US Sees ‘Urgent’ Need to Bolster Taiwan’s Defenses to Deter Beijing Attack: Official

US Sees ‘Urgent’ Need to Bolster Taiwan’s Defenses to Deter Beijing Attack: Official
A Taiwanese Air Force F-16 in foreground flies on the flank of a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) H-6 bomber as it passes near Taiwan on Feb. 10, 2020. (Republic of China (ROC) Ministry of National Defense via AP)
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A leading Pentagon official has said bolstering Taiwan’s defenses to deter a possible invasion by communist China is an “urgent” task.

Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Dec. 8 that the regime in Beijing is engaging in destabilizing and “intentionally provocative” actions toward the self-ruled island.

Isabel van Brugen
Isabel van Brugen
Reporter
Isabel van Brugen is an award-winning journalist. She holds a master's in newspaper journalism from City, University of London.
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