Adm. John Aquilino, nominated to replace Adm. Philip Davidson as commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, argued during his March 25 confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, that in the event of a crisis over Taiwan, the US would have to intervene to protect its “credibility” with US allies. China views Taiwan’s location as being of strategic significance, he claimed. A successful invasion and occupation of the main island would threaten two-thirds of global trade passing through the area and also extend the Chinese military’s reach into the Indo-Pacific, he added.
“The status of the United States as a partner with our allies and partners also is at stake, should we have a conflict in Taiwan,” he said further. “It certainly would impact the credibility of the United States as a partner in the region,” if China seized Taiwan without any U.S. intervention.
Aquilino told the committee that China’s potential use of force against Taiwan was “the most dangerous concern” for American troops stationed in the region, where other threats include North Korea. However, he said, a combined allied contingent of “capable, lethal forces west of the date line” would create the required deterrence against any Chinese aggression targeting the island nation, which considers good relations with the U.S. critical to its continued survival as a democracy.
