WEBVTT 00:00.140 --> 00:02.307 who needs no introduction . He follows 00:02.307 --> 00:04.307 a great tradition here at the Aspen 00:04.307 --> 00:07.400 security forum . I think uh , you are 00:07.400 --> 00:09.550 the third commander in the pecan 00:09.550 --> 00:11.772 commander we have here and we're always 00:11.772 --> 00:13.772 very , very glad to hear from you . 00:14.140 --> 00:16.418 John Aquilino graduated from the U . S . 00:16.418 --> 00:18.520 Naval Academy . He has served in 00:18.520 --> 00:20.960 numerous fighter squadrons including 00:20.960 --> 00:23.640 the famous red rippers and has 00:23.640 --> 00:27.500 commanded across the U . S . Military 00:27.500 --> 00:30.060 including most recently as a 36 00:30.060 --> 00:32.227 commander of the US pacific fleet . So 00:32.227 --> 00:34.560 clearly has deep deep knowledge for us 00:34.840 --> 00:37.320 in the topic we were just talking about 00:37.330 --> 00:40.370 and to interview the commander . 00:40.370 --> 00:42.800 Actually , no , we have David Ignatius , 00:42.800 --> 00:44.911 an old friend and member of the Aspen 00:44.911 --> 00:47.030 strategy group , A columnist at the 00:47.030 --> 00:49.680 Washington post , winner of many , many 00:49.690 --> 00:51.801 journalism awards including of course 00:51.801 --> 00:54.170 the George Polk Award in one of the 00:54.170 --> 00:56.620 most knowledgeable journalists on this 00:56.630 --> 01:00.100 area of the world . So , David and 01:00.110 --> 01:02.332 Commander . Actually , no , I will turn 01:02.332 --> 01:04.840 it over to you . Thank you . So my 01:04.840 --> 01:07.880 thanks to Anya , I think Admiral . 01:07.880 --> 01:10.102 Actually , no . And I both wish that we 01:10.102 --> 01:11.980 were in aspen the beetle on this 01:11.980 --> 01:15.730 conversation , but we'll hope for for 01:15.730 --> 01:17.900 next year , Admiral , it's great to 01:17.900 --> 01:20.630 have you with us first . Let me begin 01:20.630 --> 01:23.480 with the issue . That's on your mind 01:23.480 --> 01:25.313 the most , I think these days on 01:25.313 --> 01:28.160 everyone's minds , which is china . 01:28.170 --> 01:31.340 Your predecessor as a combatant 01:31.340 --> 01:33.507 commander , Admiral Davidson made some 01:33.507 --> 01:35.920 headlines back in March when he told 01:35.920 --> 01:37.920 the Senate Armed Services Committee 01:37.920 --> 01:40.031 that for china and I'm quoting here , 01:40.031 --> 01:41.753 Taiwan is clearly one of their 01:41.753 --> 01:43.864 ambitions . And I think the threat is 01:43.864 --> 01:46.150 manifest during this decade , in fact 01:46.640 --> 01:49.000 during the next six years . So I want 01:49.000 --> 01:51.111 to lead off by asking you whether you 01:51.111 --> 01:54.570 have the same timetable and 01:54.570 --> 01:56.790 also as you settle into the job after 01:56.790 --> 01:58.901 your first three months . What's your 01:58.901 --> 02:01.200 own thoughts are about the china 02:01.200 --> 02:02.860 problem that you confront ? 02:05.540 --> 02:07.707 Well , David , good morning . first of 02:07.707 --> 02:10.320 all , thank you very much for having me . 02:10.320 --> 02:13.720 I appreciate you and my conversation . 02:13.730 --> 02:17.010 Uh And that is a headline that Admiral 02:17.010 --> 02:19.490 Davidson stated . That has certainly 02:19.490 --> 02:21.660 been on everyone's mind . Let me start 02:21.670 --> 02:23.837 by laying a little of the groundwork . 02:23.940 --> 02:26.650 First of all , the indo pacific as 02:26.650 --> 02:29.230 identified by the secretary is the most 02:29.230 --> 02:32.000 consequential theater with our greatest 02:32.000 --> 02:35.730 security challenge . Mhm . Additionally , 02:35.740 --> 02:37.629 as you know , four or five of the 02:37.629 --> 02:40.230 identified national defense strategy 02:40.230 --> 02:44.170 threats uh reside in 02:44.170 --> 02:47.710 this theater . And uh as we always do , 02:47.720 --> 02:49.960 uh we always want to talk about china 02:50.440 --> 02:53.650 immediately . And what I would like to 02:53.650 --> 02:55.770 highlight is some words that the 02:55.770 --> 02:57.881 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs said the 02:57.881 --> 02:59.826 other day at sea air space . Uh He 02:59.826 --> 03:02.740 categorized this . He said , china is 03:02.740 --> 03:06.030 coming at us rapid . That includes 03:06.030 --> 03:07.808 economically diplomatically and 03:07.808 --> 03:10.990 militarily . And he said the challenge 03:10.990 --> 03:12.934 is putting the international order 03:12.934 --> 03:16.640 under tremendous stress . So I will 03:16.640 --> 03:18.862 tell you , I do not have a crystal ball 03:18.862 --> 03:21.340 when I was confirmed . What I 03:21.340 --> 03:23.451 highlighted is that I have a sense of 03:23.451 --> 03:25.229 urgency in order to execute the 03:25.229 --> 03:27.560 integrated deterrence that the 03:27.560 --> 03:30.260 Secretary of Defense has tasked us with 03:31.340 --> 03:34.080 uh huh . We are here to continue to 03:34.080 --> 03:36.740 operate to ensure peace and prosperity 03:36.970 --> 03:40.920 through the region and we have to 03:40.920 --> 03:44.150 be in a position to ensure 03:44.740 --> 03:47.930 that the status quo remains as it 03:47.930 --> 03:51.710 applies to Taiwan and the U . 03:51.710 --> 03:55.500 S . One china policy . And 03:55.510 --> 03:59.090 our engagements are dictated by the 03:59.090 --> 04:02.550 Taiwan relations Act . We support 04:03.940 --> 04:06.560 peaceful and 04:07.040 --> 04:08.560 approved 04:10.540 --> 04:13.820 actions that avoid anything other than 04:13.820 --> 04:16.590 peaceful resolution to those questions 04:16.590 --> 04:18.701 for the nation's across both sides of 04:18.701 --> 04:22.280 the strength . So our 04:22.440 --> 04:25.050 engagements with Taiwan or to ensure 04:25.640 --> 04:29.380 that they are able to defend themselves 04:29.380 --> 04:31.324 in accordance with as I said , the 04:31.324 --> 04:34.320 Taiwan relations Act , the six 04:34.320 --> 04:36.376 assurances in the three communicates 04:37.240 --> 04:39.360 that policy is clear and that's why 04:39.360 --> 04:43.210 we're here . So 04:43.220 --> 04:46.330 Admiral , if I could just continue with 04:46.330 --> 04:49.260 the question of of Taiwan , which 04:49.740 --> 04:52.450 is certainly on everyone's minds , 04:52.460 --> 04:55.370 given what has occurred in Hong kong 04:55.370 --> 04:58.280 over the last year . Uh some have 04:58.280 --> 05:00.680 speculated and this speculation , I 05:00.680 --> 05:03.160 think increased after the Anchorage 05:03.160 --> 05:04.882 meeting between senior U . S . 05:04.882 --> 05:07.350 Officials and chinese officials that 05:07.360 --> 05:11.040 Taiwan maybe a real 05:11.040 --> 05:14.900 priority for President Xi Jinping . We 05:14.900 --> 05:18.120 see an increase in rhetoric from 05:18.130 --> 05:21.640 Beijing . Certainly chinese 05:21.640 --> 05:24.490 military activity and power is being 05:24.490 --> 05:28.150 demonstrated and ask how 05:28.160 --> 05:32.140 concerned you are that this is a 05:32.150 --> 05:35.710 near term uh threat and the 05:35.710 --> 05:38.550 possibility that china's timetable for 05:38.940 --> 05:41.330 some resolution of the Taiwan issue 05:41.330 --> 05:44.460 from their standpoint , maybe uh being 05:44.460 --> 05:46.790 stepped up so that it's more immediate 05:46.790 --> 05:48.846 problem than we might have thought a 05:48.846 --> 05:52.650 few years ago . Thanks David . So 05:53.640 --> 05:55.362 I think what I would say is we 05:55.362 --> 05:57.810 certainly view with concern many of the 05:57.810 --> 06:01.050 actions that we've seen from Beijing . 06:02.040 --> 06:05.860 Uh they are clearly 06:05.870 --> 06:09.750 as has been stated by President xi , 06:10.640 --> 06:14.360 a desire to achieve the capabilities 06:14.940 --> 06:17.200 that he believes his nation needs 06:17.200 --> 06:20.960 militarily by 2027 . Those are his 06:20.960 --> 06:24.750 words . But I think what I view with 06:24.750 --> 06:28.010 most concerned or certainly not the 06:28.010 --> 06:31.560 words , but the actions that we've seen , 06:33.240 --> 06:36.750 Mhm Taiwan , is it critical 06:38.640 --> 06:42.560 hard of President jeez legacy ? 06:43.340 --> 06:47.230 And he has voiced that as well . But 06:47.230 --> 06:49.560 when I say concerned about actions , 06:50.640 --> 06:52.807 you've highlighted one of them , which 06:52.807 --> 06:56.710 is the actions that occurred in Hong 06:56.710 --> 07:00.460 kong . Those actions were 07:00.940 --> 07:04.380 completely uh disconnected from the 07:04.380 --> 07:06.670 words from Beijing to adhere to the 07:06.670 --> 07:10.260 agreement that was in place . We 07:10.260 --> 07:13.380 see similar actions . If you were to 07:13.380 --> 07:16.260 look at the border of India . 07:18.040 --> 07:20.860 We view that that with concern 07:21.940 --> 07:25.610 ah if you look at the actions 07:25.610 --> 07:27.640 associated with the weed eggers in 07:27.640 --> 07:31.620 Jingjiang and the violations 07:31.630 --> 07:34.310 of what we believe that dignity and 07:34.310 --> 07:36.532 respect and human rights . That we view 07:36.532 --> 07:39.560 those actions with concern . 07:40.540 --> 07:43.860 We view with concern the unlawful claim 07:45.340 --> 07:49.300 to the entire south china sea directly 07:49.300 --> 07:52.340 and negatively impacting all of the 07:52.350 --> 07:54.940 countries in the region from their 07:54.940 --> 07:57.250 livelihood , whether it be with fishing 07:57.640 --> 08:00.960 or access to natural resources , 08:02.640 --> 08:05.960 those are the things that leads me to 08:05.960 --> 08:08.770 believe that our execution of 08:08.770 --> 08:11.660 integrated deterrence has to occur now 08:12.640 --> 08:14.307 and with a sense of urgency . 08:16.440 --> 08:19.300 So that's a powerful list of 08:19.300 --> 08:22.820 concerns , Admiral . And I want to ask 08:22.820 --> 08:25.910 you about our ability 08:25.910 --> 08:29.820 to project power as china 08:29.820 --> 08:32.390 becomes more powerful and assertive . 08:32.390 --> 08:36.060 It's often said casually that the days 08:36.070 --> 08:38.640 when the United States could sail an 08:38.640 --> 08:40.862 aircraft carrier task force through the 08:40.862 --> 08:43.740 Taiwan straits in the event of a crisis 08:43.750 --> 08:47.710 are over , curious how you would assess 08:47.710 --> 08:51.260 that that issue . And um 08:51.740 --> 08:55.450 more generally how you would describe 08:55.450 --> 08:59.080 our ability to assist and defend 08:59.090 --> 09:01.060 Taiwan in the event of a crisis ? 09:04.240 --> 09:06.240 Well , David , let me start this by 09:06.240 --> 09:08.550 saying , you know , there is a 09:08.550 --> 09:11.960 narrative that we see often 09:12.640 --> 09:15.630 in the media that talks about the U . S . 09:15.640 --> 09:19.160 And the West in decline . Uh 09:19.540 --> 09:22.650 I think what I start with is you know , 09:22.650 --> 09:25.030 that narrative is certainly being 09:25.030 --> 09:28.680 pushed by our adversaries . What I want 09:28.680 --> 09:31.350 to be very clear is we have the world's 09:32.340 --> 09:35.960 the greatest military on the planet , 09:37.440 --> 09:41.010 that military will operate anywhere in 09:41.010 --> 09:43.240 accordance with international rules and 09:43.240 --> 09:47.180 laws that we will fly steam and sail 09:47.380 --> 09:50.230 anywhere . International law allows the 09:50.230 --> 09:53.640 U . S . The pacific fleet just 09:53.640 --> 09:57.100 recently sailed through the Taiwan 09:57.100 --> 10:01.010 straits . Uh Taiwan streets are 10:01.020 --> 10:04.650 by the 1982 Unclos uh 10:06.340 --> 10:09.750 Treaty is international waters . 10:11.940 --> 10:14.140 There is no reason any nation should 10:14.140 --> 10:17.210 not be allowed , nor should any nation 10:17.210 --> 10:20.860 be allowed to claim as their own . 10:22.740 --> 10:26.340 So the narratives is not based . In 10:26.340 --> 10:28.970 fact , the US has the world's largest 10:29.030 --> 10:31.880 economy . I don't think that I would 10:31.880 --> 10:35.230 categorize the U . S . In decline . I 10:35.230 --> 10:37.660 do believe is that it is a narrative 10:38.340 --> 10:41.000 that other nations would like to 10:41.000 --> 10:43.580 continue to send . But I do believe 10:43.580 --> 10:44.969 it's not based in fact . 10:46.940 --> 10:50.690 Uh you certainly right in 10:50.700 --> 10:54.600 in noting that the stressed by our 10:54.600 --> 10:56.767 adversaries on this theme of decline . 10:56.767 --> 10:59.300 But I want a site for you , somebody 10:59.300 --> 11:01.770 who's a strong advocate of the United 11:01.770 --> 11:03.770 States and our military power . And 11:03.770 --> 11:06.350 that's chris pros . The former staff 11:06.350 --> 11:08.461 director of the Senate Armed Services 11:08.461 --> 11:12.330 Committee , john McCain's key aide on 11:12.330 --> 11:14.920 the on that committee in a book that he 11:14.920 --> 11:17.250 published two years ago called The Kill 11:17.250 --> 11:19.420 Chain . He wrote something that is 11:19.420 --> 11:22.290 really stuck with me quoted over the 11:22.290 --> 11:25.500 past decade . Chris says in U . S . War 11:25.500 --> 11:27.722 Games against china . The United States 11:27.722 --> 11:29.722 has a nearly perfect record . We've 11:29.722 --> 11:33.380 lost almost every single time . He goes 11:33.380 --> 11:35.900 on to talk about how our spy and 11:35.900 --> 11:38.067 communications satellites in these war 11:38.067 --> 11:40.530 games are immediately disabled . Our 11:40.530 --> 11:42.910 forward bases in Guam and Japan are 11:42.910 --> 11:45.610 inundated by precise missiles or 11:45.610 --> 11:47.810 aircraft carriers are vulnerable and 11:47.810 --> 11:51.570 have to Escape attack are F 35 fighters 11:51.570 --> 11:53.292 can't reach targets because of 11:53.292 --> 11:56.220 refueling problems et cetera . You know 11:56.220 --> 11:59.980 this list ? My question for you is are 11:59.980 --> 12:03.560 these analyses of US power in your 12:03.940 --> 12:07.580 area of command too ? Pessimistic ? Uh 12:07.590 --> 12:10.770 If they are , I would be interested in 12:10.770 --> 12:12.881 knowing what chinese capabilities you 12:12.881 --> 12:15.290 do worry about . If we're overstating 12:15.300 --> 12:17.522 the extent of their power , what should 12:17.522 --> 12:18.578 we be focused on ? 12:21.040 --> 12:23.420 Well , I think I'd start with we have 12:23.420 --> 12:25.476 to have an understanding of what war 12:25.476 --> 12:29.250 games are designed to do for us . Mm . 12:29.740 --> 12:33.280 Those exercises and events 12:33.500 --> 12:35.556 first of all are designed to learn . 12:36.440 --> 12:38.990 Our intent is to challenge ourselves 12:39.000 --> 12:42.060 against the absolute most difficult 12:42.070 --> 12:45.380 problem . Uh And David this is the way 12:45.380 --> 12:48.890 it's been for hundreds of years and 12:48.900 --> 12:51.011 it's resulted in the military we have 12:51.011 --> 12:54.310 today as I said the most powerful 12:54.320 --> 12:57.900 military on the planet . So uh you know 12:57.900 --> 13:00.122 chris and I have had some conversations 13:00.340 --> 13:04.250 uh I think we will continue to do that 13:04.260 --> 13:07.450 and I'll just tell you that data is 13:08.040 --> 13:11.670 probably dated now as we have executed 13:11.670 --> 13:14.760 a few most recently . But those games 13:14.760 --> 13:17.750 have helped us to identify where we 13:17.750 --> 13:20.860 have gaps and seams . How we make 13:21.340 --> 13:23.440 requests for capabilities and 13:23.440 --> 13:26.380 requirements to ensure that our 13:26.380 --> 13:29.260 competitive advantage is maintained 13:29.940 --> 13:32.360 that we're not fighting the last war 13:32.740 --> 13:34.907 that we look at everything in the most 13:34.907 --> 13:37.360 difficult manner possible and for the U . 13:37.360 --> 13:39.560 S . Military to continue to improve . 13:40.740 --> 13:44.570 So I guess I'm less concerned with an 13:44.570 --> 13:46.850 understanding of truly what we're 13:46.850 --> 13:49.910 trying to get out of that those war 13:49.910 --> 13:52.100 games the United States has the most 13:52.100 --> 13:55.450 capable advanced military capabilities 13:55.940 --> 13:57.996 on the planet . And I think what I'd 13:57.996 --> 14:00.210 highlight is you've heard my secretary 14:00.210 --> 14:02.377 talk about integrated deterrence and I 14:02.377 --> 14:04.730 mentioned it before . You know that 14:04.730 --> 14:06.563 view of integrated deterrence is 14:06.563 --> 14:09.740 designed for the entire joint force to 14:09.740 --> 14:12.320 be able to operate in a synchronized 14:12.330 --> 14:15.250 fashion in all domains . 14:16.240 --> 14:19.860 Yeah as we integrate cyberspace and 14:19.860 --> 14:23.560 space capabilities as we do it with all 14:23.560 --> 14:27.560 forms of US national power and 14:27.560 --> 14:30.980 as we synchronize those with our most 14:30.980 --> 14:33.091 critical asset and that is our allies 14:33.091 --> 14:36.280 and partners . So when we pull all 14:36.280 --> 14:40.070 those together let me just say that you 14:40.070 --> 14:42.740 know I have a level of confidence that 14:42.740 --> 14:44.980 the U . S . Military Department 14:44.980 --> 14:48.550 offenses in a good place . But that's a 14:48.560 --> 14:51.730 helpful answer . Just to clarify , I 14:51.740 --> 14:53.620 hear you saying that some of the 14:53.620 --> 14:56.570 vulnerabilities that chris Rose was 14:56.570 --> 14:59.180 writing about that emerged in these war 14:59.180 --> 15:03.020 games . Uh Your combatant command has 15:03.020 --> 15:06.480 taken specific steps to address and 15:06.480 --> 15:09.130 that you're less concerned now than you 15:09.130 --> 15:11.019 might have been several years ago 15:11.019 --> 15:13.074 because of the specific changes that 15:13.074 --> 15:15.074 have been made . And I am I hearing 15:15.074 --> 15:17.186 that right ? Well what I think what I 15:17.186 --> 15:20.030 say is I'm confident that we still have 15:20.030 --> 15:23.790 the finest and strongest military on 15:23.790 --> 15:27.740 the earth . Uh and that the US is ready 15:27.740 --> 15:31.460 for any contingency . Should it occur 15:33.240 --> 15:36.110 they turn to an issue that we discussed 15:36.120 --> 15:39.740 yesterday that's key new 15:39.750 --> 15:42.690 component of of your command and that's 15:42.690 --> 15:46.060 the quad . The relationship between 15:46.440 --> 15:48.790 United States , Japan India and 15:48.790 --> 15:52.720 Australia . Like to ask for your sense 15:52.720 --> 15:55.480 of the importance of the quad . For 15:55.490 --> 15:58.570 indo pak calm . What plans you have 15:58.570 --> 16:01.400 about additional exercises , What you 16:01.400 --> 16:05.260 think about interoperability issues and 16:05.260 --> 16:06.982 just generally from a military 16:06.982 --> 16:09.093 standpoint as a combatant commander , 16:09.093 --> 16:12.400 how important the quad is to your 16:12.400 --> 16:16.140 planning , but I think it's 16:16.140 --> 16:19.340 extremely important and we have to , we 16:19.340 --> 16:21.670 have to remember that the quad is based 16:21.670 --> 16:25.160 on nations with common values . David . 16:25.540 --> 16:28.900 Uh as as is all of our 16:28.910 --> 16:32.090 alliances and partnerships across the 16:32.090 --> 16:35.200 region . Uh those countries that have a 16:35.200 --> 16:37.660 deep belief in their sovereignty , 16:38.540 --> 16:41.970 freedom for all their citizens of 16:42.340 --> 16:44.770 and understanding that all nations big 16:44.770 --> 16:47.560 and small , have an equal voice in 16:47.560 --> 16:50.910 conflict resolution , the rule of 16:50.910 --> 16:54.750 law and dedication to freedom of the 16:54.750 --> 16:57.260 seas , the global commons and human 16:57.260 --> 16:59.630 rights for all of their citizens . So 16:59.630 --> 17:02.660 it's critical to know that the quad is 17:02.670 --> 17:04.980 one set of nations with those common 17:04.980 --> 17:07.091 values , but there's others . Right ? 17:07.091 --> 17:09.800 So the Asean nations , the trilateral 17:09.800 --> 17:11.800 relationship we have with Japan and 17:11.800 --> 17:14.022 Korea . But to your point , the quad is 17:14.022 --> 17:15.967 extremely important and I'm really 17:15.967 --> 17:18.540 encouraged when we talk about the 17:18.540 --> 17:20.484 world's largest democracies coming 17:20.484 --> 17:23.140 together with common values to ensure 17:23.140 --> 17:25.460 peace and stability in the region . 17:26.540 --> 17:30.310 Especially encouraged as it applies to 17:30.310 --> 17:34.290 our uh most recent operations 17:34.290 --> 17:37.740 together militarily exercise 17:37.740 --> 17:40.250 malabar , which is a critical event for 17:40.260 --> 17:43.770 India in the last iteration . The 17:44.340 --> 17:47.880 uh very graciously 17:47.880 --> 17:50.560 invited . Not only the United States , 17:51.140 --> 17:53.440 but Japan and Australia took to 17:53.440 --> 17:56.290 participate and I believe it was a huge 17:56.290 --> 17:59.360 success and it will pave the way for 17:59.940 --> 18:03.220 additional and more frequent military 18:03.220 --> 18:06.620 operations with the quad . You also see 18:06.620 --> 18:08.676 the importance placed on the quad by 18:08.676 --> 18:10.250 Secretary Austin and this 18:10.250 --> 18:13.760 administration . Uh I look forward to 18:13.770 --> 18:16.480 much more interaction and then the 18:16.480 --> 18:18.940 continued expansion and increased 18:18.950 --> 18:22.930 efforts through the quad . Let me ask 18:22.930 --> 18:26.340 a specific question that is coming up 18:26.350 --> 18:29.970 increasingly and that is given the 18:29.980 --> 18:32.740 success of the quad . There's a growing 18:32.740 --> 18:35.620 desire , the part of other countries to 18:35.620 --> 18:38.570 be part of it , to join it in a formal 18:38.570 --> 18:41.050 way is new Zealand might or to be 18:41.840 --> 18:45.220 in effect partners from 18:45.230 --> 18:47.680 a military standpoint , giving your 18:47.680 --> 18:49.847 best military advice . Do you think it 18:49.847 --> 18:52.550 would be wise to do that to augment the 18:52.550 --> 18:54.810 quad in those ways ? Or should we keep 18:54.810 --> 18:58.370 it pretty much as is ? But David , what 18:58.370 --> 19:00.650 I would say is that uh , that will be a 19:00.650 --> 19:04.070 question for the leaders of the nation 19:04.080 --> 19:07.080 in the quad again , each with an equal 19:07.080 --> 19:09.410 voice , each with their own national 19:09.410 --> 19:11.521 views on whether or not that would be 19:11.521 --> 19:13.688 beneficial . I think what I would tell 19:13.688 --> 19:16.200 you is since I've taken over , you know , 19:16.200 --> 19:19.540 I've challenged my team to think act 19:19.540 --> 19:21.762 and operate differently in this day and 19:21.762 --> 19:25.120 age and what I think that means as it 19:25.120 --> 19:28.750 applies to allies and partners is I am 19:28.750 --> 19:32.040 very supportive of additional 19:32.040 --> 19:35.760 multilateral events in any 19:35.760 --> 19:37.950 area where our partners want to come 19:37.950 --> 19:40.900 into the area and be able to operate 19:40.900 --> 19:43.178 together whether it's for a short time , 19:43.540 --> 19:45.890 whether it's bilaterally or with 19:45.890 --> 19:48.270 multiple nations in a multilateral 19:48.270 --> 19:52.040 forum . All those are 19:52.040 --> 19:54.740 interesting and I support all of those 19:54.740 --> 19:57.820 actions , but each nation uh , gets to 19:57.820 --> 20:00.370 have a voice and we do everything 20:00.370 --> 20:03.260 possible to ensure that both the 20:03.260 --> 20:05.700 objectives of every nation are taken 20:05.700 --> 20:07.811 into account when we work at planning 20:07.811 --> 20:10.840 these operations and exercise . I look 20:10.840 --> 20:14.740 forward to next year in 20:14.740 --> 20:17.490 a post covid , hopefully world where we 20:17.490 --> 20:19.434 can execute the rim of the pacific 20:19.434 --> 20:21.760 exercise right ? So the largest 20:22.440 --> 20:26.270 military maritime exercise in the world , 20:27.140 --> 20:30.770 uh , We look forward India came 20:31.440 --> 20:34.030 to the last one that was executed in 20:34.030 --> 20:37.180 person as did all the other co 20:37.180 --> 20:39.347 ordinations , as did most of the Asean 20:39.347 --> 20:43.150 nations , as did many of the West Coast 20:43.150 --> 20:45.860 nations . And I'm also encouraged by 20:45.860 --> 20:48.970 the EU nations . I'm encouraged by the 20:48.970 --> 20:52.440 United Kingdom operating with Queen 20:52.440 --> 20:55.160 Elizabeth in this theater . Our 20:55.160 --> 20:57.271 partners from France have been here , 20:57.640 --> 21:00.440 partners from Germany , the carrier 21:00.440 --> 21:02.700 strike group . Queen Elizabeth has a 21:02.710 --> 21:05.490 dutch ship in company and a U . S . 21:05.490 --> 21:08.530 Shipping company combined with U . S . 21:08.540 --> 21:11.510 F . 30 five's onboard her deck . I 21:11.510 --> 21:13.720 think that's what right looks like in 21:13.720 --> 21:15.720 the future . And that is those like 21:15.720 --> 21:17.609 minded nations with common values 21:18.140 --> 21:20.330 coming together to ensure the 21:20.340 --> 21:22.284 international rules based order is 21:22.284 --> 21:25.500 maintained for prosperity For all 21:25.500 --> 21:29.010 nations . Ask you about a 21:29.020 --> 21:32.030 specific issue 21:32.040 --> 21:35.780 for you as commander and for the 21:35.780 --> 21:38.210 entire region and that's the south 21:38.210 --> 21:41.950 china sea . Could you describe the 21:41.960 --> 21:45.750 nature of your efforts as commander 21:45.760 --> 21:49.760 to make sure that freedom of navigation 21:49.770 --> 21:53.070 prevails to make sure the chinese 21:53.080 --> 21:55.790 efforts to project power don't go 21:55.790 --> 21:59.100 beyond what's permissible . How are you 21:59.110 --> 22:02.150 looking at the south China sea and what 22:02.150 --> 22:04.380 are some specific things that you and 22:04.380 --> 22:07.380 end up a calmer doing to deal with that 22:07.380 --> 22:08.380 problem ? 22:21.640 --> 22:23.696 I got you . Now my bed on the button 22:23.696 --> 22:25.918 start . I think it's important David to 22:25.918 --> 22:28.029 hit the importance of the south china 22:28.029 --> 22:30.330 sea . And when I say that , I mean 22:30.330 --> 22:32.497 globally and for all nations , right . 22:32.497 --> 22:34.719 We just talked about the EU . We talked 22:34.719 --> 22:36.941 about the regional nations . You know , 22:36.941 --> 22:40.060 25% of all global trade flows through 22:40.060 --> 22:44.060 the south china state . Now 22:44.060 --> 22:46.282 that may sound like just a number , but 22:46.282 --> 22:48.504 that's pretty important as we look at a 22:48.504 --> 22:50.616 globalized economy and prosperity for 22:50.616 --> 22:52.616 all nations , A third of all liquid 22:52.616 --> 22:56.150 national natural gas flows through the 22:56.150 --> 22:59.520 south china sea at numerous 22:59.520 --> 23:02.950 resources for those ordering nations 23:03.340 --> 23:05.562 that they rely on to include fishing to 23:05.562 --> 23:09.050 feed their people , so that it's 23:09.050 --> 23:11.950 critically important for all nations . 23:12.940 --> 23:15.790 As I said , just previously , the 23:15.800 --> 23:18.220 unlawful claim to the entire south 23:18.220 --> 23:22.060 china sea threatens all of that . 23:23.340 --> 23:25.451 So when we talk about the south china 23:25.451 --> 23:28.120 sea , understanding the importance that 23:28.130 --> 23:30.680 is critical . Now to reduce those 23:30.680 --> 23:33.660 tensions , we spend a lot of time with 23:33.660 --> 23:36.670 our allies and partners to ensure that 23:36.670 --> 23:38.837 the international rules based order is 23:38.837 --> 23:42.130 maintained and unlawful claims don't go 23:42.130 --> 23:46.120 without challenge . But the chinese 23:46.200 --> 23:49.270 just recently unilaterally renamed 23:50.940 --> 23:54.760 80 geographic features in the area 23:55.440 --> 23:57.662 with an inherent claim that goes with . 23:59.440 --> 24:03.220 Uh That's just counter to what all of 24:03.220 --> 24:07.060 the nations in the region would expect , 24:07.440 --> 24:09.551 believe in what they need to maintain 24:09.551 --> 24:12.900 their prosperity . Uh So the U . S . Is 24:12.900 --> 24:15.122 a pacific nation . We've been operating 24:15.440 --> 24:19.010 in this theater For over 80 24:19.010 --> 24:21.130 years and longer than that . But 24:21.130 --> 24:23.270 certainly in the post World War Two 24:23.740 --> 24:26.120 environment and that international 24:26.120 --> 24:29.080 national rules based order has enabled 24:29.090 --> 24:31.460 all to prosper , including china . 24:33.440 --> 24:37.300 So this attempt to restate what uh 24:37.310 --> 24:41.050 a revisionist history view of claims 24:41.540 --> 24:44.030 is just counter to everything that 24:44.030 --> 24:46.670 those nations with common values I 24:46.680 --> 24:50.280 believe . And we will operate here to 24:50.280 --> 24:52.447 ensure that that freedom of navigation 24:52.447 --> 24:55.650 for all is maintained and that we will 24:55.650 --> 24:58.670 preserve the stability and peace to an 24:58.670 --> 25:02.520 order shared prosperity . That's 25:02.520 --> 25:04.742 a that's a helpful answer . I have just 25:04.742 --> 25:06.909 one more question from for me and then 25:06.909 --> 25:08.798 I want to turn to a member of our 25:08.798 --> 25:12.630 audience for a final question . My 25:12.630 --> 25:15.560 my last question Admiral is about North 25:15.560 --> 25:17.470 Korea . And I just would ask you 25:17.470 --> 25:20.760 briefly for your military assessment as 25:20.760 --> 25:23.270 combat commander about the North korean 25:23.280 --> 25:26.450 threat as you see it today right now . 25:26.460 --> 25:29.170 Uh 2021 . 25:30.840 --> 25:33.440 Well , David as we identified North 25:33.440 --> 25:36.760 Korea is certainly security challenge 25:36.770 --> 25:40.540 in this theater . Uh I just 25:40.540 --> 25:43.150 got back from south Korea where I got 25:43.150 --> 25:47.050 to visit my counterpart and militarily 25:47.740 --> 25:51.220 the U . S . Rock alliance is strong and 25:51.230 --> 25:54.580 ironclad . Our commitment with that 25:54.580 --> 25:58.330 treaty ally has been the foundation for 25:58.330 --> 26:02.120 peace and stability on the peninsula as 26:02.120 --> 26:04.910 we work towards a 26:04.920 --> 26:08.390 denuclearized peninsula as the common 26:08.390 --> 26:11.840 goal from the military aspects . The 26:11.840 --> 26:15.350 alliance as well as the strength that 26:15.350 --> 26:19.130 we have in the region enables the US 26:19.130 --> 26:21.400 government to do diplomacy from a 26:21.400 --> 26:23.622 position of strength and I think that's 26:23.622 --> 26:27.430 what I would do my role as a part of 26:27.430 --> 26:30.660 this . So the alliance maintains the 26:30.660 --> 26:34.200 stability . It highlights our 26:34.200 --> 26:36.960 commitment to our allies and partners . 26:37.440 --> 26:40.730 And it enables Secretary Blinken and 26:40.730 --> 26:42.860 the administration to take on the 26:42.860 --> 26:45.330 actions towards our common goal of a 26:45.330 --> 26:47.760 denuclearized and peaceful peninsula . 26:49.340 --> 26:52.560 So let me for a final question turned 26:52.560 --> 26:55.770 to a member of our audience who I'm 26:55.770 --> 26:58.140 told has a question . Uh Andrea 26:58.150 --> 27:01.240 Thompson if Andrea is here and can 27:01.240 --> 27:03.500 switch on her camera and mic please go 27:03.500 --> 27:05.860 ahead with your question . You bet . 27:07.540 --> 27:09.980 Thanks David . And uh Admiral thanks so 27:09.980 --> 27:11.750 much for carving out time this 27:11.750 --> 27:13.680 afternoon and uh this morning and 27:13.680 --> 27:16.280 pacific so as we've talked about , you 27:16.280 --> 27:18.280 know , the end of pacific region so 27:18.280 --> 27:20.391 vital to the U . S . S . Future . And 27:20.391 --> 27:22.447 as you've noted , it's going to take 27:22.447 --> 27:24.750 all elements of national power working 27:24.750 --> 27:26.861 together with our partners and allies 27:26.861 --> 27:29.140 to do that . Can you share your insight 27:29.150 --> 27:31.317 on the pacific deterrence initiative , 27:31.440 --> 27:33.190 specifically improving our 27:33.190 --> 27:36.490 interoperability of our systems ? Uh so 27:36.490 --> 27:38.712 when when we have to fight and win with 27:38.712 --> 27:40.823 our partners and allies , what can we 27:40.823 --> 27:42.823 do to evolve those policies to make 27:42.823 --> 27:45.046 sure they're getting the equipment they 27:45.046 --> 27:47.268 need and really built towards yours and 27:47.268 --> 27:47.260 the secretary's vision for the 27:47.260 --> 27:49.371 integrated deterrence . And thanks so 27:49.371 --> 27:52.860 much . Thank you for the question . Um 27:53.940 --> 27:56.107 I think what I would say is the entire 27:56.107 --> 27:58.380 defense budget has to be looked at as 27:58.380 --> 28:02.340 we execute . Mhm . Interoperability and 28:02.340 --> 28:04.396 as you highlighted , it's incredibly 28:04.396 --> 28:06.562 important . Right ? So the strength of 28:06.562 --> 28:08.729 our allies and partners through common 28:08.729 --> 28:12.330 values uh is enhanced by our ability to 28:12.340 --> 28:15.750 operate together and the best way to be 28:15.750 --> 28:18.970 interoperable is to operate with US 28:18.970 --> 28:21.081 equipment . And that's aside from the 28:21.081 --> 28:23.414 fact that it's the finest on the planet . 28:23.840 --> 28:27.600 So uh we are able to come 28:27.600 --> 28:29.489 together on short notice with our 28:29.489 --> 28:31.600 allies and partners across the region 28:32.340 --> 28:34.720 that we are able to communicate quickly 28:34.720 --> 28:37.240 operate at the high end and that is all 28:37.240 --> 28:39.650 based on interoperability . So no 28:39.650 --> 28:42.120 matter the funding stream , we continue 28:42.120 --> 28:44.560 to advocate for our allies and partners 28:44.560 --> 28:48.460 to purchased and utilize U . 28:48.460 --> 28:51.300 S . Equipment . We see it successful 28:51.300 --> 28:53.510 across the region . Just for one 28:53.510 --> 28:57.090 example , the P . A . Program through 28:57.090 --> 28:59.201 the lens of maritime domain awareness 28:59.201 --> 29:01.790 and anti submarine warfare , many of 29:01.790 --> 29:03.960 our allies and partners are flying the 29:03.960 --> 29:06.950 P eight and we can instantaneously come 29:06.950 --> 29:09.006 together , share information , share 29:09.006 --> 29:11.560 data and be effective yeah , in the 29:11.560 --> 29:13.616 region . And that applies throughout 29:13.616 --> 29:16.830 whether it be the US Army equipment 29:16.840 --> 29:19.990 where the Air Force equipment , navy 29:19.990 --> 29:22.046 equipment , Marine Corps equipment , 29:22.046 --> 29:25.170 Coast Guard equipment . Uh it's just 29:25.170 --> 29:27.392 the best way to ensure interoperability 29:27.392 --> 29:30.570 and make our nation's most effective in 29:30.570 --> 29:31.959 the military dimension . 29:35.340 --> 29:38.710 So this is David . I just want to 29:38.720 --> 29:41.030 apologize for many members of the 29:41.030 --> 29:43.960 audience who asked some excellent 29:43.960 --> 29:46.130 questions in the in the chat stream 29:46.130 --> 29:49.670 were out of time for this session and 29:49.670 --> 29:51.892 I'll turn it back to annual onion . But 29:51.892 --> 29:54.114 I want to just thank Admiral . Actually 29:54.114 --> 29:56.650 know for being with us for talking 29:56.650 --> 29:58.750 about his command and the issues he 29:58.750 --> 30:00.861 faces . Thank you so much . Admiral . 30:01.540 --> 30:03.540 Thank you . David . Look forward to 30:03.540 --> 30:05.873 seeing you sometime soon . Thanks . Yes , 30:05.873 --> 30:06.350 sir . Okay , back .