China’s Assertive Actions in Indo-Pacific Threaten Regional Stability, US Navy Commander Says

Admiral Stephen Koehler, the US Pacific Fleet Commander, has voiced concerns over China’s escalating aggression and illegal territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific, stating these actions pose a risk to regional peace. During the South China Sea Conference, Koehler underscored the US Navy’s role in deterring aggression across the Western Pacific, with a specific focus on the South China Sea and Taiwan. He pointed out China’s expanding military presence and increasingly assertive tactics, including military drills simulating an invasion and blockade of Taiwan. Koehler cited instances of Chinese aggression, such as the use of water cannons, collisions, and laser attacks, alongside assaults on Philippine Navy personnel. The US Navy regards the Indo-Pacific as a key operational theater, deploying substantial assets, including 200 ships and submarines and 1,300 aircraft. The region currently sees the presence of two active carrier strike groups. The conference also featured Tetsuo Kotani, a senior fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs, who presented Japan’s “Japan Single Operational Area” strategic concept, aimed at bolstering defense collaboration in the region. Kotani also emphasized the need to include Taiwan in regional security arrangements to maintain stability.