Threats
The Pentagon Can’t Spend China Into Submission, But Alliances Can Deter It, House Dems Say
The second hearing in as many days for the INDOPACOM commander turns toward alliance-building.
By Elizabeth Howe
Assistant Editor, Defense One
March 10, 2021
It’s a pipe dream to think the U.S. military will ultimately cow China, but a network of alliances might do the job, Democratic lawmakers said Wednesday.
“The idea that we can build a military large enough and strong enough to dominate China in the modern world is not realistic and is fraught with danger,†said Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash. “So I hope we can better understand how to make proper investments.â€
Smith spoke during a hearing in which Adm. Philip Davidson, who leads U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, appeared before Congress for the second time this week to discuss such investments. While Tuesday’s hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee featured questions about how and to what degree the U.S. should invest in its nuclear and naval capabilities against China, Wednesday’s hearing before the HASC turned to the question of investing in partnership-building in the region.
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/03/pentagon-cant-spend-china-submission-alliances-can-deter-it-house-dems-say/172595/
