I keep saying that "pivoting" to the Pacific shouldn't mean cramming more first-line assets into insufficiently protected bases within reach of China's arsenal of weapons.
This is a problem, right?
United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) currently has critical assets such as runways, naval fleets, and fixed-wing aircraft such as the F-35 stationed near the PLA’s missiles, which could be targeted in the event the latter decides to conduct armed operations against Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, or the Philippines.
But no, every day I read how America must withdraw every military asset from the Middle East and Europe in order to cram them into those air bases and ports in order to face the "real" threat to America--China.
But that "real" threat is a potent threat rather than being a talking point to justify walking away from ongoing threats. Really. So don't conveniently mass our forces within easy reach of China's missiles and aircraft so it can launch a theater-wide Pearl Harbor. Worse, packing our best assets into those bases will actually tempt China to strike first while they have the opportunity.
Other than our nuclear-powered submarines on patrol, I really just want tripwire forces in the western Pacific. And bases that are well defended and equipped with repair capabilities in order to receive reinforcements from deeper into the Pacific, the continental United States, and other parts of the world.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
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NOTE: Photo from the U.S. Navy.
