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$6.9 Billion US Military Initiative Would Benefit Taiwan, Vietnam

Ralph Jennings

   TAIPEI, TAIWAN - A $6.9 billion U.S. military initiative that's moving
   through the Senate would aid beleaguered Taiwan and Vietnam by
   thwarting major threats from their rival China, analysts say.

   Senators are working on the Pacific Deterrence Initiative with a budget
   of $1.4 billion in the initiative's first year for U.S. military
   activity in Asia and $5.5 billion in its second year. The bill is seen
   as an outgrowth of the [1]2018 Asia Reassurance Initiative Act and is
   expected to bolster U.S. naval forces in the Western Pacific.

   U.S. funding isn't allocated yet but would help Taiwan, analysts
   believe. China has flown military aircraft into the island's air
   defense zone five times since June 9. Or it could bolster Vietnam --
   China sent a survey ship earlier this year into the Southeast Asian
   country's exclusive economic zone.

   Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own and vies separately with
   Vietnam over sovereignty in western parts of the South China Sea. U.S.
   officials see China as a rival superpower and smaller Asian
   governments, including Taiwan and Vietnam, as allies in containing
   Chinese maritime expansion.

References

   1. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2736#:~:text=The%20bill%20authorizes%20to%20be,and%20the%20Department%20of%20Defense

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