Asia Sentinel

Asia Sentinel

Defense/Security

Washington Rewrites the Navy for Great-Power Conflict

From Phelan to Cao

Apr 27, 2026
∙ Paid
By: Khanh Vu Duc

Naval power rarely changes course through headlines. It changes through personnel. The removal of US Navy Secretary John Phelan and the elevation of Hung Cao as Acting Secretary is one such signal, subtle in form, strategic in implication. In the language of great-power competition, this is not about administrative turnover. It is about …

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