Deterrence to prevent war in the Indo-Pacific is important to the “America first” strategy and rebalancing economic relations with China, the US said in a national security document released on Friday.
The White House said in the latest National Security Strategy (NSS) report that the US would prioritise reciprocity and fairness to restore American economic independence.
Such a policy must be “accompanied by a robust and ongoing focus on deterrence to prevent war in the Indo-Pacific”, the report said.
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“A favourable conventional military balance remains an essential component of strategic competition,” it said.
“There is, rightly, much focus on Taiwan, partly because Taiwan provides direct access to the second island chain and splits Northeast and Southeast Asia into two distinct theatres.”
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“Hence, deterring a conflict over Taiwan, ideally by preserving military overmatch, is a priority,” it said.