US Admiral Warns of Risks to Regional Peace Due to China’s Actions in Indo-Pacific

Admiral Stephen Koehler, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, has warned of the potential risks to regional peace and stability posed by China’s illegal claims and aggressive behavior in the Indo-Pacific. Speaking at the South China Sea Conference, hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Koehler emphasized the US Navy’s commitment to deterring aggression throughout the Western Pacific, including the South China Sea and Taiwan. He highlighted China’s assertive tactics, including increased military deployments, simulated invasion drills, and intimidation of Southeast Asian nations. Koehler noted incidents of aggressive behavior, such as the use of water cannons, ship-to-ship collisions, and assaults on Philippine Navy vessels. The US Navy views the Indo-Pacific as its primary theater of operations, deploying significant resources to the region, including two carrier strike groups. The conference also addressed the concept of a ‘Japan Single Operational Area’ to enhance defense collaboration, with the caveat that excluding Taiwan from regional security agreements would pose significant challenges to maintaining peace.