Representative Neal Dunn (R-FL) discussed the Indo-Pacific security strategy against China in a recent Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hearing.
Rep. Dunn began by asking Former United States Army Pacific Commander General (Ret.) Charles Flynn, "Can you talk about the critical infrastructure challenges in the Indo-Pacific and how they impact the military's ability to operate throughout the region?"
Gen. Flynn answered that current power projection platforms (military installations designed to project influence in a given region and deploy when necessary) are "vulnerable."
"They are vulnerable to cyberattacks and infections that are essentially on those networks," Flynn elaborated, adding, "I would also say that our ability to have the raw materials of steel, aluminum, magnets, batteries, and even microchips, those come from the rare earth elements that we need. So we are not going to be able to get this organic industrial base back on its feet until we can gain access to those markets and make sure that we have those here."
Rep. Dunn then turned to former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, asking about how American investment in foreign allies will deter China.
"Could you speak about how investing in our allies, partners, and particularly through infrastructure projects, impacts America's problems with China?" the Florida Congressman asked specifically.
Campbell answered that recent investments by Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Australia in the United States are "very positive" trends and "that work is well underway."
"I do want to just point out something that you, I think, alluded to, but something we have to take seriously in this platform," Campbell continued, adding, "If you ask me, 'what is the most formidable partnership militarily and strategically on the planet today?' It is not the United States with any of our allies. It is Russia with China."
As Campbell explained, Chinese assistance to the Russians in their war over Ukraine and Russia's technological capabilities is "truly concerning."
Thus, he expressed skepticism toward President Donald Trump's tariff policies, saying, "I understand what we are doing, trying to balance the books on some of our trade engagements."
"Frankly, I am more focused on that relationship with Beijing than I am going around and hitting some of our allies really hard," Campbell concluded.
