Key facts
- Land power is considered indispensable in the Indo-Pacific region.
- US commanders are concerned about the limitations of relying solely on air and naval forces due to distance.
- A RAND report suggests focusing on essential functions and smaller units rather than large combat forces.
- Information resilience is identified as a critical requirement due to China's focus on US information vulnerabilities.
- The US Army is working to build partnerships and integrate capabilities with allied forces in the region.
Senior US commanders are emphasizing the crucial role of land-based troops and equipment in the Indo-Pacific for any potential conflict with China, countering the assumption that such a war would be primarily naval and aerial. General Ron Clark, commander of US Army Pacific, highlighted the "tyranny of distance" as a challenge for relying solely on air and naval forces during a panel discussion at the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting.
A report by the RAND Corporation explored how the US Army can effectively project and employ land power in the Indo-Pacific, focusing on scenarios involving China. The report suggests that enhanced ground force combat capacity is irrelevant without adequate infrastructure for logistical, surveillance, and communication networks. It recommends deploying essential functions and smaller units, rather than large combat forces, and emphasizes information resilience and the ability to integrate rapidly with partner militaries.