Top U.S. admiral says no nation will dominate Indo-Pacific

The United States will not permit any nation to dominate the Indo-Pacific, declared Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Pacific Command. Speaking via video link at a regional security conference in Malaysia, Paparo asserted that coercive actions by China and other actors are destabilizing the region. He drew a sharp distinction between the "rule of law" and "rule by law," characterizing the latter as using legal frameworks as a weapon of raw power. "That distinction between law as a tool of order versus law as a weapon of raw power, is the defining fault line of our time," Paparo stated.

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That distinction between law as a tool of order versus law as a weapon of raw power, is the defining fault line of our time.

Paparo's remarks come amid heightened tensions, particularly in the South China Sea, where China's extensive maritime claims clash with those of several Southeast Asian nations. The Philippines has been a focal point, experiencing repeated confrontations with Chinese vessels around a disputed shoal. Manila accuses Beijing of dangerous maneuvers and blocking resupply missions, accusations China denies while upholding its territorial claims.

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The United States is deterring China through strength, not through confrontation.

The U.S. official stressed that while the United States does not take sides on sovereignty disputes, it champions freedom of navigation, international law, and the sovereign rights of nations. "The United States is deterring China through strength, not through confrontation," Paparo said. "We will not let any nation dominate this region or sweep away the hard-fought sovereign rights of independent states."

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We will not let any nation dominate this region or sweep away the hard-fought sovereign rights of independent states.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, also speaking at the conference, vowed that his country would continue to resist and "push back" against perceived threats from China. Teodoro expressed broader concerns about Beijing's expanding reach and military presence, citing recent actions beyond the South China Sea as evidence. The region's growing instability underscores the increasing importance of cooperation among allies and partners, Paparo noted, as it remains the world's geopolitical and economic center.

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