that Guam will be key to the U.S. response to any conflict in the Asia-Pacific region. He said Guam needs extra protection because of its 170,000 U.S. citizens and service members living there, its deep-water strategic port, fuel and ammunition depots, and airports used to launch U.S. weapons.
“Guam is a target today. It needs to be defended and it needs to be prepared for future threats.” Davidson said, “The Chinese Communist Air Force has released a propaganda video depicting their H-6 bomber force attacking Anderson Air Force Base on Guam, and they’ve made a big deal out of it.”
In response, Davidson said that while the U.S. land-based Aegis Ashore system can counter ballistic or cruise missiles launched from the air, land and sea, Guam’s land-based anti-ballistic missile system, the Terminal Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) on Guam is “unable to meet the current threat path from China (the Chinese Communist Party). “.
Davidson has previously proposed increasing funding for U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region, with $1.6 billion of his proposed $27 billion in military spending for additional systems being a top priority. He wants to continue a special Pacific deterrence program through 2027 to strengthen the U.S. military posture in the region. Currently, the Land-based Aegis system has been installed or is in the process of being installed in Romania and Poland.
Davidson said he supports investments in a number of weaponry in the Asia-Pacific region, including land-based precision firepower; new Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines; range improvements in Alaska, Hawaii and Guam; improved joint exercises with allies, and additional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets to provide early warning in the event of an attack.
Davidson’s proposal has been endorsed by a senior Republican senator.
James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said in a statement Tuesday, “We’ve made a lot of progress through more than $20 billion in investments in European defense initiatives over the past five years …… We need to adopt defense initiatives for the Asia-Pacific region, in the Pacific invest a similar level of focused response and military resources.”
Recent Comments