#头条创作挑战赛#
Text/Zhan Hai
A few days ago, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command ushered in a "big change", with Admiral Samuel Paparo replacing John Aquilino as the new Indo-Pacific commander. It is worth noting that the two carried out a handover ceremony on the port dock of Hawaii, and the US media said that the reason why the ceremony was chosen here is because they can overlook the memorial of the battleship Missouri and the battleship Arizona, reminding the US military to "not forget the shame of Pearl Harbor".
(The location chosen for the handover ceremony is at the pier)
According to the American newspaper Stars and Stripes, an important background to the transition is China's "growing control" over the Pacific region. In addition to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Navy Toro and other senior officials, the defense ministers of Australia and the Philippines also rushed to attend the ceremony. "The mission of Indo-Pacific Command is at the heart of U.S. security in the 21st century," Austin said, and maintaining strong relationships with allies is an "important and critical mission" for the command.
(Admiral Paparo attends his own inauguration)
Sure enough, the new commander, Paparo, immediately named China at the handover ceremony, declaring that China's actions and claims in the Indo-Pacific region were "aggressive and expansionist" and labeling China's normal activities to safeguard maritime sovereignty. He also singled out Armed Forces Chief of Staff Brawner, who he said had changed China's behavior from a "gray zone" to a "illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive" narrative. Paparo was unashamed to declare that this was a sign of the "collective wisdom" of the United States and its allies.
(Paparo had previously communicated closely with the commander of the Philippine Navy)
Paparo also said that the Indo-Pacific Command, as the largest, most important and oldest of the six U.S. operational commands, is primarily used to deter China, and that he is "ready to go to war with any party that threatens the peace, security, stability and well-being of the United States and its allies." Paparo claims that China is the only country that has both the intention and the ability to reshape the international order. Judging from his statement that he is involved with China at every turn, it is obvious that China has ushered in another strong opponent.
(Paparo was a former Navy pilot)
According to the American magazine "Military", Aquilino said that he left Paparo "the most complete and deadly joint force on the planet, and they are ready". But he also said that in the three years of his tenure, China had built more than 400 aircraft, 20 large warships, and doubled its missile stockpile...... When he boasted about his "political achievements", he did not forget to engage in the cliché of "China threat theory", which also shows that the Indo-Pacific Command of the US military has not played much role in containing China.
(The more "deterrence" the Indo-Pacific Command, the more advanced equipment on the mainland appears)
In fact, as a "tradition" of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, it is good for everyone to take a look at it. Aquilino is a traditional "hawk" general in the United States, and when he took office, he also vigorously promoted the so-called "Pacific Deterrence Program", claiming to increase the deterrence capability of the Indo-Pacific Command. As a result, three years later, I don't know how much of the deterrent effect of the US military is, but in order to cope with the new international situation, China has put a large number of new warships and new fighters into service.
As the new commander of the Indo-Pacific, it is not surprising that Paparo will let go of his cruel words, but how much he dares to implement them after his cruel words depends on his ability. With the trial of China's third aircraft carrier and the appearance of H-6N bombers loaded with a variety of large "mysterious missiles", many of the PLA's weapons can cover Hawaii, where the Indo-Pacific Command is located in the second island chain.
If the United States dares to provoke China while safeguarding its homeland's maritime borders and territorial integrity, China has sufficient capabilities to counter it. If you take 10,000 steps back, the dog that bites people will not bark, although Paparo is the commander of the Indo-Pacific Command, if you really want to do something with China, you have to listen to the orders of Congress and the president, and it is easy to say cruel words, but the decision is not in your own hands.