During the South China Sea Conference, US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler expressed concern over China’s increasing aggression and illegal claims in the Indo-Pacific region, warning that they pose a risk to regional peace. Koehler stated the US Navy’s mission is to prevent aggression in the Western Pacific, in collaboration with allies, with a focus on the South China Sea and Taiwan. He highlighted China’s efforts to assert dominance, including increased military deployments, drills simulating invasions of Taiwan, and intimidation tactics against Southeast Asian nations. Koehler cited specific instances of aggressive behavior, such as the use of water cannons, ship-to-ship collisions, and attacks on Philippine Navy vessels. The US Navy and the US Department of Defense consider the Indo-Pacific as their primary operational theater, with considerable resources deployed there. The conference also explored the idea of enhanced defense collaboration within the region, with a warning that excluding Taiwan would complicate efforts to maintain stability.
