On Friday, May 3, during the change of command ceremony held in Hawaii by the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), the new commander Admiral Samuel Paparo stated that the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) activities in the Indo-Pacific region are “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive.”
According to a report by Nikkei News, Admiral Paparo mentioned that the CCP’s actions in the region have exceeded the so-called “gray zone.”
Referencing the Philippines Armed Forces Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner, Paparo quoted, “My friend General Brawner renamed the ‘gray zone’ as the ‘illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive’ zone.”
The INDOPACOM transition ceremony saw Admiral Paparo officially taking over command from former commander John Aquilino amidst the strategic importance of this handover.
The Indo-Pacific Command led by Admiral Paparo is the largest of the six U.S. combatant commands, covering an area ranging from Hawaii to India and serving as the primary command responsible for deterring the CCP.
“INDOPACOM, in collaboration with our partners, is dedicated to countering attempts to disrupt the international rules-based order,” stated Admiral Paparo. “We will work together to uphold the free and open Indo-Pacific region.”
Admiral Paparo issued a warning, stating, “We will strive to peacefully resolve any crisis or conflict, but we are prepared to combat any threat to the peace, security, stability, and well-being of our nation, allies, and partners.”
Similar to former commander Aquilino, Admiral Paparo is a graduate of the United States Navy’s “Top Gun” fighter weapons school.
Having served in the Navy for 37 years, Admiral Paparo also has experience in other branches of the military, including flying F-15C fighter jets for the Air Force in Saudi Arabia and Iceland. He was also a member of the Army’s Afghanistan Reconstruction Team.