Editorial | America’s bloated military spending is at odds with reality
- If the US wants to compete with China, it would do better to invest in education, technology and infrastructure
- The Biden administration is especially worried about China’s technological prowess
A major reason is China. Considered a strategic competitor by the United States’ national security establishment, the perceived threat is seen as justification to substantially increase expenditure. With more warships, fighter planes and weapons destined for East Asia and the Pacific, the risks of confrontation and conflict are only going to grow.
The legislation, the national Defence Authorisation Act, covers the financial year that began on October 1. Spending was increased by lawmakers in almost every part of the military, including the allocation of extra funding to counter China’s armed forces expansion, procurement of advanced weaponry, aircraft and ships, and the defence of Ukraine, perceived as being threatened by Russia.
The bill was approved with wide bipartisan support in both houses of Congress. Lawmakers considered Biden’s original budget insufficient to counter China and boosted it by a further US$24 billion.
Biden’s administration is especially worried about China’s technological prowess. The original proposal of a 5 per cent increase in research and development was raised by US$5.7 billion to US$117.7 billion. American politicians believe the US is losing its global influence to China and that military force is an important way to stop proliferation. Hostile rhetoric and actions by Washington and countermeasures by Beijing have heightened tensions.