China and Russia’s actions send a strong message to the US Navy, warns Wicker.
China and Russia Send “Stark Signal” to U.S. Naval Forces
A top Republican argues that China and Russia have sent a strong message to U.S. naval forces, indicating that they will face increasing pressure from Moscow and Beijing. This comes after joint military exercises by the two regimes near Alaska.
“The scale and complexity of this Russian and Chinese naval deployment is unprecedented,” Senate Armed Services ranking member Roger Wicker (R-MS) said Monday. “While I am glad the U.S. Navy deployed four destroyers and a P-8 aircraft to monitor the fleet, the exercise serves as a stark signal that generational investments in U.S. shipbuilding and ship maintenance to maintain deterrence are more necessary than ever.”
Strategic Convergence and Equanimous Posture
Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have publicly displayed their strategic convergence in recent years through high-profile summits and military exercises. Despite the concerns raised by Wicker, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s team maintained a calm and composed stance.
“NORAD and NORTHCOM monitored their presence,” Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters. “They were in international waters. At no point in time were they deemed to pose a threat. And so like any country, they are free to conduct exercises in international airspace, international water.”
Ryder’s response aimed to address Chinese allegations of hypocrisy, emphasizing the importance of the U.S. ability to operate in international waters, even in areas disputed by China.
Geopolitical Statement and Ongoing Debate
The appearance of an 11-ship flotilla near Alaska marked the third joint naval patrol between China and Russia, according to Chinese media. While the Chinese Embassy stated that the action was not targeted at any third party, U.S. lawmakers interpreted it as a significant geopolitical statement.
“The incursion by 11 Chinese and Russian warships operating together, off the coast of Alaska, is yet another reminder that we have entered a new era of authoritarian aggression led by the dictators in Beijing and Moscow,” Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) said Saturday.
The joint military exercise is notable not only for its location but also for the fact that the two militaries are training together. This has sparked an ongoing debate about reinforcing the U.S. Navy, which is currently undersized compared to the force mandated by federal law.
“In only two decades, the PRC has tripled the size of its Navy and is on pace to quadruple to over 400 ships by 2030,” Adm. Michael Gilday, the chief of naval operations, told a Senate panel in March. “Without question, the PRC’s investments in offensive warfighting systems, across all domains, are aimed at the heart of America’s maritime power.”
Therefore, this joint operation has added fuel to the discussion surrounding President Joe Biden’s budget request for the Navy.
“I look forward to seeing a comprehensive plan to improve America’s ability to manufacture and maintain our most important conventional capability, the Virginia-class submarine,” Wicker said.
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