The U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander emphasized that the Pacific is a priority theater, with the country's territory located in the Western Pacific.

The Pentagon is reportedly prioritizing homeland over the China threat, says Indo-Pacific commander: Homeland is in the Pacific

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Commander Paparo emphasized on Monday that "the Indo-Pacific is a priority theater for the United States." Despite reports that homeland defense has become the new top priority for the Pentagon, Paparo said he was not worried about the shift in focus. Paparo pointed out, "I'm not worried, I mean, first of all, because the U.S. homeland is in the Pacific."

Paparo gave examples, stating that U.S. overseas territories - Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands - are located in the western Pacific, while Hawaii is in the middle of the Pacific. He said that the United States abides by the Compact of Free Association, which is "a treaty between the United States, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands," and that the United States "is responsible for the defense of these countries" under this treaty.

Paparo emphasized, "The concept of depth defense means that the Pacific is the priority theater, as four of the five major threats to American security, freedom, and well-being cross the Indo-Pacific region."

President of Palau Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. stated that Palau was subjected to a cyberattack shortly after renewing the Compact of Free Association in March 2024, and attributed it to an Asian power.

However, when asked if he was concerned that the Trump administration might shift its focus inward and distance itself from allies, Whipps replied that he believed "they are just trying to re-prioritize and find better ways to help us, and they are fulfilling these commitments."

A Pentagon official proposed that the Department of Defense prioritize defending the homeland and the Western Hemisphere, a significant departure from the military's long-standing focus on countering competitors' threats.

According to three people who saw early versions of the report, the draft of the 2025 U.S. Defense Strategy has already been submitted to Defense Secretary Hegseth, with domestic and regional missions taking precedence over confronting adversaries.

Politico reported that this move would mark a significant shift from the stance of Democratic and Republican administrations, including President Trump's first term. This could anger hawkish figures within both parties who believe that the leadership of the Asian power poses a threat to U.S. security.

A person familiar with the draft content said, "This will be a major shift for the United States and its allies across multiple continents. The reliable commitments the United States once made are now being questioned."

The report states that the proposed new Defense Strategy would largely overturn the focus of the Trump administration's 2018 Defense Strategy, which placed addressing the challenge from China at the top of the Pentagon's agenda. The document's opening statement read, "It is increasingly clear that China and Russia hope to shape a world that fits their ... model."

A Republican foreign policy expert who attended a briefing on the 2025 Defense Strategy draft said this shift "seems completely inconsistent with President Trump's hardline stance on China." Like others, the expert requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussion.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842893090153482/

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