NEW YORK -- Washington is urging its allies to increase military spending to at least 2% of their gross domestic product to counter China, putting pressure on Japan to take a more assertive military role in the region.
"To our allies and partners around the world ... we urge you to increase your defense spending to at least 2% of GDP, and to make the needed investments to improve your capabilities and capacity, just as we are doing with our armed forces," to achieve their shared goals, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday at a Rand Corp. event.
