that it looks a lot like rehearsing.” But, he added
that the U.S. doesn’t want a conflict with China,
so it’s important for the nations’ militaries to
communicate more and be transparent.
Austin arrived in California after a visit to South
Korea, his third trip to the Indo-Pacific region since
taking over as defense chief earlier this year.
He told the defense forum that private companies
struggle to get through Pentagon red tape
when developing new technologies, and the
department has to make it easier to break through
the barriers. He said the Pentagon needs to get
advances in unmanned systems, nanotechnology
and artificial intelligence into the hands of U.S.
forces more quickly.
Austin said the U.S. must also strengthen its
network of allies and partners in the Pacific region.
“We’re not seeking an Asian version of NATO or
trying to build an anti-China coalition. And we’re
not asking countries to choose between the
United States and China,” Austin said. “Instead,
we’re working to advance an international system
that is free and stable and open.”
The Pentagon just released its new global posture
review, which made no immediate major changes
in the global positioning of U.S. forces, but it
did include plans to improve infrastructure in
some parts of the Pacific, including Guam and
Australia. In September the U.S. announced a new
partnership with Australia and Britain to deepen
security, diplomatic and defense cooperation
in the Asia-Pacific region. As part of that AUKUS
partnership, Australia is to acquire nuclear-
powered submarines, and the U.S. is to increase
rotational force deployments to Australia.