Official: US to boost military presence in Indo-Pacific to counter China

US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs John Noh has said that the US plans to bolster its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region as part of efforts to counter China's growing influence and military expansion.

The comments were made during a recent hearing before the US House of Representatives, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Noh stated that the US would achieve peace through strength and emphasised that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had provided very clear guidance on how the department would carry out the mission, stressing the importance of strengthening US forces in the region. Noh highlighted the accelerating efforts needed to enhance the US military’s operational capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, citing China's unprecedented military buildup in the region as a key concern.

He warned that Beijing is positioning itself to annex Taiwan by 2027, aiming to dominate the Indo-Pacific region and challenge the US for global supremacy. The Pentagon official reaffirmed that the US will continue to strengthen its alliances in the Indo-Pacific, working closely with regional partners to ensure security and stability in the face of China's growing ambitions.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has recently expressed concern over China’s military buildup and its military exercises near Taiwan. He noted that the People's Republic of China is rapidly expanding its armed forces, including its navy.

By Naila Huseynova