China Scores a Victory In the New Battle of the South Pacific
A murky defense pact between the Solomon Islands and Beijing shows how complacency threatens U.S. and Australian naval dominance.
Australia’s sinking efforts.
Source: Australian Department of Defense via Getty Images
My first command as a U.S. Navy captain was leading a squadron of warships in the western Pacific in the late 1990s. It included a flagship cruiser, the Valley Forge, a Spruance-class destroyer, two frigates (one Canadian) and three brand-new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers.
Destroyer Squadron 21 had been formed in 1943 and nicknamed “The Rampant Lions” (as commodore, I was jocularly called the “Lion King”). It had a strong combat record, and was honored with the motto “Solomons Onward,” recognizing the desperate fighting near Guadalcanal in the British protectorate of the Solomon Islands in World War II. I often reflected on the deep lineage of my command — grounded in the longtime relationship between the U.S. Navy and the islands of the southwestern Pacific.