Admiral Sam Paparo, head of US Indo-Pacific Command, says expenditure of US air defences "imposes costs on the readiness" of America to respond to China.US has deployed to Israel a THAAD, or the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system, and about 100 US troops to operate it. / Photo: AP Archive
The admission by Admiral Sam Paparo on Tuesday could draw the attention of members of President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration, who are more sceptical of the war in Ukraine and who argue that President Joe Biden has failed to prepare for a potential conflict with China. Paparo said the expenditure of US air defences"imposes costs on the readiness" of the United States to respond in the Asia-Pacific, particularly given that China is the most capable adversary in the world.