The military strengthening of United States in the Indo-Pacific

By Denis Korkodinov

The US Armed Forces Command in the Indo-Pacific Region (US INDOPACOM) requested $ 20 billion from the US Congress to modernize its military assets, which are planned to be used against China.

The lower house of the US parliament approved this financial request, based on the likelihood of an escalation of the conflict between Beijing and Washington in the short term. It is planned that the funds allocated by INDOPACOM will be used to purchase advanced air defense systems, cruise missiles and the creation of new military bases in close proximity to Chinese borders.

According to INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Phil Davidson, the upcoming military campaign will require a significant strengthening of US defense power in the Indo-Pacific region. To this end, from the point of view of the American military commander, Washington needs to place the main emphasis, first of all, on the development of offensive weapons, while in the case of defense there is a great risk of military defeat for the United States. Moreover, according to Phil Davidson, in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, favorable conditions are created for Washington to “attack its opponents and not wait for them to attack first.”

As part of the cost plan, INDOPACOM expects to purchase sea-based tomahawks for $ 1 billion, as well as the ultra-long AGM-158B cruise missiles, better known as JASSM-ER. These weapons are planned to be deployed along the islands from the territories of Japan and Taiwan to the Philippines and Indonesia, which are in the sphere of Chinese interests. It is also worth noting that the represented group of countries is more or less dependent on the United States, as a result of which they will not mind if Washington uses them in the fight against China.

Among other things, the United States intends to strengthen its positions on the island of Guam, which is the main American outpost in the Western Pacific, through additional air defense systems. Not limited to the above, the INDOPACOM command is deploying early target recognition systems, including space tracking stations, on the islands of Palau and Hawaii.

Many experts proceed from the opinion that the types of weapons presented that Washington intends to use are not so much for defense as for the offensive. And given the pronounced anti-Chinese information campaign that unfolded in the United States under the influence of Donald Trump, there are objective reasons to believe that The INDOPACOM project aims to bring tensions with Beijing to a state of military confrontation.

Both Beijing and Washington, apparently, are ready for military action in the near future. So, despite the attempts of the international community to restrain them from direct conflict, the People’s Liberation Army of China and the US military command may use the COVID-19 pandemic to solve problems in relations with each other. And they most likely would prefer to give rise to an escalation that would drag all the countries of the world into conflict rather than wait until the coronavirus destroys their economy.

The main reason for the outbreak of hostilities may serve as Chinese policy aimed at expanding the network of Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The White House administration believes that the main purpose of these islands is to begin preparations for China’s offensive operations against the American allies. In addition, the Spratly Islands pose a significant obstacle to shipping in the South China Sea, which is used for the transit of goods to Asia and Oceania.

In order to put pressure on China, the United States intends to organize maritime patrols of the territory covered by the Chinese claims. This indicates that Beijing can actually consider any American ships located near the Spratly Islands as a military threat and open fire on them. If such a scenario occurs, this may usher in a conflict between Beijing and Washington.

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