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Acting Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources
John Bass told reporters Washington's competition with Beijing
was "unusually broad and complex" and justified new forms of
funding.
"Our approach towards the generational challenge posed by the
PRC focuses on investing in our own domestic capabilities,
aligning our efforts with those of allies and partners and
competing with the PRC where interests and values differ," Bass
said, referring to the People's Republic of China.
Biden's budget proposal already faces stiff opposition from
Republican lawmakers, although party leaders generally support
efforts to counter China.
The budget proposal for 2024 includes $400 million for a fund to
"counter specific problematic PRC behaviors globally," according
to a State Department fact sheet.
The administration is requesting mandatory spending, in addition
to traditional discretionary funding, including $2 billion to
support infrastructure projects and $2 billion to strengthen
Indo-Pacific economies and support partners to push back against
China, Bass said.
The budget also includes funding to expand the U.S. presence in
the Pacific Islands, a region where Washington is competing with
growing Chinese influence, he said.
The amount of funding is likely to pale in comparison with
China's own largess overseas through the Belt and Road
infrastructure initiative, but officials say U.S. efforts are
focused on "high-quality" infrastructure projects and would
rally private sector investment.
"We are not looking to match China dollar for dollar, in part
because any number of Chinese investments... don't make a lot of
commercial sense," Bass said.
(Reporting by Simon Lewis, Rami Ayyub and Daphne Psaledakis;
Editing by David Gregorio)
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