WASHINGTON –U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, led his colleagues in a hearing examining the nomination of Admiral Samuel Paparo to be the next commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

In his opening remarks, Wicker noted the expansion of Chinese military power and its implications for Admiral Paparo as he prepares to potentially assume command.

“Senior defense leaders have stated before this committee that the United States is facing the most dangerous national security environment since World War II. Nowhere is that fact more evident than in the INDOPACOM theater…The Pentagon’s most pressing task remains deterring conflict in the Indo-Pacific. Failure to prevent aggression there would have enormous consequences,” Senator Wicker said. “Trillions of dollars would be wiped away. The loss of life would be enormous.”

Wicker also discussed the kinds of actions that need to be taken to improve U.S. deterrence posture in the Pacific in the near future.

“There is much more that can we can and should do. The Pacific Deterrence Initiative has failed to transition into a real tool of budgetary change at the Pentagon. We have made minimal progress in bolstering deterrence in the Western Pacific. The United States must also improve our munitions procurement and production…We have also barely begun building contested logistics plans,” Senator Wicker said.

“Congress can help deter war in the Pacific. But our window to do so is rapidly closing. We need to build on last year’s work with this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.”

Read the Senator’s opening statement as delivered below. Watch it here.

Let me first of all say, though, that this is a special day in the life in one of our committee members. Senator Sullivan will be retiring from the Marine Corps this afternoon. He will certainly not be retiring from the Senate, or this committee, but I want to mention that to our fellow members of the committee and congratulate Senator Sullivan on his service to the United States.

And Admiral, I want to thank you for your service. You are clearly carrying on a proud tradition. Your grandfather served as an enlisted sailor during World War II. Your father served as an enlisted Marine. I speak for everyone when I say I am grateful for that legacy of service.

I am confident that you are exceptionally qualified to lead our forces in the Pacific. We need another great leader to take the baton from Admiral Aquilino for this important command.

Senior defense leaders have stated before this committee that the United States is facing the most dangerous national security environment since World War II. Nowhere is that fact more evident than in the INDOPACOM theater.

Beijing has conducted the largest and most rapid military buildup in modern history, surpassing our own military in many categories.

The Pentagon’s most pressing task remains deterring conflict in the Indo-Pacific. Failure to prevent aggression there would have enormous consequences. Trillions of dollars would be wiped away. The loss of life would be enormous.

Admiral, if confirmed, you would take command at a time of great challenge. And you would be a crucial part of our ability to overcome these difficulties. You will be part of history, sir.

For example, look at the South China Sea, where Beijing wants total control. China continues to undermine the Philippines’ legitimate maritime claims at Second Thomas Shoal, firing water cannons and lasers at Filipino vessels.

China is also destabilizing the Korean Peninsula. By refusing to enforce sanctions or apply any pressure to the Kim regime, China is actively encouraging an arms race between North and South Korea. The United States must be prepared to meet that challenge through resolute support for our allies, South Korea and Japan.

This will require our uniformed leaders to provide honest and realistic assessments of the relevant threats and enemy capabilities. Congress has required the Commander of INDOPACOM to provide an independent assessment of the resources necessary to meet the challenge. If confirmed, I trust you would continue to be open and direct about what you need.

There is much more that can we can and should do. The Pacific Deterrence Initiative has failed to transition into a real tool of budgetary change at the Pentagon. We have made minimal progress in bolstering deterrence in the Western Pacific.

The United States must also improve our munitions procurement and production. Deterring conflict will require the defense industrial base and the Pentagon to build the right systems, in sufficient quantity, at the speed of relevance.

We need an operational Joint Task Force, but so far that wish – that directive, in fact – remains unfulfilled. The enabling infrastructure is not expanding at the pace necessary to support distributed military operations in the near future.

We have also barely begun building contested logistics plans. This will include taking a hard-nosed look at what we need in order to maximize our operational capacity on the strategically-vital Guam, and on other islands in the first and second island chains that would be essential in a contested logistics scenario.

The U.S. alliance structure needs further modernization and should include command-and-control and joint planning operations. We cannot wait for conflict to begin to make these updates.

Congress can help deter war in the Pacific. But our window to do so is rapidly closing. We need to build on last year’s work with this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.

Admiral Paparo, I think you are exceptionally qualified, and I look forward to hearing your testimony.