Washington Examiner: Pentagon chief Esper: China's economic power is 'what concerns me the most'
Defense Secretary Mark Esper accused China of using its economic power as political leverage with smaller nations.
The problem is particularly prevalent in the Asia-Pacific, Esper told the audience Wednesday at the Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber Conference in Maryland's Oxon Hill.
"I was just there a few weeks ago, and you talk to countries, they'll tell you behind closed doors, 'Look, if we do this, they've already threatened to limit this innovation or they won't provide us this loan or grant,'" Esper said.
"And so they are using that economic power as a strategic tool to coerce, influence others into a position of subordination, if you will, to what China wants, and that's a big challenge for us."
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WNU Editor: Defense Secretary Mark Esper's concerns are justified. If China did not have the economic clout that it has today, they would be a minor player on the international scene.
