Elbridge Colby, the U.S. deputy defense secretary nominated by U.S. President Donald Trump, said at a hearing on Tuesday (March 3) that once his nomination is confirmed, he will fully prepare to deal with possible conflicts in the Taiwan Strait; and warned that losing Taiwan would be a catastrophic blow to U.S. interests.
According to Voice of America, Colby warned in a confirmation hearing held by the Senate Armed Services Committee that the military balance between the United States and China around Taiwan has deteriorated sharply, and the core of the Taiwan Strait issue is that the military balance has tilted towards China. The United States needs to concentrate its military capabilities to prevent conflict in the Taiwan Strait and accelerate targeted weapons deployment.
Colby pointed out"Losing Taiwan would be a disaster for American interests."It is worth mentioning that he also called on Taiwan to increase its defense budget. Currently, Taiwan’s defense budget accounts for less than 3% of its GDP, far lower than what he recommended.10%about.
Colby further stated that the United States needs to have sufficient military capabilities in Asia to deal with the threat from China. He believes that the United States must prioritize concentrating naval ships, submarines, missile defense systems and other resources in the Taiwan Strait to ensure that it has an advantage in a possible war across the Taiwan Strait.He also criticized the United States for over-allocating military resources in Europe and the Middle East, saying it should shift its focus to the Indo-Pacific region.
Colby, 45, served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development in the first Trump administration from 2017 to 2018. In the formulation of the 2018 U.S. National Defense Strategy, he pushed the Department of Defense to shift its focus to the strategic challenges brought about by China's rise.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker said at the hearing that China, under Xi Jinping's leadership, has carried out the largest and most aggressive military buildup in history. Wick stressed that the United States should strengthen Taiwan’s defense capabilities, turn Taiwan into a "porcupine", and accelerate its military deployment in East Asia to effectively deter China.
