WASHINGTON: The top US commander in the Pacific warned senators Thursday that the military support China and North Korea are giving Russia in its war on Ukraine is creating a security risk in his region as Moscow provides critical military assistance to both in return.
Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of US Indo-Pacific Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that China has provided 70 percent of the machine tools and 90 percent of the legacy chips to Russia to help Moscow “rebuild its war machine.”
In exchange, he said, China is potentially getting help in technologies to make its submarines move more quietly, along with other assistance.
Senators pressed Paparo and Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of US Forces Korea, on China’s advances in the region, including threats to Taiwan. And they also questioned both on the US military presence in South Korea, and whether it should be shielded from personnel cuts..
Both said the current US force there and across the Indo-Pacific is critical for both diplomacy in the region and America’s national security, as ties between Russia and China grow. The US has 28,500 forces in South Korea.
Paparo said North Korea is sending “thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of artillery shells” and hundreds of short-range missiles to Russia. The expectation, he said, is that Pyongyang will get air defense and surface-to-air missile support.
“It’s a transactional symbiosis where each state fulfills the other state’s weakness to mutual benefit of each state,” Paparo said.
In his opening comments, Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican committee chairman, said the greater alignment of Russia, China and North Korea “should be of great concern to all in the West. This concern should then lead to action. If we are to maintain global peace and stability, we must continue taking steps now to rebuild our military and reestablish deterrence.”
Brunson said North Korea has shown the ability to send munitions and troops to Russia while advancing development of its own military capabilities, including hypersonics. Pyongyang, he said, “boasts a Russian-equipped, augmented, modernized military force of over 1.3 million personnel.”
North Korea’s efforts to develop advanced nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles ”pose a direct threat to our homeland and our allies,” Paparo added.
North Korea also has sent thousands of soldiers to fight with the Russians against Ukraine. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that Russia is actively recruiting Chinese citizens to fight alongside its forces in the Ukraine war. He said more than 150 such mercenaries are already active in the battle with Beijing’s knowledge.
China has called the accusation “irresponsible.”
In other comments, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the panel, said observers fear that President Donald Trump will “shrink the US troop presence in Korea and Japan, reduce our military exercises with both nations, and scale back plans for our Joint Force Headquarters in Japan.” Any such actions, he said, will sow “seeds of doubt” about America’s stability and trustworthiness.
He also questioned whether recent moves by the Pentagon to shift an aircraft carrier and Patriot missile battalion from the Pacific region to the Middle East have hurt military readiness in the Indo-Pacific command.
Paparo said he owes the defense chief and the president “constant vigilance” on that matter, including a persistent awareness on whether those forces could get back to the Pacific if there is suddenly a “higher priority threat” in his region.

JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Orubah 2-0 on Thursday to move eight points clear of Al-Hilal at the top of the Saudi Pro League.

A goal at the end of each half means that the Jeddah giants recorded just their second win in five league games to put the pressure back on the defending champions Hilal, in action against Ettifaq on Friday.

It was a regulation –and very deserved –victory for the Jeddah giants who may not have been at their fluent best but were still too strong for the visitors, struggling just above the relegation zone.

After a bright start from the Tigers, Karim Benzema came close to having the ball in the net after 14 minutes but, regardless, the effort from the former Real Madrid megastar was ruled out for offside.

The opening goal came in the seventh minute of first half added time. Fabinho found Unai Hernandez with a short pass but the Spaniard was still a long way from goal. The former Barcelona player then took a touch and then fired a shot into the top corner to record his first strike since joining the club in January.

For Al-Orubah, Omar Al-Somah was a constant threat. The former Al-Ahli striker was unable to find the target, however, despite looking dangerous.

There were other concerns from the hosts however, as Benzema was withdrawn six minutes from the end after seeming to pick up an injury.

Whatever happens with the French forward, coach Laurent Blanc was able to relax, along with the home fans in Jeddah, two minutes from the end of regulation time thanks to Abdulrahman Al-Oboud.

The 29 year-old collected the ball from Moussa Diaby on the edge of the area and while his first-time shot was saved by Gaetan Coucke, the Belgian goalkeeper could not get up quickly enough to stop Al-Oboud from slotting home the rebound.  It meant that the contest was over.

There were still chances for Al-Ittihad to extend their lead but in the end, all were content with a win and the chance to see how Al-Hilal perform in their next game.