PACOM Commander Admiral Harry Harris Jr. and Commander of US-Republic of Korea Combined Forces Command General Curtis Scaparrotti testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday. Broadly they discussed the status of the Pacific region, including challenges from China, North Korea, and Russia.
Regional Challenges
China
Senators questioned the witnesses about the continued militarization of islands in the South China Sea, including the recent installation of radar and a sophisticated Surface-to-Air missile system on Woody Island. Admiral Harris agreed that these developments were troubling, and suggested that ‘freedom of navigation’ efforts in which U.S. vessels sail through the international waters around the islands should be continued. Admiral Harris also stressed that China’s ship-to-ship missiles out-range current missiles in the American arsenal, and that this asymmetry must be fixed.
Russia
Both witnesses agreed that Russia has continued to assert itself in the Pacific theater, including bomber flights near Japan. They also discussed the formidable new ballistic missile submarines Russia has deployed in the region.
North Korea
General Scaparootti noted that North Korea boasts the 4th-largest military with the largest arsenal of artillery in the world. He spoke at length about how to deter North Korea and defend regional allies. He also stressed that cyber attacks were a growing threat, and that North Korea is committed to advancing their capacity.
Budgets and Equipment
Admiral Harris told the SASC that PACOM was well-supported in the FY17 budget request, which is a bold move when testifying. On a follow-up he added that he could always use more Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets and submarines. Admiral Harris confirmed that he only receives about 62% of the attack submarines he needs to adequately supply the region.
Admiral Harris also called for a “separate CYBERCOM functional combatant command,” as well as an enduring theater cyber capability within PACOM.
Lastly, Admiral Harris highlighted the increasingly-contested space environment. He cited a need for a resilient satellite communications capability since China is “pursuing a broad and robust array of counterspace capabilities, which include direct-ascent anti-satellite missiles, co-orbital anti-satellite systems, computer network operations, ground-based satellite jammers and directed energy weapons.” I find myself repeating this often on the blog, but continue to keep an eye on space operations as we move forward.
Final Quote
“Acronyms kill, ma’am.” – Admiral Harris
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