A senior Pentagon official said Monday that the United States is increasing its military commitment to Asia and strengthening its posture of “deterrence by denial” along a chain of islands that includes Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines in a bid to maintain a favorable balance of power in the region.
Elbridge Colby, undersecretary of war for policy, made the remarks in an Aug. 10 speech in Manila, where he sought to dispel concerns that President Donald Trump’s broader effort to reduce U.S. military burdens overseas would translate into a retreat from Asia.
“America is definitely not disengaging from Asia,” Colby said. “We are not leaving; in fact, we are digging in to ensure a favorable balance of power where it matters most.”…
US Ramping Up Military Commitment to Asia, Pentagon Says
