Renewed US focus on Pacific airfields sparks regional concerns over maritime security
BEIJING: China’s defense ministry on Thursday (Dec 28) called for heightened vigilance across the Asia-Pacific as the United States ramps up its forward military presence in the region. This follows reports of a US plan to reactivate a Pacific airfield with historic ties to World War II atomic bombings.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese defense ministry, emphasized that the Chinese military is closely monitoring US actions and is resolute in safeguarding China’s maritime rights, security, and sovereignty.
Earlier in December, a senior US Air Force official revealed plans to reclaim the Tinian North airfield, as reported by Japan’s Nikkei newspaper. The airfield, located on Tinian island in the Northern Mariana Islands—a US territory approximately 200 kilometers north of Guam—has been dormant since World War II. The revival of this strategic site is part of a broader initiative to disperse aircraft throughout the Indo-Pacific in response to growing missile threats posed by China.
The move underscores escalating tensions in the region, as both nations bolster their military postures to assert strategic dominance.
