In Indo-Pacific, US eyes 'agile' posture to dodge Chinese missiles

Commander vows shift away from concentration in East Asia

Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz as the aircraft carrier returns to Naval Base San Diego after a more than 10-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet and the U.S. 7th Fleet on Feb. 26. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

RYO NAKAMURA, Nikkei staff writer

March 3, 2021 04:00 JST

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. will deploy its Indo-Pacific military presence far and wide rather than keep it concentrated at a handful of bases as it seeks to protect itself from China's advanced missile capabilities.

Sensitivity toward China's "rapid modernization" was reflected in a virtual keynote address by Navy Adm. Philip Davidson, the head of the Indo-Pacific Command, to the TechNet Indo-Pacific conference Monday.