
(RepublicanNews.org) – Relations between China and the United States have been tumultuous over the last several years. Former President Donald Trump took a no-nonsense “America First” approach to diplomacy with China’s Communist regime. Joe Biden has yet to clearly define his way of dealing with China, but the Pentagon head is speaking out in the absence of clear direction.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a Biden appointee, issued a directive on June 9 to realign America’s military services to strengthen competition with China. His directive doesn’t include specific details but does provide insight into his thinking.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a directive to speed up work to develop the military force to deter China and address Pentagon difficulties in carrying out a years-old strategy that called Beijing a principal threat https://t.co/xwDTstc4sD
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) June 9, 2021
What is clear is Austin’s aim to develop a defense force that enables the Pentagon to continue carrying out its long-standing strategy to stave off future threats from Beijing.
The Pentagon released a statement on the initiative, stating its specifics were “designed to focus on departmental processes and procedures” as part of a whole-of-government approach to addressing challenges associated with US-China relations.
The idea of increasing competition with China should put the US on alert to the potential gravity of the situation between the two nations, particularly because Austin’s directives were vague.
However, efforts to rein China in remain bipartisan, so that’s positive for the US. Considering America’s longstanding tension with Beijing, it’s important for US officials to pay attention to this latest move.
Copyright 2021, RepublicanNews.org