China military’s inroads make US defence of Guam ‘top priority’ in Pacific, top Pentagon officials say

The growing sophistication and range of Chinese missile technology further from its shores has made the defence of Guam a top priority for the US Navy in the Pacific as Beijing becomes increasingly aggressive in the waters around Taiwan and the South China Sea, top Pentagon officials told Congress on Wednesday.

The call for more funding, speed and capability comes as the People’s Republic of China invests in air-to-air missiles able to strike far beyond visual range as well as in conventionally armed intercontinental missiles and an increased number of nuclear warheads as part of the People’s Liberation Army’s burgeoning capabilities.