Ukraine invasion: Pentagon officials say Russia’s attack shows need for US to safeguard Indo-Pacific

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underscores the need to increase US military vigilance in the Indo-Pacific given the risk that Beijing might decide to attack Taiwan, top US defence officials told Congress on Wednesday.

Lessons from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion include the need for Taiwan to bolster its own defence, the vital role global outrage has played and the effective way that sanctions raised the cost for the authoritarian state, said Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific security affairs.

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“We don’t have the luxury of sort of making a choice. Yes, China is the top foreign policy priority. But we can’t choose to either face down Russian aggression or Chinese aggression,” said Lisa Curtis, a Centre for a New American Security fellow.

“We have to be able to operate in different regions. And it’s not all about military resources.”

Read the full story and more from The South China Morning Post.