President Donald Trump aims to prevent conflict with China over Taiwan and the South China Sea by building up U.S. and allies’ military power, according to a new U.S. strategy memo.
President Donald Trump’s administration is focusing on strengthening US and allied military capabilities to prevent a potential conflict with China over Taiwan and the South China Sea, according to a newly released strategy memo.
The approach is detailed in a 29-page National Security Strategy document, dated November and recently published online, outlining how the United States plans to address one of the world’s most sensitive diplomatic flashpoints.
The document states that “deterring a conflict over Taiwan, ideally by preserving military overmatch, is a priority.”
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has never ruled out using force to achieve reunification. Beijing also asserts expansive territorial claims across nearly the entire South China Sea, which are contested by several neighbouring countries.
While the United States, like most nations, does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it remains the island’s key international supporter and is legally required to provide Taipei with the means to defend itself.
The Trump administration sees instability near Taiwan as a risk because of Taiwan’s dominance in semiconductor manufacturing and because a significant share of world trade passes through nearby waters, according to the document.
The issue has been an irritant in U.S.-China relations for years. Trump, a Republican, has largely avoided directly saying how he would respond to a rise in tensions over the island and said he is looking to maintain good ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He has also pressed Japan and South Korea, two key regional allies, to hike defense spending.
”We will build a military capable of denying aggression anywhere,” in the chain of islands stretching from Japan to Southeast Asia, according to the latest strategy document. ”But the American military cannot, and should not have to, do this alone. Our allies must step up and spend -and more importantly do – much more for collective defense.”
That will reinforce ”U.S. and allies’ capacity to deny any attempt to seize Taiwan” or any other steps that would ”make defending that island impossible.”
The Trump administration also vowed to prevent ”a potentially hostile power” from imposing a toll system or closing sea lanes. Doing so will require stronger naval capabilities, the document said.
It included a foreword signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said it was ”a roadmap to ensure that America remains the greatest and most successful nation in human history.”
With inputs from agencies
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