‘IT’S NOT CHINA’S MARITIME EMPIRE’: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s Monday declaration on China’s expansive claims to the South China Sea has set the stage for a new effort by the United States to rally other nations in the Indo-Pacific region to join in confronting Beijing.
“On Monday, for the first time, we made our policy on the South China Sea crystal clear. It’s not China’s maritime empire,” Pompeo said yesterday at a briefing for reporters. “If Beijing violates the international law and free nations do nothing, then history shows that the CCP will simply take more territory.”
“You’re seeing countries all throughout Asia, and indeed in Southeast Asia and in the Pacific, recognizing that the United States is prepared to do the things necessary to assist them in protecting their valid legal claims,” Pompeo said. “We’ll go provide them the assistance we can, whether that’s in multilateral bodies, whether that’s in ASEAN, whether that’s through legal responses. We use all the tools we can.”
“Our statement gives significant support to ASEAN leaders who have declared that the South China Sea disputes must be resolved through international law, not ‘might makes right,’” he said.
‘IMPORTANT SHIFT,’ NOT ‘A RADICAL BREAK’: The Pompeo declaration marks “an important shift” but “not a radical break from past policy,” writes Gregory Poling, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“Pompeo’s statement does not alter U.S. neutrality on the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Washington still has no interest in wading into the historical morass of which country has sovereignty over each of the Spratly and Paracel Islands,” Polling says. “But it does now explicitly take a position on the maritime disputes over water and seabed rights.”
“This new rhetorical position won’t have much effect by itself. But as the opening gambit in a long-term effort to impose cost on China and rally support for U.S. partners, it could be significant,” he argues. “The most immediate effect of this policy change will be on the diplomatic front. It is much easier to rally international support against ‘illegal’ activity than against actions that are merely distasteful or destabilizing.”
A NEW REALITY: Later in a radio interview, Pompeo said the Trump administration’s more direct challenges to China are based on a recognition that the past policy, which China called win-win cooperation, wasn’t working.
“The American people have been fed a bill of goods, that if we simply engage with China, that they would leave us alone and behave in a way that was consistent with how other large nations behaved,” Pompeo told Simon Conway of WHO radio in Des Moines, Iowa. “That hasn’t happened. We thought they would open up politically. That was the theory of the foreign policy establishment. It didn’t happen.”
Beijing’s crackdown on Hong Kong is just another example of how China is increasingly flouting international norms, Pompeo said.
“The Chinese Communist Party made a commitment to both the United Kingdom and to the people of Hong Kong, and indeed, to the world. This was an international treaty that said that there would be a separate system there in Hong Kong and that they would be guaranteed certain rights that weren’t available in other parts of China,” he said. “Now, the Chinese Communist Party has welched on that deal.”
END OF RESTRAINT? Writing in Foreign Affairs, two longtime China watchers, Kurt Campbell and Mira Rapp-Hooper, suggest what we’re seeing is a fundamental shift toward China taking a much harder line on the world stage.
“Chinese President Xi Jinping has appeared to defy many of his country’s long-held foreign policy principles all at once,” they write. “It is too early to tell with certainty, but China — imbued with crisis-stoked nationalism, confident in its continued rise, and willing to court far more risk than in the past — may well be in the middle of a foreign policy rethink that will reverberate around the world.”
“In the months since the pandemic first engulfed the world, China’s government has engaged in an unprecedented diplomatic offensive on virtually every foreign policy front,” they added. “It has tightened its grip over Hong Kong, ratcheted up tensions in the South China Sea, unleashed a diplomatic pressure campaign against Australia, used fatal force in a border dispute with India, and grown more vocal in its criticism of Western liberal democracies.”
Good Thursday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by David Sivak and Tyler Van Dyke. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow us on Twitter: @dailyondefense.
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NOTE TO READERS: Daily on Defense will be on hiatus from July 20 – 27 as we take a short break for the summer. We’ll be back in your inbox Tuesday, July 28.
HAPPENING TODAY: Pompeo travels to Philadelphia, where he will deliver a speech at 1:45 p.m. on “Unalienable Rights and the Securing of Freedom” and participate in a question-and-answer session.
HAPPENING TOMORROW: Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, and Senior Enlisted Adviser to the Chairman Ramón “CZ” Colón-López hold a virtual global town hall meeting to answer questions from service members, their families, and DOD civilians.
ESPER’S ANTI-BIAS INITIATIVE: Yesterday, the Pentagon released Secretary Esper’s memo directing a series of actions aimed at addressing discrimination, prejudice, and bias in the ranks while improving diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in the armed forces.
Esper ordered that the following actions be taken immediately:
- Remove photographs from consideration by promotion boards and selection processes and develop additional guidance, as applicable, that emphasizes retaining qualified, diverse talent;
- Update the department’s military equal opportunity and diversity inclusion policies;
- Obtain and analyze additional data on prejudice and bias within the force;
- Add bias awareness and bystander intervention to the violence prevention framework;
- Develop educational requirements for implementation across the military lifecycle to educate the force on unconscious bias;
- Develop a program of instruction containing techniques and procedures that enable commanders to have relevant, candid, and effective discussions;
- Review hairstyle and grooming policies for racial bias;
- Review effectiveness of military service equal opportunity offices; and support military department initiatives.
US TROOP REDUCTION EYED IN IRAQ: The head of the U.S. Central Command says he does not see a problem with reducing the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, currently between 5,000 and 6,000.
In an interview with Voice of America, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie said the U.S. can maintain pressure on the Islamic State with fewer American troops on the ground.
“We can get the job done with fewer U.S. forces in Iraq, and the reduction will be done in close consultation with everyone,” McKenzie told VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb. The U.S. is “working through that problem right now,” he added.
A U.S. defense official told VOA that details about a potential U.S. force reduction in Iraq could emerge from a U.S.-Iraq dialogue scheduled for later this month.
BONHOMME RICHARD UPDATE: The Navy was hoping to have extinguished the fire that has ravaged the USS Bonhomme Richard by now, but sailors and firefighters battling the blaze had to get off the ship as it began to list dangerously due to all the water poured on the fire.
“Out of an abundance of caution the pier and ship were cleared of personnel due to an initial shift in the ship’s list. Personnel are now pierside. We will continue to monitor as the ship settles,” the Navy said in an update last night.
The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship has been burning at Pier 2, Naval Station San Diego, since Sunday morning.
INDUSTRY WATCH: Northrop Grumman launched its Minotaur IV space launch vehicle from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility yesterday, successfully placing a National Reconnaissance Office spacecraft into orbit.
It was the seventh Minotaur IV flight. “The Minotaur family of launch vehicles is based on government-furnished Peacekeeper and Minuteman rocket motors that Northrop Grumman has integrated with modern avionics and other subsystems,” the company said in a release.
Boeing announced yesterday major program deliveries across its commercial and defense operations for the second quarter of 2020.
“Our commercial airplane deliveries in the second quarter reflect the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our customers and our operations that included a shutdown of our commercial airplane production for several weeks,” Boeing said in a release.
But defense, space, and security program deliveries were generally unaffected and “continue to provide some stability,” the company said. Here are the second-quarter and year-to-date numbers:
- AH-64 Apache (New): 9 2Q — 11 YTD
- AH-64 Apache (Remanufactured): 18 2Q — 32 YTD
- CH-47 Chinook (New): 6 2Q — 15 YTD
- CH-47 Chinook (Renewed): 0 2Q — 1 YTD
- F-15 Models: 3 2Q — 3 YTD
- F/A-18 Models: 4 2Q — 9 YTD
- KC-46 Tanker: 1 2Q — 6 YTD
- P-8 Models: 3 2Q — 6 YTD
The Rundown
Washington Examiner: Mike Pompeo predicts ‘whitewashed’ WHO investigation of China’s coronavirus mistakes
Washington Examiner: As Lebanon teeters, Pentagon says support for armed forces keeps Hezbollah at bay
Washington Examiner: ‘Deplorable’: Trump tweets in Farsi to condemn impending Iran executions of three protesters
VOA: CENTCOM Chief Says US Can Do Job in Iraq with Fewer Forces
Reuters: Second Group Of U.S. Diplomats Fly Back To China Amid Frayed Ties
South China Morning Post: The U.S. Is Taking On Beijing Over The South China Sea, But Asean Remains Cautious
Just the News: Beijing: U.S.-Taiwan missile deal ‘seriously jeopardizes China’s national sovereignty and security’
Reuters: Trump Only Wants North Korea Summit If Real Progress Possible: Pompeo
Military.com: Russian Mercenaries Are Planting Mines In Libya To Shore Up A Rebel Leader, AFRICOM Says
Defense News: Key House Democrats Want To Lock In New START Weapons Limits
Military Times: DoD Schools Reopening On A ‘Regular, Full-Time’ Schedule
USNI News: Second America-Class Amphib USS Tripoli Commissions
C4ISRNET: Congress Skeptical Of Navy’s Unmanned Vessels Plans
Air Force Magazine: First Two Test F-15EXs to be Delivered by Early 2021
AP: U.S. Backs France In Standoff With Turkey Over Warships
Task & Purpose: Read The Stories Of The Marine Raiders Awarded Silver And Bronze Stars For A Hellish Four-Hour Battle In Afghanistan
Stars and Stripes: Family Of Slain Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen To Meet With Trump
Washington Post: ‘The military failed him’: Soldier’s bones found months after he was labeled a deserter
Navy Times: Army And Navy Still Expect A 2020 Football Game
Foreign Affairs: Opinion: China Is Done Biding Its Time
Calendar
THURSDAY | JULY 16
10 a.m. — SETA Foundation at Washington, D.C., webinar: “The Future of U.S.-Turkey Defense Cooperation,” with Ismail Demir, president of the Defense Industries of Turkey; retired Navy Adm. James Stavridis, operating executive at the Carlyle Group; and Kadir Ustun, executive director of SETA. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
12 p.m. — Defense Undersecretary for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord participates in a prerecorded fireside chat at the Reagan Foundation on “National Defense in the Age of COVID-19.” https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/24434
1 p.m. — Inside Sources “Virtual Editorial Board Meeting,” with Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie. Moderated by Managing Editor Michael Graham. https://register.gotowebinar.com/register
1 p.m. — WJLA-TV’s Government Matters “NatSec 2020: Coronavirus and Beyond” series, with pretaped appearances by Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy; Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville; Bruce Jette, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics, and technology; Army CIO Lt. Gen. Bruce Crawford; Army Gen. Douglas Stitt, military personnel management director at the Army; retired Army Gen. Carter Ham, president and CEO of the Association of the U.S. Army; Doug Jones, Leidos Defense Group CTO; and Francis Rose, host of WJLA-TV’s Government Matters program. https://www.fedinsider.com
1:15 p.m. — Aspen Security Forum webcast: “A Conversation on U.S.-China Relations: Where Do We Go From Here?” with Kurt Campbell, chairman, CEO, & co-founder, The Asia Group LLC, and chairman of the board, Center for a New American Security; Amb. Robert Zoellick, senior counselor, Brunswick Geopolitical, and senior fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; and Anja Manuel, director, Aspen Strategy Group. https://aspeninst.zoom.us/webinar/register
FRIDAY | JULY 17
1 p.m. — Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, and Senior Enlisted Adviser to the Chairman Ramón “CZ” Colón-López hold a virtual global town hall meeting to answer questions from service members, their families, and DOD civilians. https://www.facebook.com/DeptofDefense/
1 p.m. — Center for a New American Security virtual conversation with Gen. John Raymond, the first chief of space operations, moderated by Susanna Blume, senior fellow and director, CNAS Defense Program. https://cnas.zoom.us/webinar/register
MONDAY | JULY 20
All week — Daily on Defense goes on summer hiatus until Tuesday, July 28.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo travels to the U.K. and Denmark. In London, he’ll meet with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and in Copenhagen, he meets with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. https://www.state.gov
10 a.m. — Association of the U.S. Army Thought Leaders webinar, with Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, and John Hamre, president and CEO, Center for Strategic and International Studies. https://www.bigmarker.com/ausaorg/Thought-Leaders
TUESDAY | JULY 21
3:30 p.m. — Johns Hopkins SAIS Merrill Center for Strategic Studies webinar: “The State of the U.S. Air Force,” with Gen. David Goldfein, chief of staff; and Prof. Mara Karlin, director, Strategic Studies Program and Merrill Center for Strategic Studies. Register at https://jh.zoom.us/webinar/register.
4 p.m. — The George Washington University Project for Media and National Security conference call conversation with Adm. Philip Davidson, commander, Indo-Pacific Command. https://nationalsecuritymedia.gwu.edu
WEDNESDAY | JULY 22
12 p.m. — Association of the U.S. Army Thought Leaders webinar, with Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn, deputy chief of staff, G-3, 5, 7, U.S. Army; and retired Gen. Carter Ham, president and CEO, AUSA. https://www.ausa.org/events/noon-report-flynn
1 p.m. — Center for a New American Security virtual wargame: “A Deadly Game: East China Sea Crisis 2030 Play,” along as the CNAS Defense team and leading experts conduct a virtual wargame in the year 2030, exploring command and information concepts in a “New American Way of War.” https://conference.cnas.org/session/a-deadly-game
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We are continuing to dig. I have found nothing yet that would make me change my judgment that it is very worrisome, it’s very concerning, but it’s not proven to my satisfaction that it actually occurred.”
Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, U.S. Central Commander, speaking to VOA about the investigation into whether Russia paid bounties to the Taliban to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
