U.S. nominee highlights role of unmanned systems in deterring cross-strait conflicts

Washington, March 27 (CNA) Troy Meink, nominated by U.S. President Donald Trump to serve as secretary of the Air Force, on Thursday emphasized the importance of unmanned systems in deterring conflicts across the Taiwan Strait.

During his Senate Armed Services Committee nomination hearing, Meink described the Taiwan Strait as a highly contested and sensitive region, warning that the potential for Chinese military action against Taiwan remains a serious threat to regional and global stability.

"Unmanned systems play a critical role in deterring conflict in the region," Meink said.

"But the systems' effectiveness depends on addressing the challenges and limitations associated with their use," he added.

Meink, currently serving as deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office, proposed a comprehensive strategy for the United States, including the development of advanced unmanned systems, enhanced command and control, improved cybersecurity and resilience, and integration of unmanned systems with other warfighting capabilities to fully leverage their potential.

Meink said that threats from the Chinese People's Liberation Army Rocket Force to U.S. Air Force (USAF) personnel and facilities are increasing, driven by the growing number, variety, range and sophistication of missiles China produces each year.

The nominee said although the USAF has made progress in addressing the Chinese missile threat, there is more to be done.

Meink said that he believes China poses the largest military threat to the U.S. and its allies in the Indo-Pacific, as Beijing has spent the past two decades studying Washington, which focused primarily on countering violent extremism during the same period.

China has "used that time to modernize and attempt to catch up in terms of both capability and capacity, Meink said. "Their aggressive behavior in places like the South China Sea conspicuously demonstrates a willingness to use military 'hard' power to achieve their national security objectives."

Meink expressed that his top concern is the timeline of China's military development, adding that if the U.S. cannot shorten its development timelines, Beijing will likely continue closing the gap with Washington.

The Washington Times reported on Thursday that if a war breaks out across the Taiwan Strait, the U.S. outpost of Guam would likely become a major target of Chinese missiles.

When asked about Guam's role in a potential conflict with China, Meink said that Guam is a critical location, enabling the projection and sustainment of airpower from the frontlines of the Indo-Pacific to bolster the USAF's posture west of the International Date Line.

"My understanding is that significant infrastructure improvements have already been made at Andersen, but further enhancements including ongoing upgrades to its airfields, increasing support facilities, and expanding fuel and munitions storage capacity are vital to ensure robust resiliency and operational continuity in contested environments," Meink said.

According to Defense News, Meink, who joined the U.S. Air Force in 1988, is a Defense Department insider with well-established acquisition and technology development experience.