The nomination of an anti-submarine and electronic warfare specialist as the new head of the US Pacific Command suggests that the Pentagon will be more focused on measures to counter China’s rapid build-up of its submarine forces in the region, military experts have said.

Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said the nomination of Phil Davidson, a four-star admiral, to the post was a mark of America’s “unceasing vigilance” in the face of the rapid development of China’s submarine capabilities.

Collin Koh Swee Lean, a submarine expert from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, also agreed that Davidson’s background would bolster the US Navy’s focus on anti-submarine and electronic warfare.

The appointment “could be a response to general trends in the region – for example the focus on building up submarine forces, missile and radar capabilities etc – all of which would require more focus on ASW and EW”, Koh said.

“China, which has been publicly identified as one of the near-peer competitors in the military realm, could also be in mind, of course.”

Click here to view the full article