US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated that the challenges China poses to the US surpass those of the Cold War. He highlighted China’s support for Russia’s defence industry as a key concern, stating that it comes directly from China’s top leadership.
“Frankly, the Cold War pales in comparison to the multifaceted challenges that China presents. It’s not just the military challenges. It’s across the board. It’s in the Global South. It is in technology,” Campbell said.
Campbell emphasized the need for a bipartisan focus on China, including boosting US naval shipbuilding and defence manufacturing capacity. He also stressed the importance of accelerating the speed with which US Navy ships are designed and built, reports Reuters.
He further revealed that China has been providing substantial support to Russia’s military industrial base, including support for drone activity in Ukraine, and that this support is coming from the highest levels of the Chinese government.
How to counter China
In terms of countering China’s influence, Campbell underscored the importance of relaxing US curbs on technology sharing for the AUKUS defence project with Australia and Britain.
He also announced that an upcoming summit of the Quad countries would include significant announcements on helping Pacific and Southeast Asian nations track illegal — primarily Chinese — fishing fleets.
Finally, Campbell mentioned plans for increased security cooperation in the Indian Ocean involving India and other countries, signifying a new frontier in US strategic engagement in the region.
