U.S. defense bill triples Indo-Pacific fund and heads to Biden's desk

Congress authorizes more ships, aiming to meet China challenge

An attack submarine moors at the U.S. naval base in Guam. The defense bill calls for building an advanced missile defense system on the island. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense)

RYO NAKAMURA, Nikkei staff writer

December 17, 2021 04:05 JST

WASHINGTON -- Congress wants the U.S. military to further strengthen its posture in the Indo-Pacific region to fend off Chinese aggression. That was the message sent when the Senate passed the annual defense spending bill Wednesday, taking a more hawkish stance than the White House's budget request from May.

The bigger spending bill allows the Pentagon to build more ships and retire fewer. A fund specifically aimed at the Indo-Pacific was tripled from the year before.