Washington’s call for Asian allies to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence is untenable given competing needs in infrastructure, healthcare and education, analysts say. KUALA LUMPUR: It is "completely unrealistic" for Southeast Asian countries to heed the United States' call of boosting defence spending to counter China's growing power, analysts say, as the region prioritises domestic development while balancing ties with the two superpowers. Economic pressures from the Iran war have tightened