U.S. Representative Rob Wittman (R-Va.) recently addressed the aggression of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) at the U.S. Naval Institute Defense Forum. He emphasized the necessity for the U.S. to augment its Navy and Marine Corps capabilities to counteract this aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. The forum, which focused on national security, took place earlier this month.
Wittman stated, "To effectively counter the CCP’s military aggression in the Indo-Pacific, we must strengthen our Navy and Marine Corps." He further added, "Great to speak at the U.S. Naval Institute Defense Forum on this critical national security challenge and more."
According to the U.S. Department of State, the CCP has amplified its aggressive actions both within the Indo-Pacific region and globally. It has utilized strategies of "military and economic coercion" to instill fear in neighboring countries, jeopardize maritime conditions, and foster instability in regions surrounding the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
In October, a report titled China Military Power Report (CMPR) was released by the Department of Defense. This report assesses the "national, economic, and military strategy" of the PRC and concluded that there is an escalating level of danger from PRC. Over the past two years, there have been "over 180 instances of PLA coercive and risky air intercepts against U.S. aircraft in the region" and "100 instances of coercive and risky operational behavior in the air domain against U.S. allies and partners" by People's Liberation Army (PLA), as per this report.
The annual Defense Forum hosted by the U.S. Naval Institute took place in Washington DC with speakers including Wittman along with authors of "American Sea Power Project," among others. A panel during this forum specifically addressed China-Taiwan preparedness discussing potential conflict with China over Taiwan while also highlighting China's efforts in constructing the world's largest navy, emphasizing national security concerns.
During the forum, Wittman commented, "If you look today at what we see in the Indo-Pacific, it is indeed China's aggression, not just in the Indo-Pacific, but China's aggression around the world. Their intent is to dominate the world. It's not to fairly compete with anybody; it is to dominate the world. They use the policy of transnational coercion. They love to get into these transactional relationships with folks, and then they use that to coerce somebody if the relationship doesn't turn out in their favor, and they're very, very good at that."
Wittman has been a member of the U.S. House since 2007 representing Virginia's 1st Congressional District and is currently running for re-election. After earning a bachelor's degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1981, Wittman went on to eventually earn a Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002. He has held various political offices including serving as mayor of Montross, Virginia and as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates among others according to Ballotpedia.
