US lawmakers support increased military spending for Asia-Pacific

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has backed a proposal to allocate $7.5 billion in the 2018-2022 defense budget for US and allied forces in the Asia-Pacific, a region where tensions are rising over China's territorial ambitions and its military buildup.

A US warship. (Source: Reuters)

According to Reuters, eight senators and five congressmen from both parties sent a letter to US Defense Secretary James Mattis expressing support for the Asia-Pacific Stability Initiative (ASPI) proposed by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, Senator John McCain, under which the US would spend $1.5 billion each year over the five years to 2022 to strengthen US weapons stockpiles in the region, build new military infrastructure such as airports, and help allies and partners improve their defense capabilities. The signatories to the letter include members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees.

The letter from the congressmen stated that the Asia-Pacific region holds many benefits for US foreign policy, requiring the US Government to continue to prioritize time, energy and resources for this region. According to the congressmen, former President Barack Obama's priority policy for Asia-Pacific was "correct" and its continuation under President Donald Trump is "extremely important".

The letter also expressed concern about the “disruption of the military and economic balance” caused by two decades of Chinese military modernization, combined with the impact of years of US military and diplomatic “retreat.”

The letter from the lawmakers also expressed concerns about Russia's actions in the region, as well as North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. "ASPI will demonstrate to both allies and adversaries that the United States remains committed to ensuring peace and security in a region that is home to the world's three largest economies, four most populous countries, six largest militaries, and five of the United States' seven bilateral defense agreements," the letter said.

According to Vietnamplus