Guam needs new air defence system for protection against Chinese missiles: Admiral Philip Davidson, Chief of US Indo-Pacific Command

Agana: – Admiral Philip Davidson, the Commanding officer of the US Indo-Pacific Command, demanded from the US Congress, ‘The threat of the Chinese missiles for the citizens and soldiers on the Guam Island is persistent. Therefore, the Indo-Pacific Command needs a new air defence system.’ At the same time, Admiral Davidson also proposed a doubling of defence expenditure for the Indo-Pacific Command.

China has announced a month-long war exercise in the South China Sea. Chinese missile, equipped with destroyers, also are participating in the exercises. Along with this, China has announced that the indigenously built aircraft carrier also is being inducted into the Chinese Navy. Admiral Philip Davidson pointed to the Chinese threat while speaking in front of the US Congress two days ago.

Admiral Davidson said that the United States would have to take some important steps to stabilise the Indo-Pacific sector. If a conflict is sparked between the United States and China, there will be a direct threat to the security of the First Island Chain. The First Island Chain includes the Japanese Kuril and Ryukyu islands group, along with the countries Taiwan, Borneo and the Philippines. Admiral Davidson said that an integrated joint force is required for the security of the First Island Chain.

At the same time, the Indo-Pacific Chief warned, ‘The United States has a requirement of a new air defence system for the security of Guam, Indonesia and Mariana islands group, from the Second Island Chain. If stability is to be maintained in this sector, the United States needs to maintain the strategic importance of Guam Island.

Along with the demand for a new air defence system for Guam, Admiral Davidson also demanded a doubling of defence expenditure for the Indo-Pacific Command. Davidson proposed to the US Congress that the provision for the Indo-Pacific Command’s defence expenditure should be doubled to USD 4.7 billion.

132,000 US soldiers are deployed under the Indo-Pacific Command. The maximum numbers, i.e., 55,000 are in Japan, 28,000 in South Korea and 12,000 on Guam Island. Guam Island lies at a distance of nearly 4,500 kilometres from China. A few months ago, some of the Chinese analysts pointed out that the Guam island will play a vital role in action against China.

The United States even has its nuclear weapon carrying bombers on the Guam Islands. In this scenario, the demand raised by Admiral Davidson for a new air defence system points to the rising tension in the sector. This also states that the United States is watching Chinese threats very seriously.