{
  "id": 15764460,
  "title": "China close to matching US spending on ‘new way of war’, Republican senator warns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/china-close-to-matching-us-spending-on-new-way-of-war-republican",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T16:12:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371555/china-close-matching-us-spending-new-way-war-republican-senator-warns"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Republican senator has warned that the United States is failing to properly prepare for military competition with China, stating that the nation is \"lulling itself into a false sense of security\" and should increase its defense spending. Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania senator and West Point graduate, made these comments at the Hudson Institute after visiting Japan and South Korea. While China's total defense budget is lower than the US', McCormick argued that China's spending on new warfare technologies is comparable. He cited drone production as an example, noting that Ukraine is manufacturing up to 10,000 drones daily compared to the US's 100,000 per year. McCormick stressed that cheap drones and autonomous systems are crucial battlefield technologies, and China currently dominates this market. He also highlighted the urgency of AI energy projects, noting that China completes permitting processes in less than six months, while the US takes five to six years. McCormick called for closer military cooperation with allies such as South Korea and Japan, who are leaders in robotics, batteries, and chips. He emphasized the need for joint national security objectives and standing together as one military force. McCormick also criticized the US trade relationship with China, advocating for the revocation of its permanent normal trade relations status. He warned that winning the strategic contest with China requires not only military and economic strength but also a revival of American national values, which he believes is currently lacking.",
  "summary": "The United States is lulling itself into a “sense of false security” over its military rivalry with China, according to a Republican senator who called for more spending on modern warfare systems and closer cooperation with allies. Speaking at the Hudson Institute after a recent trip to Japan and South Korea, Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania senator and West Point graduate, claimed up to 90 per…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "China close to matching US spending on ‘new way of war’, Republican senator warns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/china-close-to-matching-us-spending-on-new-way-of-war-republican-15769187",
        "published": "2026-10-20T16:12:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}