China’s military has become “significantly” more aggressive over the past five years in the Pacific, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned on Sunday, pointing to increased interactions between North- american and chinese
“The message is that the Chinese military, in the air and at sea, has become significantly larger and significantly more aggressive in this particular region,” Milley said during a stop in Indonesia, according to the Associated Press.
Milley, who asked his staff to prepare a review of interactions between China, the US and others in the region, will this week participate in meetings with Indo-Pacific defense chiefs in Sydney, Australia, where the discussions will focus on the growing military threat from China and the need to keep the Pacific free and open.
The United States has been strengthening its relations with Pacific nations to counter Beijing’s effort to extend its influence in the region, especially the potential threat against Taiwan.
US military officials fear that China, which considers self-governing Taiwan part of its territory, will try to reunify the country, by force if necessary.