Donald Trump raises China concerns as reason to veto US$740 billion defence bill
- US president tweets that ‘biggest winner’ will be China and vows to block legislation
- The House and Senate have already passed the measure by margins large enough to override a potential Trump veto
US President Donald Trump offered a new rationale for threatening to veto the annual defence policy bill that covers the military’s budget for equipment and pay raises for service members: China. He did not outline his concerns.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers say the wide-ranging defence policy bill, which the Senate sent to the president on Friday, would be tough on China and must become law as soon as possible.
Both the House and Senate passed the measure by margins large enough to override a potential veto from the president, who has a history of failing to carry out actions he has threatened.
“The biggest winner of our new defense bill is China! I will veto!” Trump said in a new tweet.
The White House did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Trump’s specific concerns about China.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said the bill would help deter Chinese aggression. Other Republican backers of the measure, including Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranking Senate leader, and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, have tweeted that the bill would counter threats from countries such as China.