China is a bigger long-term threat than N Korea, says US admiral

AN American admiral who is expected to become Washington’s next ambassador to South Korea warned that China’s “dream of hegemony” was the greatest threat to the US in Asia.

Admiral Harry Harris said that while North Korea was the most urgent concern, China’s growing power in Asia would provide the greatest challenge to the United States.

“North Korea remains our most imminent threat, and a nuclear-capable North Korea with missiles that can reach the United States is unacceptable,” he said during a ceremony in Hawaii where he handed over leadership of the US regional command. However, he added: “China remains our biggest long-term challenge. Without focused involvement and engagement by the United States and our allies, China will realise its dream of hegemony in Asia.”

Admiral Harris’s comments came at an event at which he handed over the reins of the US Pacific Command to Admiral Phil Davidson. At the same event the regional command was also renamed the “Indo-pacific Command”.

The symbolic move is being seen as an encouragement to India to become more involved in Asia and dilute China’s growing military weight.

India has long been one of Beijing’s rivals in the region. New Delhi believes China has been seeking to contain it with strategic assets across the Indian Ocean.

Admiral Harris’s three years at the helm of the Pacific Command witnessed frequent flashpoints involving US and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea. The US frequently sends its warships through the region on “freedom of navigation” patrols, to the anger of Beijing.

It emerged last month that Washington plans to nominate Admiral Harris for the key, and long-vacant, post of ambassador to South Korea. Additional reporting by Christine Wei