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U.S. NEWS Friday 24 March 2023
Pentagon: Budget readies U.S. for possible China confrontation

By LOLITA C. BALDOR and ultimate goal there.
TARA COPP Milley said the intent is to
Associated Press make sure that Ukraine
WASHINGTON (AP) — The remains a free and inde-
U.S. military must be ready pendent country with its
for possible confrontation territory intact, maintain-
with China, the Pentagon’s ing global security and the
leaders said Thursday, world order that has exist-
pushing Congress to ap- ing since World War II.
prove the Defense Depart- “If that goes out the win-
ment’s proposed $842 bil- dow,” he said, “we’ll be
lion budget, which would doubling our defense bud-
modernize the force in Asia gets at that point, because
and around the world. that will introduce not an
“This is a strategy-driven era of great power com-
budget and one driven petition, that will begin an
by the seriousness of our era of great power conflict.
strategic competition with And that will be extraordi-
the People’s Republic of narily dangerous for the
China,” Defense Secretary whole world.”
Lloyd Austin said in testimo- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Mark Milley, right, accompanied by Secretary of Defense Lloyd The hearing was likely one
ny before the House Ap- Austin, speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Wednesday, March 15, 2023. of Milley’s last in front of
propriations subcommittee Associated Press Congress. His four-year
on defense. term as chairman — cap-
Pointing to increases in He added that the U.S. U.S. assistance to Ukraine, are over.” And they ques- ping a 43-year military ca-
new technology, such as had not yet seen China “the days of blank checks tioned the administration’s reer — ends in October. q
hypersonics, Austin said the provide arms to Russia, but
budget proposes to spend if it does, “it would prolong
more than $9 billion, a 40% the conflict and certainly
increase over last year, to broaden the conflict po-
build up military capabili- tentially not only in the re-
ties in the Pacific and de- gion but globally.”
fend allies. Milley, who will retire later
The testimony comes on this year, said the Defense
the heels of Chinese leader Department must continue
Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow, to modernize its forces to
which added to concerns ensure they will be ready
that China will step up its to fight if needed. “It is in-
support for Russian Presi- cumbent upon us to make
dent Vladimir Putin’s war sure we remain No. 1 at all
on Ukraine and increasing- times” to be able to deter
ly threaten the West. China, he said.
China’s actions, said Gen. Two decades of war in Iraq
Mark Milley, chairman of and Afghanistan eroded
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military’s equipment
“are moving it down the and troop readiness, so the
path toward confrontation U.S. has been working to
and potential conflict with replace weapons systems
its neighbors and possibly and give troops time to re-
the United States.” He said set. It’s paid off, Milley told
deterring and preparing Congress.
for war “is extraordinarily “Our operational readiness
expensive, but it’s not as rates are higher now than
expensive as fighting a they have been in many,
war. And this budget pre- many years,” Milley said.
vents war and prepares us More than 60% of the ac-
to fight it if necessary.” tive force is at the highest
Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., states of readiness right
pressed the defense lead- now and could deploy
ers on Xi’s meeting with to combat in less than 30
Putin and its impact on U.S. days, while 10% could de-
competition with China, ploy within 96 hours, he
which he called “the el- said. Milley cautioned that
ephant in the room.” The those gains would be lost
U.S., he said, is “at a crucial if Congress can’t pass a
moment here.” budget on time, because
The growing alliance be- it will immediately affect
tween China and Russia, training. Members of the
two nuclear powers, and panel, including Rep. Ma-
Xi’s overtures to Putin dur- rio Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., also
ing the Ukraine war are made it clear that while
“troubling,” Austin said. they support the ongoing