Mike Pompeo Indo-Pacific Strategy: US To Spend $113M In Asia

[appalachiablue]

Source: BBC News

45 mins. ago.

The US is set to spend $113m on digital economy, energy and infrastructure in Asia, a move seen as an attempt to counter China's growing influence. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the pledge while outlining the "Indo-Pacific" economic strategy in a speech to business leaders in Washington.

He said the US believed in "strategic partnerships not strategic dependency". The announcement comes at a time when the US and China are butting heads in a tit-for-tat trade war.

The Trump administration strategy to build influence with a regional grouping identified as the "Indo-Pacific", which includes the US west coast, South East Asian nations and India, is seen as a response to China's Belt and Road initiative.

That has seen Beijing sink billions into the rebuilding of ports, roads and railways across Asia as part of China's effort to increase its political and strategic influence in Asia and beyond...more...

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45015403

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Mr Pompeo made pointed reference to this in his speech to the US Chamber of Commerce "The United States of America does not invest for political influence, but rather practices partnership economics," he said.
"These funds represent just a down payment on a new era in US economic commitment to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region."



*WATCH, Why Trump Keeps Saying Indo-Pacific. Nov. 9, 2017. As US President Donald Trump continues his five-nation tour of Asia, one term crops up over and over again. "Indo-Pacific region" is being used to define America's new geopolitical view of Asia. The BBC's Mat Morrison and Simon Atkinson take a look.
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-41912990/why-trump-keeps-saying-indo-pacific

[msongs]

1. big deal, comrade russian asset trump is spending $70 mil on a crummy parade nt

[olegramps]

8. Pompeo is a racist fat slob. He called Obama a muslim and a communist.

Just another war monger graduate from the war academy educated on you dime. Worthless bastard.

[IcyPeas]

2. isn't trump all about America First? /nt

[Midnight Writer]

3. China is also kicking our ass by investing in Africa and the Middle East. Y'know, instead of bombing

We should be using our money to invest instead of using our military to conquer.

[Red Mountain]

4. We're going to borrow $113 million from the Chinese

and then blow it on doodads over there somewhere.

113 is an oddly specific number for a gang that has no idea what they're doing. Wonder if that's why they chose it? To seem competent?

[sandensea]

5. Some pork barrel contractor probably asked for just that much.

And probably paid Bumbeo a juicy bribe to get it, too.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Meanwhile China is putting $40 billion in

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road_Fund $40 billion begun in 2014

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belt_and_Road_Initiative

[Cold War Spook]

7. I don't know what exactly he wants to do,

but $113m doesn't do much today except bribes.