U.S. must keep pace with China, admiral says
15 February, 2018
China’s military might is growing at such a pace that it could soon rival American power “across almost every domain,” a top U.S. military official said Wednesday.
Adm. Harry Harris, who heads up the military’s enormous Pacific Command (PACOM), warned lawmakers they must be wary of Beijing’s investments in traditional assets as well as its development of a new wave of technologies such as hypersonic missiles and artificial intelligence.
“China’s impressive military buildup could soon challenge the United States across almost every domain,” Harris told the House Armed Services Committee.
“Key advancements include fielding significant improvements in missile systems, developing fifth-generation fighter aircraft capabilities, and growing the size and capability of the Chinese Navy to include their first overseas base in the port of Djibouti.”
He added: “If the U.S. does not keep pace, PACOM will struggle to compete with the People’s Liberation Army on future battlefields.”
Harris, who has been nominated to become the next U.S. ambassador to Australia, has led PACOM for more than two years.
He also addressed politicians’ concerns about the threat of a missile strike from North Korea.
Harris said he supported a study to consider whether America should install ground-based missile interceptors in Hawaii, augmenting the batteries already in place in Alaska and Hawaii.