US Army Pacific Commander Advocates Enhanced Regional Land Power

US commanders argue that ground troops are vital for countering China in the Indo-Pacific.

Senior American military leaders in the Asia-Pacific argue that land-based troops and equipment are vital for deterring China. General Ron Clark stated that vast geographic distances make it impractical to rely exclusively on air and naval assets during a recent defense meeting.

• The settingGeneral Clark delivered his remarks during a panel discussion at the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army.
• The reasoningAmerican commanders pointed to the immense geographic distances across the region as a primary reason for needing permanent ground infrastructure.