미, 2조4천억 들여 '태평양억지구상'…대중국 견제 세진다

The U.S. Congress has decided to inject billions of dollars into a Pacific Deterrence Initiative, in an apparent show of strength against China.
Meanwhile, Japan is set to hold joint military drills with the U.S. and France for the first time next year,... as Chinese military steps up activity in the region.
Choi Min-jung reports.
Under the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act,… U.S. House and Senate lawmakers have agreed to tee up 2-point-2 billion US dollars in an effort to initiate a Pacific Deterrence Initiative.
The Washington Post on Sunday said the new program is a move to strengthen military capability in the Indo-Pacific region,… mainly against growing Chinese military power.
According to a House official on Thursday, the aim of the program is to maintain an edge over China by "modernizing and strengthening U.S. posture and capability in the Indo-Pacific region".
Lawmakers also said the new initiative will increase the number of U.S. troops as well as weapons in the region, and strengthen ties with Western Pacific allies.
As the partial funding of 2-point-2 billion dollars is allocated for the fiscal year 2021, watchers say the success of the initiative would heavily rely on President-elect Joe Biden and his incoming administration.
Meanwhile, Japan, France and the U.S. have also joined efforts to counter China.
According to Sankei newspaper on Sunday, the three nations are set to hold their first joint military drills on land and sea.
The drills are a show of force against China,… which claims ownership of disputed Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea.
The joint forces will also focus on defense against any potential attack.
The military exercise is set to take place in an area surrounding an uninhabited island in Japan in May 2021.
Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.