The biennial RIMPAC exercise recently concluded and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Hawaii to observe some of the exercises, visit with Navy leadership, and spend time with our service members.
The statistics are clear: $5 trillion dollars in commerce passes through the South China Sea each year, and the Pacific is now home to over half of the world's population. These quantitative examples fall right in line with the qualitative stories I have heard time and time again. Suffice it to say, the Pacific is critical to economic and military stability.
My RIMPAC trip was quite timely, as the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague had just ruled against China and their aggressive actions in the South China Sea. While this particular case was brought by the Philippines, it could have been brought by a range of countries including Japan, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, or Indonesia. The decision will apply to each country's claims as well.
China will have to choose between accommodation and escalation. As they make that decision, the United States must stand ready to defend our allies in the region and insist that international law is followed. This decision made the RIMPAC exercise all the more important given the increased need for cooperation between the United States and our allies.
During the trip, I spent time aboard the USS Olympia, a Los Angeles-class submarine; the USS John C. Stennis, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier; and one of the Navy's newest vessels, the USS Coronado, a Littoral Combat Ship.
The Coronado certainly turned some heads at RIMPAC. Everyone from the chief of naval operations to the ship's commander to the individual sailors raved about the ship's performance and capabilities. I was particularly struck by the ship's speed and maneuverability. You can hear about it and read different reports, but there is nothing quite like being on such a large vessel that can reach speeds of around 40 knots.
A few days later, a harpoon missile successfully launched from the USS Coronado, adding yet another dimension to the capabilities of the U.S. Navy in the Pacific.
One country paying special attention to the Coronado was China. I was pleased the Chinese took part in RIMPAC, and it is encouraging to see them partnering with so many other Pacific nations. Through exercises like RIMPAC, I believe we can improve cooperation, build trust, and help deescalate conflicts in the future.
It is also important for the Chinese to see firsthand the strength of the U.S. Navy and our allies. The Chinese closely watched our vessels, especially the Littoral Combat Ship, and it is critical that they see how our assets are evolving to meet the needs of the Pacific region.
During the trip, we had the opportunity to meet with top military leaders, including the chief of naval operations, Adm. John Richardson, and the head of Pacific Command, Adm. Harry Harris. They are both paying close attention to the impact of the South China Sea decision, but they made clear RIMPAC was a huge success and very timely.
Whether visiting with a service member or talking with the Navy's top brass, everyone agreed the exercises were effective and that the Pacific remains critical to our economic and military success. The "Pacific Pivot" cannot be forgotten or ignored.
At the same time, we cannot keep moving vessels and defense capabilities out of other areas and bringing them to the Pacific. That is a dangerous precedent which only exposes other regions to higher risks. When there is a vacuum in a certain area, we have seen time and time again that bad actors fill the void.
Ultimately, RIMPAC just further verified my belief in the need for a 350 ship Navy that allows us to succeed in all our international missions, especially those in the Pacific. This will require tough choices by Congress, but it is critical because far too much is on the line.
Rep. Bradley Byrne is a Republican who represents Alabama's First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
