With crises in Ukraine and Israel, can America still defend Taiwan?
WHEN JOE BIDEN entered the White House his priority was to establish “a stable, predictable relationship” with Russia and end America’s “forever wars” in the greater Middle East, to concentrate on the economy at home and rivalry with China abroad. It did not work out that way. Russia invaded Ukraine; Hamas attacked Israel. As America helps its friends under assault, can it still defend Taiwan?
Strategists worry about a “window of vulnerability” in the Indo-Pacific this decade, as China’s forces grow stronger and America’s investments in new military equipment don’t fully bear fruit until the 2030s. Concerns about this gap will deepen with the approach of 2027, the year when Xi Jinping, China’s leader, wants the People’s Liberation Army to be able to invade Taiwan if ordered to do so. But whether a ukraine-would-mean-for-markets-as-biden-warns-putin-of-severe-costs.html” title=”What a Russian invasion of Ukraine would imply for markets as Biden warns Putin of 'extreme prices'”>war breaks out does not just depend on the military balance. Much will be determined by politics. And with both America and Taiwan holding elections in 2024, the danger period may start soon.
Despite talk of America’s decline, it remains a military colossus, accounting for 39% of global defence spending at market exchange rates. But as Australia’s israel.html” title=”Can America effectively protect Taiwan amidst the crises in Ukraine and Israel?”>defence strategic review concluded in April 2023, “The United States is no longer the unipolar leader of the Indo-Pacific.” The changing balance places a premium on America’s unparalleled network of alliances. Mr Biden has worked hard at repairing the damage to this network wrought by his predecessor, Donald Trump. NATO has united, expanded and rallied to support Ukraine.
2023-11-13 07:32:12
Article from www.economist.com
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