Philip Davidson, the top US officer in Asia, warns Beijing’s military activity in South China Sea is ‘not reducing in any sense of the word’
- Davidson also sought to reassure allies in Southeast Asia of American commitment to the region
- He described China as ‘paranoid’ and criticised the ‘desire to supplant rules-based international order’
Admiral Philip Davidson, who oversees US Indo-Pacific Command, declined to quantify the increased activity – nor would he say whether the number of US freedom of navigation patrols would increase or remain stable. He did, however, underscore the American resolve to remain engaged, describing the US as an “enduring Pacific power”.
“It’s building, it’s not reducing in any sense of the word,” Davidson told reporters on Thursday in Singapore when asked about China’s military activities in the South China Sea. “There has been more activity with ships, fighters and bombers over the last year than in previous years, absolutely.”
“It’s a hazard to trade flows, the commercial activity, the financial information that flows on cables under the South China Sea, writ large,” added Davidson, who took command of around 380,000 civilian and military personnel in the region last April.
Davidson said he saw no sign of a slowdown in China’s defence capabilities, despite the reduced growth trajectory. More spending, he said, was still an increase.