In the Western Pacific, Taiwan is serving as the same kind of flashpoint vis-à-vis China as Ukraine is with regards to Russia. Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told reporters yesterday that U.S. policymakers “clearly see the danger of the possibility of China launching an attack against Taiwan.” He vowed that if China were to attack, “We will defend ourselves to the very last day.” At the State Department, spokesman Ned Price said later, “Our commitment to Taiwan is rock solid. We think and we know that it contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region as well. We have, of course, taken note with great concern of the pattern of ongoing P.R.C. efforts and attempts to intimidate in the region, including in the context of Taiwan.”
Wu’s statement followed the warnings emanating from the U.S. that China has allegedly stepped up its timetable for retaking Taiwan. This accumulation of concerns—as expressed by Admirals Philip Davidson and John Aquilino and other military officials in recent weeks—meshes with the administration’s view that China is a frontline challenge for the United States and that more must be done soon—militarily, diplomatically, and by other means—to deter Beijing as it seeks to supplant the United States as the predominant power in Asia, reported the Associated Press.