CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY (Grant Newsham) - America’s big chance to roll China out of the Solomons
Originally posted by Asia Times
Change of government represents “Wale” of a chance to assert influence and blunt China’s advances in strategic Pacific nation Admiral Samuel Paparo commands USINDOPACOM, home to over 300,000 sailors, soldiers, airmen and marines in an area of operations extending from the US west coast to India. Paparo also has the clearest sense of the Chinese threat of any USINDOPACOM commander since Admiral Robert Willard, who was in charge from 2009-2012. Yet, in some Pacific Island nations, he has less influence than the head of any Chinese-owned timber, fishing, mining or construction company. How so? Paparo or another senior officer might show up for a day or two each year, if that, and meet with top officials, declaring their excellent…Open