New strategy cites ‘growing threats’ posed by China and Russia; Pentagon chief to visit Vietnam, Indonesia
On Friday, ahead of his trip this weekend to Asia, U. S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis unveiled a major shift in U. S. defense priorities.
« We will continue to prosecute the campaign against terrorists that we’re engaged in today, but great power competition, not terrorism, is now the primary focus of U. S. national security, » Mattis said during a speech in Washington.
The U. S. defense chief was rolling out the Trump administration’s National Defense Strategy (NDS), a report that specifically cites « growing threats » posed by China and Russia.
The NDS noted China is using « predatory economics » to intimidate its neighbors, while « militarizing features in the South China Sea. »
Mattis’ trip will take him to Indonesia and Vietnam, two countries that have taken a bolder stance – including modernizing their militaries – to push back on China’s disputed territorial claims in the sea.
