TAIPEI (TVBS News) — U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo issued a stark warning at the Honolulu Defense Forum (夏威夷檀香山防衛論壇) on Thursday (Feb. 13), suggesting China might use military exercises as a cover for an attack on Taiwan.
According to the Financial Times, Paparo highlighted the extensive nature of Chinese military drills around Taiwan, indicating that China could soon disguise an assault as a routine exercise.
Paparo emphasized that China's aggressive maneuvers near Taiwan are not mere exercises but rehearsals for a potential forceful unification. He also warned of increasing cooperation among China, Russia, and North Korea, describing it as an "emerging axis of autocracy" and labeling the trio a "triangle of troublemakers." Their collaboration includes joint patrols that infringe upon the U.S. Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), he said.
A U.S. defense official noted Russia's intensified activities in the Indo-Pacific, deploying seven newly built submarines, including nuclear ones. Paparo believes the U.S. must bridge the gap between ideal and actual conditions by increasing weapon numbers in the region. He also expressed concern over the U.S. potentially lacking sufficient arms in the event of a Taiwan Strait conflict.
Paparo stated the U.S. ammunition stockpile is nearing depletion, with maintenance backlogs growing. He advocated for accelerating the acquisition and deployment of unmanned systems, noting that artificial intelligence (AI) is crucial for enhancing early warning capabilities. He urged the U.S. to boost autonomous system production and deploy them in the Taiwan Strait to create a "hellscape" to deter Chinese aggression.
