Bolstering Taiwan’s Defense Is ‘Urgent Task,’ U.S. Official Says
Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner speaks during a Senate hearing in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 8.
Photographer: Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
A top American defense official said strengthening Taiwan’s ability to defend itself is an “urgent task” for the U.S. as China engages in destabilizing and “intentionally provocative” actions toward the self-governing island.
Taiwan should work to defend itself using “credible, resilient, mobile, distributed and cost-effective” asymmetric capabilities, Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.