By COLIN CLARK
CLARIFIED: What MG Harris Really Meant
CAPITOL HILL: The Air Force’s first operational squadron of F-35s will head to the Pacific, in addition to the European deployment recently departed Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James discussed in December.
The news came in the form of one sentence today in the written testimony today of Maj. Gen. Jerry Harris, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans, programs, and requirements before the House Armed Services air and land subcommittee: “Our first operational squadron is scheduled for additional deployments this calendar year to include a Theater Security Package Deployment to Pacific Command.”
CLARIFICATION BEGINS: At first and second read, this seems to say that the Air Force is sending its F-35As first to the Pacific. But an Air Force spokesman said the F-35As are still heading to Europe first, per James’ comments. The key phrase here is “to include.” The Pacific deployment will ALSO happen, but after the one to Europe. At least, that’s what I was told.
So this adds a deployment to China on top of the one to Europe. This shift from a European deployment to one in the Pacific is notable as then-Secretary James told reporters five days before Christmas that the F-35As would make their first overseas deployment to Europe this summer. because it appears to signal a strategic signal by the Trump Administration to China — and perhaps one to Russia — that the U.S. will up the ante in the South and East China Seas. CLARIFICATION ENDS
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