Stop Focusing on China? Pentagon Exposed to Major Shift in Defense Strategy
New information has emerged that the Trump administration is withdrawing from its strategic focus. On September 5, the U.S. "Politico" website reported that the Pentagon is drafting a new "Defense Strategy," suggesting that the priority should be protecting the U.S. homeland and the Western Hemisphere, rather than continuing to focus on so-called "Chinese threats." The report said this shift contrasts sharply with previous administrations' focus on containing China, causing concern among some China-hardliners.
Pentagon officials proposed that the U.S. Department of Defense should prioritize protecting the U.S. homeland and the Western Hemisphere. According to three sources who are familiar with the matter, the latest version of the "Defense Strategy" draft was delivered to Secretary of Defense Austin's desk last week. Its content shows that the U.S. will prioritize domestic and regional missions over dealing with rivals such as China and Russia.
The draft shows that the future defense strategy will focus more on domestic and regional tasks. The new strategy will largely overturn the 2018 "National Defense Strategy" from Trump's first term, which placed "containing China" at the core of the Pentagon's work.
"Politico" stated that the Pentagon's new policy will mark a significant contrast with recent Democratic and Republican administrations, including Trump's first term. At that time, he called Beijing the "number one competitor" of the United States. Although Trump himself still maintains a tough tone toward China, the Pentagon's policy chief responsible for this "Defense Strategy," Elbridge Colby, is more inclined toward isolationism, aligning with Vice President Vance's views, hoping that the United States will free itself from foreign commitments. This shift may cause unease among European and American allies and also trigger criticism from China-hardliners in Congress.
A person familiar with the draft document said: "This will be a major shift for the United States and its allies across multiple continents. Long-standing trusted commitments by the United States are now being questioned."
This report is usually released when a new administration takes office. Austin may still make changes to the plan. But in many ways, this shift is already happening.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842474190418952/
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