WASHINGTON — United States military officials have outlined a spending request to bolster deterrence against China after the coronavirus pandemic ebbs, a sign of how national security leaders are already studying ways to shore up the country’s standing in the Asia-Pacific region once the outbreak ends. A report from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, delivered to Congress last week, calls for $20.1 billion in additional spending between 2021 and 2026. The efforts would help improve the U.S. military’s ability to deter the People’s Liberation Army. The request, which was first reported by Defense News, shows that many in the military believe tensions between the United States and China are likely to grow amid the pandemic. While Congress commissioned the report from the Indo-Pacific Command before the coronavirus plunged the world economy into chaos and heightened tensions between the United States and China, current and former national security officials said the spending request was more relevant now.

Source: International New York Times April 05, 2020 19:52 UTC