WASHINGTON, D.C. — China’s unprecedented pace of military development has prompted renewed U.S. Army efforts to counter growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. Army Gen. Ronald P. Clark, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, addressed the issue during a strategic landpower forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Friday, June 27.
Speaking at the event, Gen. Clark emphasized that China is rapidly advancing its military technologies and joint operational capabilities, drawing lessons from global conflicts. Their focus has been on anti-access and area denial (A2/AD) strategies in the air and maritime regions, aimed at limiting U.S. and allied movements.
However, Clark underscored the Army’s readiness to counter such measures through multidomain operations, a strategic concept encompassing capabilities in space, cyberspace, electronic warfare, and long-range fires. “What they have not accounted for is our ability to provide access through multidomain operations from the land,” Clark stated.
China’s growing aggression and coercive tactics against U.S. allies and regional partners have further highlighted the importance of an increased American presence, according to Clark. “Our ability to be present, to give them an alternative, specifically in the security arena, is very, very important. So, presence matters.”
The Army has ramped up its prepositioning of supplies in the region through joint theater distribution centers, reducing dependency on long-range transport by air and sea. “Our ability to be able to gain positional advantage is all tied to our efforts to campaign inside the first and second island chains,” Clark noted, describing these positions as critical to strengthening the U.S. stance in contested areas spanning Japan to Southeast Asia and beyond.
To ensure operational readiness, Clark reported that troops are undergoing enhanced training to meet modern battlefield demands. “We’ve doubled down on holistic health and fitness to ensure soldiers and their families are resilient for whatever lies ahead,” he affirmed.
Clark also pointed to frequent regional exercises as key to maintaining readiness and fostering international collaboration. Additionally, the Army is advancing experimentation with new technologies, placing cutting-edge capabilities in soldiers’ hands. “We’re putting [new capabilities] into the hands of soldiers on the ground who…will take it, break it, [and] tell us what we can do to fix it,” he said, stressing the importance of real-time feedback in fielding superior systems.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command remains prepared to support natural disaster responses in the region, Clark said, in alignment with its broader mission to ensure security and stability amid increasing challenges posed by China’s ambitions.
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