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House Armed Services Committee
Chairman Skelton's Opening Statement--March 07, 2007

"Welcome Admiral Fallon and General Bell. It's great to see both of you here today. At the outset, I want to thank you for your leadership- and thank the troops that you lead. Admiral Fallon, I also want to congratulate you on your confirmation for the position of Commander of the U.S. Central Command. You have one of the most difficult jobs in the world ahead of you, given the way things are going in Iraq and the challenges in Afghanistan. Yet, given your credentials I am confident you will do as well as anyone could and I truly wish you all the best.

"However, Admiral before you leave the U.S. Pacific Command, I am very eager to hear from you and General Bell about how your commands are handling the broad range of security challenges in the Asia-Pacific and what more needs to be done.

"This is a critical region. Yet I have been very concerned for some time now that our involvement in Iraq and the Middle East has preoccupied us away from the region's rapidly changing strategic landscape at a time when we should be proactively engaged on multiple fronts and ensuring our force posture will allow us to deter or to confront any challenge that might emerge.

"Our role in the Middle East is a vital one, but as I've said before, we must have a broader focus. There must be a sophisticated and coordinated long-term strategy for the Asia-Pacific region. And unfortunately I still do not see this from the administration. We are rather evaluating plans to reduce our military presence in Asia. I believe we need to think very carefully about that. We could be doing much more in the region to ease tensions at flashpoints; cultivate strategic partnerships; build local capacity; and prevent terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, violence and instability.

"Just last week, China announced its biggest increase in defense spending in 5 years. China also recently conducted a successful anti-satellite test, which left debris in orbit that could endanger satellites and spacecraft for years. At the same time, the potential for miscommunication and miscalculation in the Taiwan Strait continues to be high. And experts warn the potential for conflict in the South China Sea is also great. On the Korean peninsula, the Six Party Talks have made some progress, yet there's still a long way to go. We need to ensure that our intelligence on North Korea's nuclear program is sound, but it appears that North Korea may have at least 8 nuclear bombs.

"In Thailand, the U.S. watched a successful military coup last year. We've worked to help the Philippines and Indonesia struggle against terrorism. And throughout much of Southeast Asia, the threat of terrorism, violence and instability remains extraordinarily high.

Moreover, the administration has made very little progress on the steps required by Congress to monitor the U.S.-India nuclear deal to ensure limits on India's ability to make nuclear weapons.

"And while we've been preoccupied in the Middle East, China and others have been expanding their influence in Latin America, Africa and around the globe. We need to consider who our friends and partners will be and whose influence they will consider, not only in the next year but in the decades to come.

"We must maintain our focus on the Pacific region, and ensure that our level of strategic risk remains acceptable. Our own actions may well influence the choices and actions of others. Admiral Fallon, you've made important progress on U.S.-China military exchanges, and there have been some encouraging developments with the Six Party Talks. But we must do much more. We must be proactively engaged in the region and pursue opportunities for cooperation that will enable us to successfully meet the region's evolving security challenges stretching from China and Russia to Southeast Asia and beyond.

"So I hope you'll update us on the good work that you and your troops are doing in the region, but also share your thoughts on what more needs to be done.

"However, before we begin testimony, I turn to my friend from New Jersey, Jim Saxton, who is filling in for Ranking Member Duncan Hunter, for any statement he may wish to make."