US defense chief vows to help Taiwan "develop the capability to defend itself"

[beijingwalker]

US defense chief vows to help Taiwan "develop the capability to defend itself"​

03/10/2022 - 07:20Modified: 03/10/2022 - 07:18

We're committed to helping Taiwan develop the capability to defend itself,' Austin said in an interview with CNN TASOS KATOPODIS GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Washington (AFP) – The United States will help Taiwan "develop the capability to defend itself" from a Chinese invasion, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday, stopping short of President Joe Biden's vow to send troops to the island.

"We're committed to helping Taiwan develop the capability to defend itself," Austin said in an interview with CNN.

Washington has historically maintained a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on whether it would intervene militarily if Taiwan were attacked by China.

Asked in an interview with CBS last month whether US troops would defend Taiwan, Biden said "yes," if it were "an unprecedented attack."

Austin was asked by CNN host Fareed Zakaria whether the US military was preparing to send troops to Taiwan in line with Biden's comments, but he declined to answer directly.

"The American military is always prepared to protect our interests and live up to our commitments. I think the president was clear in providing his answers as he responded to a hypothetical question," Austin said.

"But, again, we continue to work to make sure that we have the right capabilities in the right places to ensure that we help our allies maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific," he said.

Washington's "strategic ambiguity" is designed both to ward off a Chinese invasion and to discourage Taiwan from provoking Beijing by formally declaring independence.

Asked if Biden's comments meant a change in that policy, a White House spokesperson said at the time: "The president has said this before, including in Tokyo earlier this year. He also made clear then that our Taiwan policy hasn't changed. That remains true."

During a visit to Japan in May, Biden was asked whether he would commit US troops to Taiwan and he said "yes."

"That's the commitment we made," he added.

Austin told CNN he saw no "imminent threat" of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

But increased military activity on the Taiwan Strait showed that Beijing was moving to establish "a new normal," he said.

Washington cut formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979, switching recognition to Beijing as the sole representative of China. But at the same time, the US maintained a decisive, if delicate role in supporting Taiwan.

Under a law passed by Congress, the US is required to sell Taiwan military supplies to ensure its self-defense against Beijing's vastly larger armed forces.

US defense chief vows to help Taiwan defend itself

The United States will help Taiwan "develop the capability to defend itself" from a Chinese invasion, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday, stopping short of President Joe Biden's vow to send…

www.france24.com

 

[beijingwalker]

We'll see how US can help Taiwan to fullfill this mission impossible

 

[beijingwalker]

US defence chief and top general say US won't fight for Taiwan, Biden says US will, who should people believe? US military chain of command is so messed up, you can't expect an army has much fight while they don't even know whom to listen to.

 

[Beast]

Of cos US will help but he didn't mention US forces will directly involved in the fight of defending Taiwan. . Lol... Sell a few tow II ATGM and few F-16V to make some quick bucks from Taiwanese fool.

 

[gambit]

Scared, sofa soldiers?

 

[beijingwalker]

Scared, sofa soldiers?

A sofa general is so scared

U.S. top general secretly called China over fears Trump could spark war -report

The top U.S. general secretly called his Chinese counterpart twice over concerns then-President Donald Trump could spark a war with China as his potential election loss loomed and in its aftermath, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

www.reuters.com

 

[Oracle]

a nuclear capable taiwan ?

 

[TheNoob]

Is this another one of those programs where they will fight to the last native man capable of combat? xD

 

[PakFactor]

Is this another one of those programs where they will fight to the last native man capable of combat? xD

That wouldn't be US fault, but the natives if they fight to their own last man.

 

[etylo]

China needs two thousand nukes to completely and effectivey deter US and NATO
military intervention in any way, the Ukraine war is a good example of NATO chicken out becos of huge stockpile of Russian nukes. US will stoke up the fire in the Taiwan strait as always just to get China into war with Taiwan and in the process destroy it.

 

[TheNoob]

That wouldn't be US fault, but the natives if they fight to their own last man.

A sad dosage of reality where men go mad on orders of some new world monkeys.

 

[Ajamal]

Since President Xi is in life time correntine now, it will be ineresting to see the new President's zeal to integrate Taiwan.

 

[PakFactor]

China needs two thousand nukes to completely and effectivey deter US and NATO
military intervention in any way, the Ukraine war is a good example of NATO chicken out becos of huge stockpile of Russian nukes. US will stoke up the fire in the Taiwan strait as always just to get China into war with Taiwan and in the process destroy it.

NATO and US aren't chickening out; it's how all warfare is waged. I'll give you one example in the animal kingdom. When a mongoose targets a cobra, it doesn't go straight for the kill; what does it do? It plays with the cobra from various angles until it is exhausted, as it only has so much stamina until it doesn't correctly attack and its defenses are degraded. Once he sees the opening, he takes the initiative and takes the cobra down.

Carl Von Clausewitz, author of On War, I have read this book many times, much more than the Art of War, because it gives you insight into western warfare thinking. He stated in a war; you get a slight opening. After that, whoever takes the initiative will carry on the momentum. The mongoose uses its strength like the US does by using its military-industrial complex; Ukraine has tapped into that strength or was given access. In contrast, Russia doesn't have liberty due to its reliance on imports and completely being out of its environment, as the cobra can't use its environment once exposed. This leads to my three points below.

As for China, the only advice I can give to your nation is to be strategic thinkers. First, if you need to make friends, properly support them, and integrate them into your military supply chain. Second, it would help if you stopped following the sanctions regime the US imposes on nations by voting alongside them at the UN Security Council as you end up shooting your foot and carrying deadbeat friends who are of no benefit. Third, you need to arm groups to carry out your strategic vision and cause death by a thousand cuts to your enemies in an ongoing containment strategy if you don't have one to develop one.

 

[etylo]

The problem is that China now doesnt want to totally ruputure apart the relation with US yet to make it the open and sworn enemy of China. But, China does strategically need many more nukes now in the thousands from the 4 hundreds now believed by US to effectively deter possible US agressions on China. Its being calculated by US strategists that it takes 500 nukes to destroy the US or Russia totally, so take into consideration of first strike from the enemy and the nuclear shield blockage, 1000 nukes is probably needed to just destroy US or NATO Europe under all circumstances. So, to totally destroy US and NATO Europe, China needs 2000 nukes, then US and NATO would dare not to attempt attacking China and intervening militarily in Taiwan matters.

One can only have peace with Westerners from position of hard strength, otherwise they will stomp on you without any mercy, thats their way.

 

[TNT]

China should not be mistaken, the US will arm it to the teeth with modern weapons. If they cant stop Chinese invasion, they would make it extremely costly for them. Thus weakening china, just like russia is weakend.
The better reciprocity would be china developing close alliance with cuba and arming them heavily. Make the Americans taste their own medicine.