WASHINGTON—According to the commanders of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea, China continues to grow as a threat and seeks to challenge the global status quo; Russia plays the role of “spoiler"; and tensions between North and South Korea have lessened dramatically, but with no verifiable change to actual North Korean military capabilities.
The commanders testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 12. Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.) opened the hearing by stating the need for “urgent change at significant scale to address … the strategic competition with China.” He also observed that with deterrence eroding as China advances its military capabilities, Beijing may conclude it can achieve its goals by force.
