US New Defense Strategy to Be Unveiled, Attention on Whether the Taiwan Strait Is Included in the East Asian Defense Line

The US government is about to release the new "Defense Strategy Report," and the outside world is paying attention to whether this document continues to cover the Taiwan Strait and South Korea in its East Asian defense planning. According to a report by "Nikkei Asia," the report may be released as early as October, and its direction may undergo significant adjustments.

A report by "Central News Agency" said that the new US Department of Defense strategy may list "defense of the US homeland" as the top priority, downplaying direct confrontation with China and Russia, which is significantly different from the 2018 version that emphasized "great power competition." Analysts believe that this shift may weaken the US security commitments to European and Indo-Pacific allies.

It has been reported that the US side has not yet determined the scope of the Asian defense line. Various options are under discussion, and the most stable option is to maintain the current defense line covering Japan, South Korea, and the Taiwan Strait; if South Korea or the Taiwan Strait is excluded, it will be seen as a "strategic contraction," which may escalate regional tensions.

There is general support within the US defense and foreign affairs departments for maintaining the status quo, but some senior officials, including Vice President Pence, tend to reduce the US's defense responsibilities in East Asia. There are rumors that some officials advocate reducing the role of US forces in South Korea and placing the Taiwan Strait issue in a more ambiguous position.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the US military and Congress hardliners advocate clearly guaranteeing the security of the Taiwan Strait, while there are also divisions within the White House on whether to assist in defending the Taiwan Strait. The final decision still rests with President Trump.

Analysts point out that if the new strategy establishes a "homeland-first" approach, the US military presence and the level of support for allies in the Indo-Pacific region may both decline. All allies are urged to enhance their own defense capabilities and reduce reliance on US security.

Source: rfi

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845183246851080/

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