

"These investments strengthen our warfighting advantages, exploit adversary vulnerabilities and address critical operational challenges in the Indo-Pacific," he said. Maintaining deterrence requires investment today and consistent investment for the future. military is the most capable and credible fighting force in the world, and for decades that basic fact has formed the heart of deterrence throughout the Indo-Pacific." "The department is investing in critical capabilities to maintain deterrence and prevail as necessary in this decade and beyond," Ratner said. strategic thinking is is working to stay a step ahead. military that is more capable, more distributed across the region and more deeply integrated with our allies and partners."Ĭhinese Communist Party officials plan for the long run, and U.S. "In fact, over the past two years, the administration and Congress have worked together to ensure that we have a U.S. "No doubt this challenge is serious, but so too has been our response," Ratner said. interests," he told the committee.ĭOD has put in place strategies, doctrines, policies and resources to counter China and, "these efforts are starting to deliver in meaningful ways," Ratner said.Ĭhinese leaders have stated often that they seek to match and surpass the United States in the coming years. "China is the only country in the world with the will … and increasingly the capability to refashion the international order in ways they would deeply undermine vital U.S. The Defense Department has called China the "pacing challenge" to the United States for years and that challenge is now getting the attention and resources it deserves, Ratner said.

VIDEO | 55:38 | Defense, State Officials Testify on China, Part 2
