Adm. Harry Harris is slated to become the next U.S. ambassador to South Korea. In a ceremony held Wednesday at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Adm. Harris turned over the reins of the U.S. Pacific Command to Adm. Phil Davidson. During the ceremony, Harris said that North Korea remains the most imminent threat to peace in the Pacific but China’s “dream of hegemony” is Washington’s biggest long-term challenge.
“North Korea remains our most imminent threat and a nuclear-capable North Korea with missiles that can reach the United States is unacceptable,” he said. “. . . [But] China remains our biggest long-term challenge. Without focused involvement and engagement by the United States and our allies and partners China will realize its dream of hegemony in Asia.”
