Congresswoman Luria Presses China Experts On Need For Increased INDOPACOM Presence

Witness testimony echoes Rep. Luria’s repeated calls for a Battle Force 2025 to address today’s challenges in the region

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, House Committee on Armed Services (HASC) Vice Chair Elaine Luria pressed military and foreign policy experts on the Indo-Pacific region about the real and proximate threat posed by a rising Chinese navy, which is expected to exceed 400 ships in only a few years.

The questions came during a joint hearing between the HASC Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation Subcommittee. Vice Chair Luria criticized calls for reducing the size of the fleet in the short term in order to fund future programs and technologies, many of which are unproven, by rapidly decommissioning current platforms, including multiple Cruisers and the first four Littoral Combat Ships, more quickly than they can be replaced. She re-emphasized the need for increased naval presence in the Western Pacific and pressed witnesses on whether the Navy was doing enough to present a compelling plan for the fleet the nation needs in response to China.

Watch Vice Chair Luria’s full testimony here.

In March 2021, Vice Chair Luria sent a letter to the Biden Administration calling for a National Defense Strategy that acknowledges and prioritizes the maritime nature of the current strategic environment. As a 20-year Navy veteran, Vice Chair Luria has been strong advocate for increasing the defense budget three to five percent annually to combat the global national security threats the country faces.

About the Author

Wayne Creed

Administrator

View All Posts