Senator Hirono on Pacific National Security and China Threat

Pacific as Priority Theater

• 📌 Senator Hirono emphasizes that China is the pacing threat to US national security and the Indo-Pacific is the priority theater.
• ⚠️ She expresses concern over reports suggesting the draft national defense strategy might deprioritize China's pacing challenges.
• 🗺️ If confirmed, the nominee would be responsible for implementing this strategy through critical DoD documents.

Risks of Deprioritizing China

• ⚡ Hirono questions the potential risks to US national interests if China is deprioritized.
• 🇺🇸 The nominee, if confirmed, would brief the committee on the draft national defense strategy.
• 🏠 While homeland defense is the department's top priority, the strategy aims to increase focus on China as the principal rival.

Homeland Security in the Pacific

• 🌊 Admiral Paparo, the Indo-Pacific commander, stated that the homeland is in the Pacific, underscoring the need for focused resources.
• 🎯 National security should be significantly focused on the Pacific region.

Infrastructure and Readiness at Hickham Airfield

• ✈️ The joint basing construct at Pearl Harbor Hickham has led to extensive infrastructure delays, impacting military operational readiness in the Pacific.
• 🤝 The nominee commits to improving coordination with the Navy to address challenges at Hickham Airfield.
• 🚧 There is a need to fix underinvestment at Hickham, particularly the runways, which are not ready for the weight of fully stocked planes.

Military Readiness and Community Engagement

• ⛰️ Critical service training areas in Hawaii are leased from the state and are vital for training and readiness, but also hold cultural significance for the Native Hawaiian community.
• 🤝 The nominee commits to engaging in good faith with state officials and the community to ensure fair renegotiation of land leases.
• 🏛️ The nominee acknowledges the sensitivities and importance of community input in decision-making regarding military land leases.