WASHINGTON (Reuters), – U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken stated Tuesday that he will discuss in coming weeks a long-awaited strategic national security plan to address China’s growing power.

Blinken told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that “I will be able I think, very shortly in the coming weeks in order to speak publicly in some detail about about the strategy.”

Biden’s administration is now under fire from Republicans as well as others because it lacks a strategy for China. China is Washington’s most strategic adversary and the second-largest economy in the world.

In February, the administration unveiled a strategy to support the Indo-Pacific. It pledged to increase diplomatic and security assistance to the region in order to combat what it considers China’s attempt to establish a sphere of influence in the region.

Although it has stated that it has a strategy separate for China, the company has been distracted by Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney pointed out that the most recent defense authorization law requires the president develop a strategy to counter the threats China presents to the international order. Blinken was asked about the recently concluded military agreement between China and the Solomon Islands.

Romney stated, “That’s alarming.”

Blinken reported that the State Department had sent a top-ranking delegation to Solomon Islands. The State Department plans to create an embassy there to provide a constant presence.

Blinken stated that “we share the concern regarding this agreement.” He said that the U.S. delegation had met with the Prime Minister of the islands, who assured them there wouldn’t be any Chinese military bases on the island.

Blinken explained that they will “be watching closely” in the weeks, months and years ahead.

The U.S. president Joe Biden will be hosting leaders of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, (ASEAN), at a summit in Washington, May 12-13. He is also expected to travel to Asia later in May, including South Korea, Japan and South Korea.