by Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News
When Admiral Sam Paparo assume took over as head of the US Indo-Pacific Command on May 3, the last words of his speech were, “May God bless America and let’s get to work.” In his first few weeks in command, Paparo made it clear his priority at work would be China.
From a candid interview on China following Beijing’s recent military maneuvers surrounding Taiwan to a quick-thinking response to a Chinese diplomat, Paparo highlighted what is likely to be the top issues on his agenda the next few years – growing tensions with China in the Pacific.
The former TOPGUN aviator is in charge of more than 360,000 uniformed personnel and Department of Defense civilians in an area that comprises 38 countries and spans 14 time zones. He’ll also be the hands-on US official when it comes to military alliances with allies such as Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
Three weeks into Paparo’s tenure, China ramped up its recent pressure on Taiwan. The People’s Liberation Army dispatched scores of planes and ships to surround the island in what Beijing called a test of its ability to “seize power” over Taiwan.
China also released a video showing an animation of Taiwan being enclosed within a circular target area while simulated missiles hit key targets.
Several days later, Paparo gave an interview to Japan’s Nikkei news service, saying the maneuvers “looked like a rehearsal” for an invasion of the island.
“We watched it. We took note. We learned from it. And they helped us prepare for the future,” he said.
Paparo told Nikkei that if a war erupts between China and Taiwan, he’s confident the US and its allies would prevail. He said that China’s actions underscore the importance of a strong relationship between the US and its partners. He called the ties between the US and Japan “the most important alliance on the planet.”
Several days later, Paparo rose to the occasion when he was put on the spot by Chinese diplomat Cui Tiankei, a former ambassador to the US. It happened in Singapore at the Shangri-La Dialogue, where Paparo and Cui were on a panel together.
Cui asked the question, “having two major military blocks confronting each other, with very high risk or real war or even nuclear wars – is that a right approach?”
Lawmakers call for Aircraft Carrier Funding
Paparo rejected Cui’s premise.
“You’re speaking as if all the panelists here want to fight. We are the life insurance policy against fighting. We have children in uniform. And that is the very last thing that we do, the admiral said. “Deterrence is our first duty. The assumption that somehow all of us want to fight and you are lone human being on this panel that wants peace – if that is the point you’re making, my dear friend, that is not the case.”
Paparo will have strong support from Congress when it comes to deterring Chinese aggression. The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) visited Taiwan days after the recent Chinese maneuvers. He assured Taiwanese officials that long-promised weapons from the US are on the way.
Members of Congress have complained there’s a backog of weapons ordered by Taiwan that have not been delivered. Reportedly, some of them – surface- to-air and air-to-air missiles – were sent to Ukraine instead.
McCaul said the US wants China to question whether it was worth attacking Taiwan.
“We have to demonstrate that the consequences would be way too severe, and risks would out the advantages,” “he told NBC News.
