China is upping its game in the Pacific. How are US forces preparing?

China is continuing to expand its military footprint and assert dominance in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense has intensified efforts to counter Beijing’s influence and ensure freedom of navigation in the Pacific.

Over recent months, Straight Arrow News traveled to Aurora, Colorado; Washington, D.C.; and Tampa, Florida, to speak with leaders across the U.S. military. While each branch faces unique challenges, officials consistently identified China as a shared concern.

“There has never been a time when we have had to operate while being challenged in both strategic and operational domains,” said Lt. Gen. Stephen Sklenka, deputy commandant for installations and logistics with the Marine Corps. “We have always had unfettered access in the global commons. That will not be the case in the Indo-Pacific.”