Military focus on China: USA equips bases in the Pacific

Military focus on China
USA arm bases in the Pacific

Tensions between the US and China are mounting. The Pentagon is preparing for possible military operations and wants to significantly expand its presence in the Pacific region. Beijing, on the other hand, sees this as an excuse and feels “surrounded”.

The US Department of Defense wants to expand its bases for potential operations against Russia and China. As the Pentagon announced on Monday after an internal inventory, the military facilities on the Pacific island of Guam and in Australia are to be expanded. Washington is thus placing a clear focus on China as its most important military adversary.

In Australia, the Ministry of Defense wants to deploy new fighter jets and bombers and train ground troops, among other things, according to a rotation principle. In addition, the military airports and ammunition depots in Australia, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are to be modernized.

Further details from the “Global Posture Review” commissioned by President Joe Biden’s administration earlier this year should remain secret, the Department of Defense said. Senior Pentagon official Mara Karlin confirmed that the Indo-Pacific region is a priority for US forces. The plan therefore also provides for additional collaboration with allies and partners in the region in order to advance initiatives that contribute to regional stability. It is also about “fending off potential military attacks by China and threats from North Korea,” said Karlin.

More flexibility in the Middle East

In addition, Washington wants to strengthen the deterrent against Russia and enable NATO forces to “act more effectively”. The Middle East remains an unstable area after the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to another high-ranking Pentagon representative, Washington can react quickly and relocate troops to the region depending on the threat situation.

China responded with harsh words to the US announcement. Beijing accused Washington of “creating an imaginary enemy” and “sparing no effort to encircle and contain China”. “We firmly oppose the United States using the ‘China Threat Theory’ as an excuse to increase its military spending,” said Foreign Office spokesman Zhao Lijian.

The tensions between Washington and Beijing have intensified in many areas in recent years: In addition to Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, there are also trade issues, the human rights situation and dealing with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Biden sees the economically and militarily up-and-coming China as the greatest geopolitical challenge of the 21st century and intends to resolutely oppose the government in Beijing. At the same time, he seeks cooperation on topics such as climate protection.

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