US military asks for US$20 billion to counter Beijing’s influence in the Indo-Pacific

The application’s sweeping budgetary priorities include more air missile units, new radar warning systems and expanded training exercises

The request calls for nearly US$1.7 billion to support a 360-degree air missile defence system in Guam

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US military officials have requested an additional US$20 billion in funding from legislators to counter China’s military presence in the Indo-Pacific region. Photo: AP

Published: 5:51am, 7 Apr 2020Updated: 2:16pm, 7 Apr 2020

United States military officials have requested an additional US$20 billion in funding from legislators to fortify the country’s naval, airborne and ground-based operations in the Indo-Pacific region, a sign of Washington’s intensifying efforts to counter Beijing’s military presence in the area.

The request by the Pentagon’s Indo-Pacific Command for funding, which would last through financial year 2026, was delivered to Congress last week.

“Without a valid and convincing conventional deterrent, China and Russia will be emboldened to take action in the region to supplant US interests,” read an executive summary of the request obtained by Breaking Defence, a military news outlet that first reported the move.

The request’s sweeping budgetary priorities include more air missile units, new radar warning systems, expanded training exercises and initiatives to strengthen the military capabilities of US allies. Under the proposal, some US$1.6 billion would be released for financial year 2021, with a further US$18.5 billion earmarked for financial years 2022-26.

The spending plan, titled “Regain the Advantage”, calls for almost US$1.7 billion to fund a 360-degree air missile defence system in Guam, a US territory in the western Pacific Ocean.