High above the Pacific en route to Beijing in January, Robert Gates let slip he was travelling to China bearing gifts – not for the country’s rulers, with whom he soon squared off, but for US commanders in the region.

Mr Gates’ staff soon fleshed out details of the plans – a new nuclear-capable bomber able to reach east Asia from the US, modernised radar for the F-15 fighter jet, a launch vehicle for sending satellites into space, and seaborne drone aircraft – aimed at countering China’s own military advances.

All this – in parallel with $185bn to modernise America’s nuclear weapons systems over 10 years, increased spending on missile defence and more investments tailored for Afghanistan – forms part of President Barack Obama’s defence spending plans.