WASHINGTON- China´s military might is growing at such a pace that it couldsoon rival American power “across almost every domain,” a top US militaryofficial said Wednesday.
Admiral Harry Harris, who heads up the military´s enormous Pacific Command(PACOM), warned lawmakers they must be wary of Beijing´s investments intraditional assets as well as its development of a new wave of technologiessuch as hypersonic missiles and artificial intelligence.
“China´s impressive military buildup could soon challenge the United Statesacross almost every domain,” Harris told the House Armed Services Committee.
“Key advancements include fielding significant improvements in missilesystems, developing fifth-generation fighter aircraft capabilities, andgrowing the size and capability of the Chinese navy to include their firstoverseas base in the port of Djibouti.”
He added: “If the US does not keep pace, PACOM will struggle to competewith the People´s Liberation Army on future battlefields.”
Harris, who has been nominated to become the next US ambassador toAustralia, has led PACOM for more than two years.
He also addressed politicians´ concerns about the threat of a missilestrike from North Korea.
The Pentagon can, as of now, block any missile coming from the regime ofKim Jong Un, he said, but warned America needs to adapt to the rapidadvances in Pyongyang´s capabilities.
“Given what we think the North Korean capability might be in terms of theirmissiles in three or four years…. I think we must continue to improve ourmissile defenses,” he said.
Harris said he supported a study to consider whether America should installground-based missile interceptors in Hawaii, augmenting the batteriesalready in place in Alaska and Hawaii.
The admiral said Kim´s long-term goal is not merely to ensure the survivalof his regime, but to control the entire Korean peninsula.
“He is on a path to achieve what he feels is his natural place, where NorthKorea´s natural outcome is a unified Korean peninsula that´s subject to(Kim) and the communist regime,” Harris said.
Korea experts frequently say Kim´s motivations for building a nucleardeterrent are somewhat rational because he sees it as protecting hisregime, even though his missile push has put him at risk of conflict withthe United States. – APP/AFP