WASHINGTON – Pentagon chief Mark Esper has accused China of destabilizingthe Indo-Pacific region after saying the US plans to deployintermediate-range missiles to Asia “sooner rather than later.”

During a visit to the Australian capital on Sunday, Ester accused Beijingof following a “disturbing pattern of aggressive behavior [and]destabilizing behavior.”

“We firmly believe no one nation can or should dominate the Indo-Pacificand we are working alongside our allies and partners to address theregion’s pressing security needs,” he told reporters in Sydney.

“This [aggressive behavior] includes weaponizing the global commons, usingpredatory economics and debt for sovereignty deals, and promotingstate-sponsored theft of other nations’ intellectual property,” Espercharged.

His remarks echoed comments by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who said”decades of bad behavior” from China have hampered free trade.