{"id":17718,"date":"2021-03-17T17:11:22","date_gmt":"2021-03-17T17:11:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smg.go-vip.net\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/03\/17\/mcconnell-challenges-biden-to-boost-defense-budget-against-china\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:39:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:39:49","slug":"mcconnell-challenges-biden-to-boost-defense-budget-against-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2021\/03\/17\/mcconnell-challenges-biden-to-boost-defense-budget-against-china\/","title":{"rendered":"McConnell challenges Biden to boost defense budget against China"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday challenged Democratic President Joe Biden to boost defense spending<\/a> to show he\u2019s serious about working with Republicans to confront China \u2015 a new salvo in a brewing battle over the federal budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The comments came as Biden\u2019s secretaries of state and defense traveled to Asia to criticize China\u2019s \u201ccoercion and aggression\u201d there, and as 50 House Democrats urged him to \u201csignificantly\u201d slash the $700 billion-plus Pentagon budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the administration is up to the task, they\u2019ll find strong partners in this Republican conference,\u201d McConnell, of Kentucky, said on the Senate floor. \u201cHere\u2019s one big test: Are they willing to keep investing in our own defense?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and other lead Democrats are crafting bipartisan legislation to confront China, which is likely to focus on the economic and diplomatic levers of America\u2019s national power. But McConnell signaled he wants to link Republican cooperation to his demand for increased defense spending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf any issue is ripe for a regular-order bipartisan process, it is this one,\u201d McConnell said. \u201cDefense spending is the crucial first step.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t