Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Pacific Fleet commander, Admiral Robert Willard. Source: Beijing Evening News
Willard had driven F-14″ Tomcat “fighter. Source: Beijing Evening News

about White largest theater

current Pacific Fleet commander, Admiral Robert Willard, recently in the U.S. Senate Armed Committee confirmation hearing accepted the lawmakers’ questions.

This is a future not only to Willard’s hearing, but also in Asia are concerned about the hearing, because if the U.S. Senate approved the appointment, the 59-year-old Willard will replace Keating, as The new commander of U.S. Pacific Command, will direct his military thinking about the Pacific Rim countries and the United States.

office is a virtual certainty

Willard Asia-Pacific region was quite familiar with, except as a pilot in the U.S. military who served outside the Yokosuka base, He was also stationed in Japan, “Kitty Hawk” held on the carrier air wing commander, also served as the area west of the Pacific’s Seventh Fleet.

introduced, according to insiders, members of Congress generally the case for the appointment of Willard optimistic, that he was the Pacific Command this position the right people, because he was in the Pacific region are very familiar with the geopolitical . So, Willard succeed Keating as commander of U.S. Pacific Command, almost a virtual certainty of.

prepared to withdraw its 8000 troops faced three major challenges

ready to pull back eight thousand soldiers

in hearing, Robert Willard said, in the Pacific, the rise of China and the Korean people can not figure the biggest challenge the United States. He said: “We are certainly concerned about the situation in North Korea.”

hearing, he also disclosed his “policy objectives” – ready to 8,000 Marines to withdraw from Japan, Guam, Okinawa . Prior to this, he caused a huge controversy this program, some have questioned such a large withdrawal how to implement, require much expense?

claim to face three major challenges

Willard to China’s military buildup has brought uncertainty, the Korean nuclear weapons and the threat of nuclear proliferation and to maintain and strengthen U.S. allies in the Pacific and partnership as the U.S. Pacific Command is facing three major challenges.

Willard said that China’s development beyond its defense needs of the advanced weapons of uncertainty, the U.S. side of the main concerns, but he also said that there is cooperation with China’s diplomacy, peace, military opportunities, especially in the North Korean issue.

U.S. Pacific Command, the U.S. war zone five existing headquarters in the largest of the area there are 36 countries and regions, 34 million people, focused on the world’s largest army of six countries – - They are the United States, China, India, Russia, North and South Korea’s military. So, this post has been commander of Pacific Command, the U.S. navy and air force focal point. However, the Pacific Command’s naval forces under the jurisdiction of a strong, large ocean area within its jurisdiction, any of several recent series of Pacific Command, Admiral are. Region of memory in the Taiwan Strait issue, the DPRK nuclear issue, terrorism in Southeast Asia, the focus of the subcontinent such as India-Pakistan military confrontation and hot issues.

Willard its people: top-flight technology starred in “Top Gun”

top-flight technology

Willard was born in Los Angeles, California, USA, 1973, Annapolis, Maryland, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and received a bachelor’s degree, was appointed ensign officer.

Willard graduate as carrier-based fighter pilot, has flown F-14 carrier-based fighter, has the 24th Fighter Squadron, 124th Fighter Squadron and 2nd Fighter Squadron, 1982 Pacific Fleet’s carrier-based fighter pilot year.

is worth mentioning that the outgoing commander of Pacific Command Timothy Keating is also graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, but also the carrier-based fighter pilot was born.

who starred in “Top Gun”

1984, the Willard entered the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School coach. In the meantime, Willard who the movie “Top Gun” as a flight advisor and show his face in the movie. Willard’s role is a symbol for “rat” and MiG fighter pilot, fighter he was driving hit by a missile fired actor.

U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School was established in 1969, designed to train elite pilots. In 1986, the school through the Hollywood actor Tom Cruise’s famous “Top Gun (TOPGUN)” well known. TOPGUN certificate does not exist, however, TOPGUN training is not out of nature, the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School training in five batches of students each year, each batch of 12. U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School in 1996 into the U.S. Navy tactical air attack and center.

command experience

as commander, Willard both a wealth of practical experience, have strong coordination ability. He has commanded Fighter Squadron 51, also commanded, “Tripoli” warship and “Lincoln” aircraft, participated in, including operations in Somalia and the Gulf War combat, including several times, twice in the Joint Chiefs of Staff office.

was at the helm of the largest fleet

2007 onwards, Willard became the first 32 of any Pacific Fleet commander. Pacific Fleet was established in 1941, is now the United States is the world’s largest fleet, under the Third Fleet and Seventh Fleet, including two fleet, nearly 180 ships, 1,500 aircraft and 125,000, range up to 1 million square area miles, more than half the Earth’s surface.

hearing statement: urged to promote China-US military relations

urged to promote US-China military relations

“should be to reach China as allies, while China as a potential rival to deal with, and strive to build a sophisticated US-China military relations.” – Willard at the hearing to express the main idea.

Pacific Command, the U.S. not only can determine the Pacific military exchanges with China, the U.S. Department of Defense also affect China’s overall strategy.

Since 1996, 约瑟夫普吕厄, Dennis Blair, 托马斯法戈, Weilianfalun, 蒂莫西基廷 served as commander of Pacific Command, they are not only increasingly Vietnam attaches importance to China, but also to China’s level of understanding continues to deepen. Keating attention with the Chinese military establishment and development of relations in the past two years, at least three visits to China, to seek contacts with the Chinese army, and to deepen mutual understanding and mutual trust. But he recently admitted that military exchanges between the two countries far and his expectations.

Willard believes that US-China military relations cyclical ups and downs, the overall maturity behind the US-China relations. Recently held in Beijing, the U.S. defense dialogue is to restart the US-China military relations between the positive symbol. Willard hope that if he was the Pacific commander, he will work to stabilize relations between the two armies, in quantity and quality of contact with the positive momentum on the restart.