The Pentagon said the Defense Department is seriously considering how to provide the necessary funding for the Pacific Deterrent Program to address the growing military threat from China.
In a report submitted to Congress in early March, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command proposed increasing funding for the Pacific Deterrent Program from $2.2 billion in fiscal year 2021 to $4.6 billion in fiscal year 2022, and plans to spend $27.3 billion on the program over the next five years. Indo-Pacific Command plans to use the funding to acquire new missile defense systems, deploy radar stations and new communications satellites, and build new training bases in the Indo-Pacific region.
In the final year of the Trump administration, Congress launched the new Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) when it passed the National Defense Authorization Act. In a summary of the bill, the Senate Armed Services Committee said, “‘The Pacific Deterrence Initiative’ will send a strong signal to China and any potential adversaries, as well as to our allies and partners, that the United States is deeply committed to defending our interests in that region.”
At a press conference on Tuesday (March 9, 2021), Defense Department spokesman Kirby was asked how the Pentagon views the proposal sent to Congress by Indo-Pacific Command. He said, “The Department of Defense is planning for the Pacific Deterrence Program for fiscal year 2022 and will be integrated into the overall Department of Defense budget process to fund related major arms investments to maintain a credible deterrent in the Indo-Pacific so that we can reassure our allies and partners while reducing operational risk.”
Admiral Philip Davidson, commander of Indo-Pacific Command, testified before Congress that day that “the greatest danger facing the United States and our allies in the region is the erosion of conventional deterrence against the People’s Republic of China. Without a compelling deterrent, China will be emboldened to continue to act in place of the established rules-based international order and the values embodied in our vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”
Admiral Davidson explained to Congress that the U.S. needs to establish a precision-strike combat network that can withstand enemy attacks scattered throughout the first island chain in the Western Pacific, deploy a ground-based SHIELD missile defense system in Guam, deploy a tactical multifunction radar in the Pacific island nation of Palau, and establish multiple operational domain training bases throughout the region so U.S. and allied forces can train together and fight together.
Defense watchers say the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and some members of Congress are concerned that when the overall defense budget is tight, the
Pacific deterrence program may not be fully implemented because it is not adequately funded. For his part, Kirby said Defense Secretary Austin understands the importance of the Indo-Pacific region and the importance of ensuring the Defense Department is prepared to meet the Chinese challenge.
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