UPDATE 2-Biden says Pentagon to review strategy toward China

(Updates with Biden comments)
By Steve Holland and Idrees Ali
WASHINGTON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said
on Wednesday the Pentagon would review its strategy toward
China, looking at pivotal areas including intelligence,
technology and Washington's military footprint in the region.
The review will be among several others the Pentagon is
already carrying out, ranging from troops in the Middle East to
policy toward NATO.
Both countries are at loggerheads over issues from
technology and human rights to Chinese military activities in
the disputed South China Sea, with each accusing the other of
deliberately provocative behavior.
Under Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, the Pentagon made
countering China its top priority, something Defense Secretary
Lloyd Austin has signaled will continue.
Speaking during a visit to the Pentagon, Biden said Austin
had briefed him on a new China task force that would look at the
military's strategy related to China.
Biden said China and issues related to it would require
government agencies working together, along with bipartisan
support in Congress and strong alliances.
"That's how we'll meet the China challenge," Biden said,
flanked by Austin and Vice President Kamala Harris.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a
15-member task force would be created at the Pentagon to review
the strategy and present recommendations within four months.
Earlier this week, two U.S. carrier groups conducted joint
exercises in the South China Sea, as China accused the United
States of damaging peace and stability. The United States has contested China's extensive
territorial claims in the region, accusing it of militarizing
the South China Sea and trying to intimidate neighbors such as
Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, which have claims that
overlap with China's in the resource-rich area.
But recent interactions between Chinese and American forces
in the South China Sea have been safe and professional,
officials say.
It was Biden's first visit to the Pentagon since his Jan. 20
inauguration as president.