Defense Secretary Says Growing Military Readiness Can Deter China, Russia

From The Daily Signal.com (Oct. 15);

The readiness of the nation’s military has grown in the past few years, but only congressional support for annual increases in defense spending will ensure that trend continues, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Thursday in a speech at The Heritage Foundation.

“I would like to see 3 to 5% annual real growth in the Defense Department to stay ahead of the challenges we face, especially from China,” Esper said in remarks at the think tank’s virtual event focused on the topic of readiness.

Esper outlined what he called the challenges of implementing the Trump administration’s 2018 National Defense Strategy.

“Today, our strategic competitors China and Russia are attempting to erode our hard-earned gains as they undermine international rules and norms and use coercion against other nations for their own benefit,” he said.

The readiness of the nation’s military has grown in the past few years, but only congressional support for annual increases in defense spending will ensure that trend continues, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Thursday in a speech at The Heritage Foundation.

“I would like to see 3 to 5% annual real growth in the Defense Department to stay ahead of the challenges we face, especially from China,” Esper said in remarks at the think tank’s virtual event focused on the topic of readiness.

Esper outlined what he called the challenges of implementing the Trump administration’s 2018 National Defense Strategy.

“Today, our strategic competitors China and Russia are attempting to erode our hard-earned gains as they undermine international rules and norms and use coercion against other nations for their own benefit,” he said.

“The U.S. has maintained military superiority for so long that many take it for granted. But it’s far from guaranteed,” Heritage Foundation President Kay C. James said in introducing Esper at the think tank’s Capitol Hill headquarters.

“If we don’t continue to invest in replacing decades-old ships, planes, tanks, and other equipment, we’ll soon fall behind,” she said. “And then it may be too late to catch up.” [read more]