The ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee is imploring the president to meet with key lawmakers to discuss future defense investments in light of China’s recent military buildup and its refusal to allow U.S. ships to port In Hong Kong.

China’s decision to block the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) aircraft carrier strike group and two Navy minesweepers from stopping in Hong Kong is a sign of a “more confrontational relationship,” wrote Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) in a letter yesterday.

The White House said yesterday it asking the Chinese to clarify the reasons for turning away the Kitty Hawk.

Those incidents, coupled with China’s military buildup, provide evidence that the United States needs to take action, Hunter said.

“Now that we have a clear picture of China’s intention to flex their newly acquired military muscle at the U.S., we must take necessary steps to ensure our technology and military infrastructure will be sufficient to respond to potential Chinese aggression,” wrote Hunter, who is also running for the Republican presidential nomination.

He added that the Pentagon’s budget for fiscal year 2009 needs to take into account a more aggressive China. Doing so will require an increase in investment in the production of submarines, more development of deep-strike platforms like bomber aircraft and enhancing electronic warfare systems, according to the letter.

Hunter has asked the president to meet with the chairmen and ranking members of the armed services, defense appropriations, foreign affairs and intelligence committees.