US Flexes Muscles in Asia as Tensions Flare around Tsai Visit

At the same time, Washington has been using its military to do most of the talking, according to Jacob Stokes, senior fellow for the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security.

Recent and upcoming military drills such as next week’s Balikatan exercise in the Philippines – which will use more than 12,000 U.S. troops from all four branches as well as thousands of their Philippine counterparts – send a firm signal to China.

“The United States is right to undertake military patrols and exercises to deter China during this time,” Stokes said. “Those operations help signal to Beijing as well as Taipei that the United States maintains the capability to respond — including with allies — if China tries to change the cross-Strait status quo by force.”

...

Stokes said the pairing of America’s rhetoric pushing peace and calm was an effective compliment to its military flexing in the Indo-Pacific.

“Deterrence works best when it’s paired with reassurance,” he said.

Read the full story and more from The Hill.