Originally published by Asia Times.
What historical comment did a Chinese officer make to Admiral Timothy Keating regarding territory?
In 2008, a Chinese officer told Admiral Timothy Keating (the former US PACOM commander), “why don’t we reach an agreement, you and I? You take Hawaii east. We’ll take Hawaii west.”
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According to the article, how might the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) react to a US pullback to the Second Island Chain and an end to defense commitments for Taiwan?
The report suggests PLA planners would view such a move as a "wishlist." The expected reaction would include full-bore Chinese political warfare to spread the idea that the US is unreliable, in retreat, and leaving Asia-Pacific nations on their own to encourage submission, alongside increased presence and dominance by the PLA navy and air force, including potential violence and kinetic moves.
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What specific strategic changes does the Defense Priorities report propose regarding US presence in the Asia-Pacific?
The report proposes moving US troops from the first island chain to the second island chain, ending strategic ambiguity regarding defense commitments to Taiwan, and effectively declaring a “non-intervention policy” regarding Taiwan.
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Who authored the Defense Priorities report titled “A Second Island Chain Strategy for Asia”?
The report was written by Jennifer Kavanagh, who serves as the military analysis director for the Defense Priorities think tank.
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A recent report put out by a relatively obscure Washington think tank, Defense Priorities , is getting an unusual amount of attention. In simple terms, the report written by the shop’s military analysis director Jennifer Kavanagh and entitled “A Second Island Chain Strategy for Asia” looks at current US security policy in the Asia-Pacific region and calls for doing the opposite. DC think tanks put out reports all the time. Very few get the amplification seen with this one. With all of the attention, it has triggered deep confusion – and, in some cases, concern – across the region. So, it’s worth answering some of the questions the report has raised and see if its assertions stand up to scrutiny. The report says…Open
