This is John Batchel, conversation with colleague Bill Gertz of the Washington Times,

about the preparation for the Chinese attack on Taiwan, the Chinese attack on the Philippines,

the Chinese attack on Japan, the breakout the Chinese are planning somewhere in East Asia.

Bill spoke with the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel

Paparo. Bill observed that the Chinese are doing a lot of practicing, a lot of exercises,

getting ready. The commander response was very witty and on point. Here's Bill Gertz

commenting on Admiral Paparo and the expectation of a contest in the Pacific.

More of this later tonight.

Yes.

It's again, I recently was in Hawaii and I interviewed the commander of the Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Sam Paparo.

And his number one priority is developing fighting forces, ready forces,

to specifically deter China.

And of course, there are two main flashpoints.

One is Taiwan.

The other is now the South China Sea.

A third is Japan. The Chinese are conducting aggressive military activities, pushing the envelope and raising the stakes and considerably

raising the possibility that there could be a mishap or miscalculation that could set off a larger

war. He's fairly confident that the

Pacific forces, whether they are air, maritime naval submarine are capable of taking on

the Chinese. It would not be a pretty picture. It would not be an easy conflict. There would be no short, sharp war with the Chinese. It would not be a pretty picture. It would not be an easy conflict. There would be no

short, sharp war with the Chinese. It would be a bloody and very difficult conflict. But he told me

he's very confident that they have the ability. I mentioned to him that the Chinese have been

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