Republican China Hawks Want $12 Billion Added to Biden’s $105 Billion Request

Seven Republican members of the House’s China committee led by Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) sent a letter to congressional leaders on Sunday calling for an additional $12 billion to be added to President Biden’s behemoth $105 billion spending request. Biden’s request includes military aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and funding for border security.

“We write to you today to urge you to increase funding for the Indo-Pacific, our stated priority theater, above the levels set in the Biden Administration’s supplemental appropriations request to more appropriately address the urgency of the threat in the region,” the letter reads.

The lawmakers said they support arming Ukraine and Israel but want more focus on preparing for a future conflict with China. “Ensuring that Israel and Ukraine have the resources they need to defeat authoritarian aggression today is in our direct national security interests. Yet if we fail to provide the resources necessary to deter CCP aggression tomorrow, history will not forgive our inaction, nor will it spare us the consequences,” the letter states.