Democratic and Republican lawmakers will next week introduce legislation to spur the White House to funnel more money to the Indo-Pacific region to help counter China.
Ami Bera, the Democratic chair of the House foreign affairs Asia subcommittee, and Steve Chabot, the top Republican on the panel, hope their “Indo-Pacific Engagement Act” will narrow the gap between the rhetoric about Asia being the priority region and funding levels.
President Joe Biden came to office pledging that he would focus his foreign policy on China. But some experts worry that the US is still not matching its words with resources — a concern over multiple administrations that has been amplified this year as the US has given Ukraine billions of dollars.