US Pacific Commander Says Deterrence Means Making Military Aggression Too Costly to Benefit From

The top U.S. military commander in the Pacific stated that American preparations in the region aim to deter China by demonstrating that military aggression would be unsuccessful. Admiral Samuel Paparo emphasized that his mission is to provide a deterrent capability to prevent war, not to fight and win one. This approach seeks to convince Beijing that any military actions would fail to achieve their objectives.

• The U.S. military’s goal in the Pacific is deterrence, not war with China.
• The strategy aims to convince China that military aggression would fail.
• The commander’s mission is to provide capabilities that prevent war.
• Deterrence is achieved by making aggression too costly to be beneficial.