US Eyes China Competition in Indo-Pacific With Budget Boost for Pentagon
- Indo-Pacom seeks billions more to expand military presence
- US plans to sell Australia several Virginia-class submarines
A fighter jet is surrounded by steam on the deck of the USS Johh C. Stennis in waters near Hawaii.
Photographer: Marco Garcia/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The Biden administration’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 asks for billions more dollars to boost its Indo-Pacific military command, enhance missile defense and strengthen regional economies, as part of a broader push to counter China’s more assertive role in the region.
The White House is proposing $9.1 billion for Pentagon investments in the Indo-Pacific region as part of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, up from a $6.1 billion request for the current year. In the end, Congress appropriated $11.5 billion for 2023, suggesting that the initiative will get more than it asked for this time too.