Previously secret details of Trump administration's Indo-Pacific strategy revealed

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tetmo
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Joined: Wed Aug 28, 2013 8:03 am

Previously secret details of Trump administration's Indo-Pacific strategy revealed

Post by tetmo »

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-12/ ... d/13052216

A newly declassified US national security document, which 7.30 has gained exclusive early access to, reveals previously secret details of the Trump administration's strategy for the Indo-Pacific region.

"This is a highly significant document. It's extraordinary that it's been released decades early," Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at ANU, said.

The language of the document is likely to be seen to confirm to Beijing its claims that the US is seeking to contain China.

"This strategic framework is very forthright on China — not quite confrontational but very firm," Professor Medcalf said.

"It's under no illusions about the nature of Chinese power or the assertive way in which China is using its power."

The strategy commits to "devise and implement a defense strategy capable of, but not limited to: (1) denying China sustained air and sea dominance inside the 'first island chain' in a conflict; (2) defending the first island chain nations, including Taiwan; and (3) dominating all domains outside the first island chain".

"This is very clear code for America holding its ground with Taiwan, with partners and allies in the South China Sea, with Japan, with Korea, really maintaining the integrity of those relationships and protecting them from Chinese assertiveness and Chinese aggression," Professor Medcalf said.

Sources say the document's language on Taiwan should be read as the US committing to having the capability to deter and, if necessary, rebuff China's incursions on Taiwan, rather than an intent.

Cool Breeze
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Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2020 10:19 pm

Re: Previously secret details of Trump administration's Indo-Pacific strategy revealed

Post by Cool Breeze »

Prediction?

John
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Location: Cambridge, MA USA
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Re: Previously secret details of Trump administration's Indo-Pacific strategy revealed

Post by John »

** 13-Jan-2021 World View: If China invades Taiwan
tetmo wrote:
Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:54 am
> https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-12/ ... d/13052216

> A newly declassified US national security document, which 7.30 has
> gained exclusive early access to, reveals previously secret
> details of the Trump administration's strategy for the
> Indo-Pacific region.

> "This is a highly significant document. It's extraordinary that
> it's been released decades early," Rory Medcalf, head of the
> National Security College at ANU, said.

> The language of the document is likely to be seen to confirm to
> Beijing its claims that the US is seeking to contain China.

> "This strategic framework is very forthright on China — not quite
> confrontational but very firm," Professor Medcalf said.

> "It's under no illusions about the nature of Chinese power or the
> assertive way in which China is using its power."

> The strategy commits to "devise and implement a defense strategy
> capable of, but not limited to: (1) denying China sustained air
> and sea dominance inside the 'first island chain' in a conflict;
> (2) defending the first island chain nations, including Taiwan;
> and (3) dominating all domains outside the first island chain".

> "This is very clear code for America holding its ground with
> Taiwan, with partners and allies in the South China Sea, with
> Japan, with Korea, really maintaining the integrity of those
> relationships and protecting them from Chinese assertiveness and
> Chinese aggression," Professor Medcalf said.

> Sources say the document's language on Taiwan should be read as
> the US committing to having the capability to deter and, if
> necessary, rebuff China's incursions on Taiwan, rather than an
> intent.
The report referenced by the article is at:

https://assets.documentcloud.org/docume ... acific.pdf

There is nothing surprising about this document. There are people,
including members of this forum, who have expressed the view that we
will not defend Taiwan against an invasion by China. It's possible
that even Xi Jinping and other delusional members of the Chinese
Communist Party believe that.

I posted the following list a few days ago, but it's worth posting
again. After World War II, the United States took on the role of
Policeman of the World, and in doing so, signed some sort of mutual
defense treaty with many countries: Japan, South Korea, Israel,
Taiwan, the Philippines, the Marshall Islands, the ANZUS agreement
with Australia and New Zealand, a special treaty with Iceland, and the
NATO agreement with all of Europe. The purpose was to discourage
attacks on any of these allies that would otherwise have the risk of
spiraling into World War III.

America has a mutual defense agreement with Taiwan. If the US just
stood by and did nothing and watched as China invaded Taiwan, then
every country from Australia to Iceland would know that their own
agreements with America would be worthless. China would also know
this, and would conclude that they have a free hand in those
countries, just as they now have a free hand in Hong Kong. America
would be pulled into war in one of these countries quickly anyway.

If China invades Taiwan, we will be at war within 24 hours.

By the way, I don't know why this report got leaked, but it's not
surprising that the Australians leaked it, because the Australians are
much more sensitive to the danger from China than Americans are.

spottybrowncow
Posts: 317
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2020 11:06 am

Re: Previously secret details of Trump administration's Indo-Pacific strategy revealed

Post by spottybrowncow »

John wrote:
Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:30 pm
** 13-Jan-2021 World View: If China invades Taiwan



By the way, I don't know why this report got leaked, but it's not
surprising that the Australians leaked it, because the Australians are
much more sensitive to the danger from China than Americans are.
Perhaps this is the latest example of Trump "holding Biden's feet to the fire" RE: CCP as he exits.

Cool Breeze
Posts: 2935
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2020 10:19 pm

Re: Previously secret details of Trump administration's Indo-Pacific strategy revealed

Post by Cool Breeze »

Bingo. Great posts, gentlemen.

brainwitty
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Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2020 3:32 am

Re: Previously secret details of Trump administration's Indo-Pacific strategy revealed

Post by brainwitty »

ABC in Australia is known as the Australian Broadcaster of Communism. The network has a decidedly anti western, anti Christian, pro leftist slant to its news. Anything the ABC puts out as news is to be compared to the old Pravda/Tass rag sheet back in the 50s to the 70s. ABC is a woke network.

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