[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6072857,"mediaKeyId","3003928-918139e32ddeebdcfff7e23dbaff792d","parentId",3003928,"title","Senators, commanders warn weakening alliances and cuts to soft-power tools undercut Indo-Pacific deterrence","audioSeconds",2029,"startMs",3239000,"endMs",5268000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3003928-918139e32ddeebdcfff7e23dbaff792d&start=3239&end=5268","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3003928-918139e32ddeebdcfff7e23dbaff792d/thumbnail_3239000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6072857/Senators-commanders-warn-weakening-alliances-and-cuts-to-soft-power-tools-undercut-Indo-Pacific-deterrence","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6072857-0a87c69c423e07913f18e74f45f21659/orig.mp4?Expires=1775241993&Signature=Z2pDUN5E8dooft8cF7lGP8BFfcwA571~w8xBO7W4UJfas6EkOYOwjQ~q8fZSiCcZJNpVlIL1Qq3sEanJtAL9szNbphAbTEK6yH9AylHXtx16OcsqQapzvdzB5pEKQ~i8GRZ4CIFxtLCxMtRVBjvBIweOTqAfCYFCvHFdB30FWaZ~yijR8AxUGs92rmxAKtUg5L-uRFGUM~nScaGmteBWWirRzLDn3Si9N6wFxw-4EoiytZVgMLl6h1NchsnLhNwrlSe-JbhpTnQtAn~9WcvbB~6AViej2yjnZn9NBzwxPBtWWDN9fGi6kWg2X-hTcNwoyPZzKIMJKEv-6Nlw5ymK8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services","date","2025-04-10T00:00:00Z","article","Ranking Member Senator Reed and several other senators questioned witnesses about the role of economic and information instruments in sustaining U.S. influence. Admiral Paparo told the committee that instruments such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are important to maintaining partnership influence and that \"the loss of that, the PRC would, would, see the opportunity and they would seize it.\"

Senators raised recent executive actions on tariffs and the reported pause on USAID activities, arguing they risk alienating allies. Senator Kaine said tariffs on close partners risk driving them closer to China and undermining allied cooperation. Admiral Paparo and other witnesses repeatedly said allies and partners are the U.S. strategic center of gravity in the Indo-Pacific and that economic and diplomatic tools enable operational access, legitimacy and coalition-building.

The committee also discussed information and cyber threats: Admiral Paparo described PRC information operations and urged resilience and redundancy in communications infrastructure, noting threats to undersea cables and the importance of low-earth-orbit and other commercial constellations for redundancy.

Why it matters: Witnesses and senators linked diplomatic and economic tools to military deterrence, saying that cutting or undermining those tools shrinks U.S. influence and opens opportunities for PRC coercion. The testimony framed policy coherence across defense, diplomatic and economic levers as necessary to maintain credible deterrence.

No votes were taken; senators said they will weigh these concerns in legislative and budget debates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","To receive testimony on the posture of United States Indo-Pacific Command and United States Forces Korea in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2026 and the Future Years Defense Program","oneSentenceSummary","Committee testimony linked foreign assistance, information tools and trade policy to military deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. Witnesses said reducing USAID or similar instruments and fractious tariff actions can create influence voids that China will exploit, damaging U.S. partnerships and regional posture.","taxTitle","Armed Services: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1987,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6072861,"INDOPACOM leaders tell Senate logistics, shipbuilding and airlift shortfalls threaten surge capacity",57,3457000,3514000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3003928-918139e32ddeebdcfff7e23dbaff792d&start=3457&end=3514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3003928-918139e32ddeebdcfff7e23dbaff792d/thumbnail_3457000.jpg","/articles/6072861/INDOPACOM-leaders-tell-Senate-logistics-shipbuilding-and-airlift-shortfalls-threaten-surge-capacity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6072861-4bf4c12035e23240719b8486dcb12893/orig.mp4?Expires=1775241994&Signature=Oii~sfxN9STK4-Vx7aTSy37Z5R39ZoIC7Vd-UsCDr86b~tvethW7HI14aLl6IRygbx~3LxErbPC9SemjozxsIWGF6kWZBOkt77bZ7uMpIfrOuXYRjlSziOF-3e51ToUfwkeAzhZk4GlXC6ojmEwfKMVpB8hR3xLDCT0DD3YEVyt08ghppIWlDOFSmsSrZFlUUUfhGXRNcFGIH6DjzLIz-cCsLDjvEP-7AIALjyufbe1-5YVIPnlKdBB-aGEKqv9YJMJVQzLQJQ3IJ6slGp44UOhWGupx6uRA1tRTKvAiPA0vqv0frMu-o1xggtvhnGB-3wovQEKPQPQWTDZQGE802Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators and INDOPACOM leaders used the hearing to underscore logistics and sustainment shortfalls that commanders said reduce the joint force's ability to surge in a crisis. Admiral Paparo told the committee the combat logistics force fleet strength is roughly \"about 60% of the actual requirement,\" and that 17 logistics ships were laid up for lack of manpower.

Admiral Paparo said moving a Patriot battalion required 73 C-17 loads, highlighting the volume of airlift needed for major deployments. He and other witnesses described shortfalls in sealift, tanker capacity, and the combat logistics force, and argued that longer-range munitions and sustainment stocks must be prepositioned or more readily surgeable.

Senators and witnesses flagged specific industrial-base concerns: low U.S. shipbuilding capacity (the United States accounts for a small share of global shipbuilding versus partners such as South Korea and Japan), insufficient amphibious readiness (13 of 32 amphibious ships reported ready by another witness), and the need for more C-130 tactical airlift for contested logistics.

The commanders said Congress can help by funding increased shipbuilding rates, addressing maritime industry labor shortages through incentives, and investing in tanker and cargo lift production as well as forward maintenance and partner-yard capacity. Admiral Paparo recommended expanding maintenance and repair work at allied partner yards and improving co-sustainment authorities so allied auxiliaries and repair facilities can be used quickly in crisis.

Why it matters: Multiple senators emphasized that sustainment wins wars and that without inventory and lift the U.S. would \"fight until help comes.\" Witnesses asked for near-term investments and policy changes to reduce reliance on external contracting and to grow U.S. and allied surge capacity.

No formal votes were held at the hearing.","Witnesses warned the committee that shortages in combat logistics ships, sealift, tankers, C-17/C-130 lift, and maintenance capacity are eroding the U.S. ability to surge and sustain forces in the Indo-Pacific, pressing Congress to address shipbuilding, manpower and industrial-base constraints.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6072868,"U.S. commanders tell Senate North Korea's exports of munitions, personnel to Russia deepen threat",3410,1723000,5133000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3003928-918139e32ddeebdcfff7e23dbaff792d&start=1723&end=5133","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3003928-918139e32ddeebdcfff7e23dbaff792d/thumbnail_1723000.jpg","/articles/6072868/US-commanders-tell-Senate-North-Koreas-exports-of-munitions-personnel-to-Russia-deepen-threat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6072868-06bac0cbcd21665279da1bca7e99f958/orig.mp4?Expires=1775241994&Signature=hkMPei9bu68VVmlslLSCXhRalq4wNJuDRuhWlctogpsCgmuBq4pUrTJF2DQgp2o5v3SYHA8rev8QODJJQRycxsG0G47ry-6iukjvktfDTVyeOx8km2S4ALOz5pq8G1aP2PAT31rFlwSdxhhvv5YPJcEzFoJJn4fL~-7C~ao-2w-OhC-6ZUgcfqoaNOgGauUt8f-djr~UTxYDjwy7HFKMBtU8LpKdkHO3ToOHE5uF~8vZ55-bB-kRx04giihKlh-y2hzI2hK5PTVh06YAFye8gIXmhDwBnGfFTpvusRMx4MqKCZhfWebmoUtglouIJFI4wvLHGlC3ZlLRxi7MA4Eewg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","General Christopher Brunson, commander of United States Forces Korea, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that North Korea has sustained a high tempo of missile testing and weapons development and has sent munitions and personnel overseas. \"In 2024, the DPRK focused on advancing their cruise missile and hypersonic glide vehicle research and development programs. Launching 47 ballistic missiles with 1 failed satellite launch attempt,\" Brunson said.

Admiral Paparo described a transactional relationship among China, Russia and North Korea in which each partner supplies goods or technology the others lack. \"North Korea is sending, thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of artillery shells and thousands of KN-24 short range missiles to Russia,\" Paparo said, and he warned that Pyongyang is receiving Russian help with air defenses, submarine quieting and missile technologies in return.

Why it matters: Witnesses said these ties increase the DPRK's ability to modernize its forces and complicate U.S. efforts to deter and contain threats on the Korean Peninsula. Committee members repeatedly raised the security and intelligence implications of North Korea's evolving doctrine, including statements interpreted as endorsing first-use of nuclear weapons.

Testimony also noted nonkinetic threats: \"The DPRK s cyber threat is increasingly sophisticated as demonstrated by the recent theft of approximately $1,500,000,000 in cryptocurrency,\" General Brunson said. Senators asked whether disbanding Department of Justice teams that pursued crypto crimes would weaken deterrence or enforcement; General Brunson said the military has instruments to pursue illicit activity but urged whole-of-government approaches.

Witnesses urged exposure and diplomatic pressure to impose costs on states that support such transfers. Admiral Paparo recommended using all instruments of national power to deter and punish proliferation and to prepare for the possibility of foreign assistance that would enhance DPRK capabilities.

No formal committee action was taken; senators said the testimony would inform sanctions, enforcement, and assistance discussions.","Witnesses reported that North Korea's military cooperation with Russia and growing strategic ties with China are increasing regional risks. General Brunson and Admiral Paparo cited shipments of munitions and personnel to Russia and warned of technology transfers that could bolster Pyongyang's missile and submarine capabilities.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6072871,"Senate hearing: INDOPACOM warns China can rehearse a Taiwan blockade as U.S. force margin erodes",984,941000,1925000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3003928-918139e32ddeebdcfff7e23dbaff792d&start=941&end=1925","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3003928-918139e32ddeebdcfff7e23dbaff792d/thumbnail_941000.jpg","/articles/6072871/Senate-hearing-INDOPACOM-warns-China-can-rehearse-a-Taiwan-blockade-as-US-force-margin-erodes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6072871-7083c3dd2200cf6429dd0c5a7d622464/orig.mp4?Expires=1775241994&Signature=J5d6yEJ5KOYRASgfntSamijCjvh9-R8b9it3Y~1LDf6foJzZxMlpQHsAlMSXSLeGtSnbpoJNrILgCOKu2ESa5HmadHQBhpQU8MD41YoRakq8bKnPBuY~nGKz~ega~kv2IrJxROE9mOGyHhLupJEccLwrvitl7SxRugUyEu1JjDkHIeSSjdGRrDrzRgShmmXa1J7wzVyg-F6ou7qBtzzpIBDKbMbIMWmcG1Zp1KTcNM9wo0phgDa~TZBoqMJ5K8C3zP3kYTiM5DD2B4bPT3IY19Cq5okz2ajT6Kf2ikj56i~46fjUWO8kpX7igY5tIv1whjMOwLu5qdlrofrgFFoOFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Wicker opened the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing by warning that recent Chinese exercises \"demonstrated the extent to which the People's Liberation Army could execute a maritime blockade of Taiwan and pummel it with missile strikes,\" and said Beijing has escalated rhetoric against Taiwan.

The testimony from Admiral Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), and General Brunson, commander of United States Forces Korea, described growing Chinese military capability and an accelerating pattern of coercive operations. \"China's increasingly aggressive actions near Taiwan are not just exercises. They are rehearsals,\" Admiral Paparo said.

Why it matters: Committee members and the witnesses said Taiwan is a strategic center of gravity for the global economy and U.S. alliances. Admiral Paparo told senators that conflict around Taiwan could disrupt global trade and critical industries such as semiconductors, and would amplify the importance of allied basing, access and integrated defenses.

Admiral Paparo and other witnesses outlined capability shortfalls that, in their view, reduce the margin for deterrence. The command seeks investments in long-range survivable fires, integrated air and missile defense, counterspace and cyber capabilities, and improvements in logistics and sea- and air-lift to sustain high-tempo operations. \"To maintain credible deterrence, INDOPACOM requires additional sustained investment in long range survivable fires, in integrated air and missile defense, in force sustainment, with an emphasis on autonomy and AI-driven systems,\" Paparo said.

Senator Tom Cotton pressed on why Taiwan matters to the U.S.; Admiral Paparo and other witnesses warned that even a limited conflict would have broad economic and human consequences. Paparo referenced studies that estimate a conflict could cause large GDP contractions in Asia and secondary effects in the United States. \"This is the importance of the regional stability to the world economy and its effect on people's lives,\" he said.

Committee members and witnesses discussed several weapons and posture issues intended to shore up deterrence. Senators and witnesses named hypersonic long-range fires, the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, and the SLCM-N (sea-launched cruise missile, nuclear variant) as pieces of a layered approach, though witnesses said timelines and production rates remain problematic. \"2034 is too late. Sooner, please,\" Admiral Paparo said about the SLCM-N deployment timetable.

The witnesses repeatedly warned that China's quantitative production of platforms (fighters, ships, missiles) and growing integrated capabilities are outpacing U.S. modernization in several areas. \"China's outproducing The United States in air, missile, maritime, and space capability and accelerating these,\" Paparo said.

The hearing also covered the role of allies and partnerships and the need to sustain diplomatic and economic instruments that support deterrence. Several senators raised concerns that recent U.S. policy shifts could undermine alliance cohesion and thus the very posture the witnesses described as essential.

The committee did not vote on legislation at the hearing. Senators said they expect the testimony to inform FY26 budget and authorization decisions.

","U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) leaders told the Senate Armed Services Committee that China's military modernization and frequent exercises around Taiwan amount to rehearsals for coercion, while INDOPACOM faces gaps in long-range fires, logistics and air/missile defenses that weaken deterrence.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senators, commanders warn weakening alliances and cuts to soft-power tools undercut Indo-Pacific deterrence

INDOPACOM leaders tell Senate logistics, shipbuilding and airlift shortfalls threaten surge capacity

U.S. commanders tell Senate North Korea's exports of munitions, personnel to Russia deepen threat

Senate hearing: INDOPACOM warns China can rehearse a Taiwan blockade as U.S. force margin erodes