China’s growing anti-access capabilities should be considered a “matter of urgency” and call into question some of the fundamental assumptions upon which the United States has based its defense planning for the Pacific region since World War II, said Thomas Mahnken, professor at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. The belief that “US bases in Guam, Japan, and elsewhere will be secure from attack is in question,” as is the view that “in a crisis, US information networks will remain secure,” he told House readiness overseers Thursday. The United States also can no longer rely on the fact that it “will enjoy an operational sanctuary in space,” states Mahnken’s written testimony. To address these issues, the United States should consider “developing a coalition intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance network in the Western Pacific,” hardening and diversifying its Pacific bases, and helping to bolster allied submarine forces, he wrote. (Mahnken prepared statement)
Concerned about how artificial intelligence might be used to generate target lists or operational plans, lawmakers want to expand limits on autonomous weapons to address mission planning and target selection. The House Armed Services Committee's version of the 2027 National Defense Authorization bill would direct the Pentagon to revise Defense…