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As Washington and Beijing trade barbs over the coronavirus pandemic, a longer-term struggle between the two Pacific powers is at a turning point, as the United States rolls out new weapons and strategy in a bid to close a wide missile gap with China... Now, having shed the constraints of a Cold War-era arms control treaty, the Trump administration is planning to deploy long-range, ground-launched cruise missiles in the Asia-Pacific region. The Pentagon intends to arm its Marines with versions of the Tomahawk cruise missile... The Pentagon also intends to dial back China's lead in what strategists refer to as...

When it was announced by the President last week that Navy Admiral William J. Fallon, current commander of Pacific Command (PACOM), will replace Central Command (CENTCOM) boss Army Gen. John P. Abizaid, the reaction was nearly universal: why a Navy man to lead what are predominately Army and Marine forces in the Central Region? The blogs and the New York Times suggested that if we are to deal with Iran, we need a commander who has experience with naval forces and airpower.  While that is certainly a factor in his favor, the real reason for his selection as I see...

For months now, Pentagon and service officials have said it will need all the help it can get from its international partners, as the department begins its swing from Southwest Asia to the Western Pacific. But that help won't include outfitting the South Korean air force with a key, U.S.-built radar system. Pacific Command chief Adm. Robert Willard stopped short of agreeing to equip South Korea's fleet of F-16 fighters with the next-generation Active Electronically Scanned Array radar. Air Force models have already gotten AESA upgrades, which allows U.S. warplanes to track multiple targets during flight. The F-35 Joint Strike...

Former U.S. Pacific Command Chief Adm. Tim Keating (ret.) reiterated what we’ve been hearing from U.S. defense officials for a while now regarding China: The question isn’t what type of military technology is the Asian giant developing, it’s what will it do with all that firepower? “We kinda have a pretty good feel for what they’re fielding” in terms of weapons, said Keating during a talk on missile defense at the Heritage Foundation here in Washington. For example, the U.S. has known about weapons like the J-20 stealth jet for a while now, according tot the former admiral. “It wasn’t...

The growing capacity of China military force tip the balance in the regional stability of the Asia Pacific area including Taiwan Strait and Southeast Asia, noted Admiral Robert F. Willard, the current Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), while adding that in a broader context, the biggest challenge to US navy in the Pacific Ocean is China, according to Liberty Times report. “In response to China’s immense presence in the Pacific Ocean, the PACOM will step up its efforts to maintain the regional stability,” said Willard at an interview by the Straits Times, a Singaporean news media. China is...

About 25 years ago, an American intelligence officer was asked how far the Chinese could project military power. His terse answer: “About as far as their army can walk.” Today, that statement is most assuredly no longer true. China has accomplished perhaps the most remarkable expansion of military power since the US geared up for World War II. In the last 15 years it has deployed nuclear and conventional missiles that can reach US forces from the western Pacific to Washington, D.C. China’s military is also assembling a set of capabilities designed to avoid or offset traditional US advantages. This...

Fifteen F-22 Raptors are scheduled to deploy to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, in January 2010 for approximately three months. The fighters and associated personnel will deploy from the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The deployment supports U.S. Pacific Command's theater security packages in the Western Pacific and follows the recent departure from the theater of two deployed squadrons of F-22s that also were supporting U.S. PACOM's TSP. The fighters and personnel deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, and Kadena Air Base, Japan, completed their redeployment in October 2009. The F-22 is a transformational combat aircraft that can avoid...

Note: The following text is a quote: Jury Convicts Defense Department Official of Unlawful Communication of Classified Information and Making False Statements James Wilbur Fondren Jr., was convicted by a federal jury today on charges involving providing classified information to a man working with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and lying to the FBI about it. Fondren was convicted of one count of unlawfully communicating classified information to an agent of a foreign government and two counts of making false statements to the FBI. He was acquitted of two unlawful communication of classified information, one count of conspiracy to...

Two of the Navy's top admirals said Tuesday that China's refusal to permit a U.S. aircraft carrier to make a Thanksgiving port call at Hong Kong was surprising and troubling. "This is perplexing. It's not helpful," Adm. Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, told reporters in a videoteleconference from his headquarters at Camp Smith, Hawaii. "It's not, in our view, conduct that is indicative of a country that understands its obligations as a responsible nation," he said, adding that he hopes it does not indicate a lasting blockage of port visits. The USS Kitty Hawk, which has its home...

CANBERRA, Australia, Sept. 21, 2007 – The commander of U.S. Pacific Command wrapped up two days of meetings here today with Australian government and military leaders to explore ways to enhance their already rock-solid partnership in promoting stability in the region and beyond. Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, right, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, renders a salute after inspecting a formation of Australian troops on his arrival at the Australian Defense Force headquarters in Canberra, Australia, Sept. 21, 2007. Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Australia’s defense chief, looks on. Defense Dept. photo by Donna Miles  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution...

NUKUALOFA, Tonga, Sept. 18, 2007 – While Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, was here today meeting with senior Tongan military and government officials, his senior enlisted leader, who had accompanied the admiral, was noticeably absent. Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. James A. Roy arrives in Tonga to discuss NCO development in the Tongan armed forces as Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, meets with senior Tongan military and government officials. Photo by Donna Miles  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. James A. Roy...

USS ESSEX, At Sea (NNS) -- Adm. William J. Fallon, commander, U.S. Pacific Command, visited USS Essex (LHD 2) March 2, to thank the crew and embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) for their hard work during the Leyte humanitarian assistance, disaster relief efforts while the ship was underway off the Philippine coast. Essex, commanded by Capt. Martin J. Keaney, along with USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and elements of the 31st MEU, were diverted from the previously planned Exercise Balikatan 06 to help in the relief and recovery efforts after a devastating landslide covered a village in the southern...

HAGATNA, Guam - Guam and Hawaii are lobbying to be the Pacific homeport for a Navy aircraft carrier, eyeing the thousands of local jobs and millions of dollars it could bring to one of the islands' economies. The Pentagon is considering moving one of its carriers — it has 12 total — to either Guam or Hawaii to be closer to potential flashpoints in Asia. The pending decision pits two tropical economies heavily dependent on tourism and the military in direct competition for more defense dollars. Activists in both places have estimated an aircraft carrier would create more than 4,000...

WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain said he has serious concerns about the current and planned U.S. military presence in the Pacific and said operations in Iraq and Afghanistan “may be mortgaging our future.” The comments came as Adm. William J. Fallon, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command and Army Gen. Leon J. LaPorte, Commander of United States Forces Korea, testified before Congress on Tuesday to discuss their operational plans related to the 2006 defense budget. McCain called the Middle East operations “legitimate demands” but said he worries that not enough attention is being paid to the military’s ability to react to...

Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz at PACOM Change of Command Remarks as Prepared for Delivery: Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, Kaneohe Bay Flight Line Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Thursday, May 2, 2002. General [Richard] Myers [Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff] has done a thorough job of recognizing all the many distinguished guests who are here today. Let me add my personal welcome to Admiral Dennis Blair, Diane Blair, Admiral Thomas Fargo, Sarah Fargo, their families and friends, and, in particular, all the men and women of the finest Armed Forces in the Pacific.I was in a briefing recently with General...