For military spending to counter China, PDI tells only a small part of the story
Lawmakers and taxpayers should know PDI is not reflective of the defense investment to counter the pacing challenge of China, AEI's Elaine McCusker writes.
By ELAINE MCCUSKER
on April 21, 2022 at 9:04 AM
In recent years the Pentagon marked out a pot of money, known as the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, to highlight key projects needed to counter China in the region. But in the op-ed below, AEI’s Elaine McCusker argues that at best the PDI represents an incomplete picture of China-related spending, and warns that it could mislead lawmakers and the public.
As the Defense Department prepares to release its detailed fiscal year 2023 budget justifications, including additional program descriptions for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI), policymakers will want to know what is included to stand up to the China threat and, most importantly, is it enough? The short answer: The defense investment to counter China is much broader than PDI, an incomplete metric at best.
No one doubts the importance of deterrence and military capability to counter China. It is necessary to posture aggressively in the Pacific and for lawmakers and taxpayers to hold the Defense Department accountable for doing so. And while oversight tools are important for the direction and accountability they instill, PDI falls short of its intent and misleads policymakers and U.S. partners about America’s overall investment [PDF] in Pacific deterrence, and in what is being done to confront China as the key strategic competitor and pacing challenge.
To fully identify gaps or inform needed discussions and decisions regarding the China challenge, PDI should be abandoned for a fuller and deeper assessment of Defense investments including plans for future programs.
https://breakingdefense.com/2022/04/for-military-spending-to-counter-china-pdi-tells-only-a-small-part-of-the-story/
