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Admiral Phil Davidson to become new head of US Pacific Command as China flexes naval muscle

Davidson will take over from Admiral Harry Harris, who is moving on to become US ambassador to Australia

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Admiral Phil Davidson (seen in December 2014) is to take over control of US Pacific Command, it emerged on Wednesday. Photo: US Navy
Zhenhua Luin Hong KongandJames Wilkinsonin New York

US Defence Secretary James Mattis has nominated a US Navy four-star admiral specialising in anti-submarine and electronic warfare to be the new US commander in the Pacific, a move that could be seen as countering the rising Chinese naval force.

Admiral Phil Davidson will be assigned to head the US Pacific Command in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The admiral’s new role was announced by the US Department of Defence on Wednesday, and sees him taking over from Admiral Harry Harris, who was last week nominated to become the US ambassador to Australia.

Davidson will be responsible for overseeing the Asia region, and his nomination came as China was holding its largest naval drill in history .

China’s navy on Wednesday warned other ships that it would hold drills until Friday in the region south of Sanya city in southwest China’s Hainan province.

US sailors stand on the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt while an FA-18 hornet fighter jet takes off on Tuesday. The ship was transiting through the South China sea on its way to the Philippines. Photo: AFP
US sailors stand on the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt while an FA-18 hornet fighter jet takes off on Tuesday. The ship was transiting through the South China sea on its way to the Philippines. Photo: AFP
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