US defence strategy banks on strength – not confrontation – to deny China in Indo-Pacific
Pentagon says it will focus on the first island chain while urging partners to contribute more to the collective defence
The United States will use strength – not confrontation – to deter China in the Indo-Pacific, the Defence Department said, laying out its national strategy to protect the “homeland”.
The US would also push allies to spend more on their own defence, it said on Saturday in the 34-page document outlining the country’s security environment and approaches.
According to the strategy, the goal after protecting the “homeland and hemisphere” is to deter China “from being able to dominate us or our allies”.
“We will also urge and enable key regional allies and partners to do more for our collective defence. In doing so, we will reinforce deterrence by denial so that all nations recognise that their interests are best served through peace and restraint,” it said.