US Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said the US military needs more fuel transport planes to be able to reach China if needed, given the geographical distance.
Wilson said in an interview with Congress last week that the biggest challenge now is the long distance in the ocean, so the United States will increase the fleet of aircraft carrying fuel from 40 to 54 by 2030.
The increase in fuel-carrying aircraft is only part of a comprehensive defense strategy, which aims to develop the armed forces and counter the risks to the country, the official said.
Wilson said in September that the army would increase the number of squadrons being operated to 74 to 386.
In response to criticism of the new defense program given its high cost, US Defense Secretary James Matisse said the price was already high, but it was better than paying off someone who might think the United States was too weak to take advantage of it.
The United States Air Force relies heavily on fuel transport aircraft to increase the combat range of aircraft and reach targets far away from US territory.
Last September saw a "serious" tension between Washington and Beijing after US B-52H bombers flew into the disputed South China Sea, and China saw the move as a provocative act.
