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Indo-Pacific Remains Core Interest; Taiwan Should Learn from Iran Conflict on Air Defense Investment: Former US Defense Official

From Liberty Times · (43m ago) Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A former US defense official stated that the Indo-Pacific remains a core interest for the United States, despite current global challenges.
  • He emphasized that the US can manage multiple strategic priorities simultaneously, citing its actions in Iran and Venezuela as proof.
  • The official advised Taiwan to invest in air defense, drawing parallels from the successful defense strategies employed by Persian Gulf nations and Israel against missile and drone attacks.

In an exclusive interview with Liberty Times, former US Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asian Affairs Heino Klinck addressed critical security concerns for Taiwan and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Klinck firmly asserted that the Indo-Pacific remains a paramount interest for the United States, dispelling any notion that America's focus has shifted due to global events like the situation in Iran.

we can do more than one thing at a time, of course, we also don't want to be forced to do multiple things at the same time.

— Heino KlinckAddressing concerns about the US capacity to manage both the Indo-Pacific and other global security challenges.

Klinck's message to potential adversaries in Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang is unequivocal: the US possesses the capability and resolve to manage multiple strategic priorities concurrently. He highlighted that the US military's deployment in the Middle East represents a small fraction of its total force, underscoring America's capacity for simultaneous global engagement. He pointed to the effectiveness of US actions in Iran and Venezuela as evidence that the US can project power and maintain stability across different theaters.

the Indo-Pacific is still the core interest of the United States? Absolutely.

— Heino KlinckAffirming the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region for US policy.

Crucially for Taiwan, Klinck drew lessons from the recent Middle East conflicts, particularly regarding air defense investment. He noted that nations in the Persian Gulf and Israel have demonstrated remarkable success in intercepting missile and drone attacks through sustained investment in robust defense systems. While acknowledging that no defense is 100% foolproof, he stressed that the number of successful interceptions has been overwhelmingly high. Klinck specifically endorsed Taiwan's current defense strategy, which prioritizes integrated air and missile defense, C5ISR systems with AI capabilities, and investments in drone and munitions industries, calling these the correct direction for enhancing the island's security.

the problem in Iran is not over, we still have to wait and see.

— Heino KlinckCommenting on the ongoing situation in Iran and its implications.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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