Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley speaks at a Senate Armed Services budget hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Top U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley called China’s increased military spending “very serious.” During the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Milley, said it is vitally important the U.S. retain its competitive and technological edge over China. Milley noted that the combined total defense spending by China and Russia is currently greater than that of the U.S.
Philip Davidson, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, argued similar ideas stating, “the military balance in the Indo-Pacific is becoming more unfavorable for the U.S. and our allies.”
Chinese soldiers march outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, before the introduction of the Communist Party of China’s Politburo Standing Committee. (GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)
He also said, “our deterrence posture in the Indo-Pacific must demonstrate the capability, the capacity and the will to convince Beijing unequivocally the costs of achieving their objectives by the use of military force are simply too high.”
Milley added, in order for the U.S. to retain dominance globally, sufficient military spending is necessary. Milley said China and Russia are not the only potential threats to America, also arguing the Middle East is still a major concern.
Source: One America News Network
