《TAIPEI TIMES》US’ Taiwan policy unchanged: official

US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, right, takes part in a meeting at the US Pentagon on May 11 in Arlington, Virginia. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

By Jake Chung / Staff writer The US’ policy toward Taiwan has not changed, and the US National Security Strategy is building a strong denial defense along the First Island Chain alongside US allies and partners, US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said in an interview published on Thursday.

Asked if Taiwan is considered a part of the First Island Chain, Colby said that he must “be careful about discussing Taiwan.”

He cited US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as saying that the US has not changed its policy on Taiwan, adding: “The overall goal is strategic stability.”

Responding to a question about whether China is the most important threat that the US faces right now, Colby said the US’ China policy has to take the long view.

Since US President Donald Trump’s first administration introduced the need for a general review of the US’ China policies, 10 years down the line, his position on China has not changed, he said.

Asked about the US’ strategic ambiguity on the issue of Chinese aggression toward Taiwan while calling on Europe to be clearer, Colby said he cannot comment on “conversations going on in the Pentagon” and that he could be criticized for coming off as too direct.

In essence, the US’ request for clarification was so that it and its allies remain on the same page regarding contingencies, he said.

The US Department of Defense’s actions should be measured by what the administration is doing, not by “peacocking” like the administration of former US president Joe Biden, he said, adding that Biden would “speak off the cuff” about Taiwan.

Colby reiterated that the Trump administration is looking to build up “a strong denial defense along the First Island Chain,” and that the US is going to work with its allies and partners to make that happen.

Regarding comments that US bases and US Navy assets around China would not survive the first 20 days of a US-China conflict over Taiwan, which means that the US would eventually have to “fight” its way back into the Pacific Theater, Colby said: “What’s really relevant in this context are platforms and munitions that can operate in heavily denied environments, and reach out and achieve very significant effects, not perfection.”

Colby used the Battle of Britain as an example, saying: “The British were outclassed in almost every measure of the military balance, but it was sufficient for the purposes. That’s where we’re really giving a lot of attention.”

Additional reporting by CNA 新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES