“It is my view that China is trying to become the regional hegemon within perhaps 10-15 years. Part of that of course is putting the Philippines and other countries in the region at a disadvantage,” Milley said at a Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing.
“[Those countries] very much, with very few exceptions, want the US there,” Milley added, noting that there is “an under-reported arms race going on in the Western Pacific right now….that's why we're looking at a reposturing in the Western Pacific.”
Milley said the intention was to be “forward-deployed” to deter armed conflict with China and Chinese aggression.
He added that the initiative was urgent and critical, predicting that the next five years would determine the future US-China relationship.