The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending.
The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday.
It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama Canal, the article said.
Photo: AFP
The document said the US would adopt a “denial defense” strategy to protect Taiwan in case of a Chinese invasion.
That strategy involves increasing the US’ military presence through bombers, uncrewed ships, submarines and specialty units, and strengthening the defense of US military bases in the Indo-Pacific region, it said.
The administration of former US president Joe Biden and that of Trump’s first term “characterized China as the greatest threat to the US, and postured the force to prepare for and deter conflict in the Pacific region,” the article said.
The memo also said that a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan must be prioritized over other dangers, requiring US military deployments to be reassessed with a greater focus on the Indo-Pacific region.
The US would pressure allies in Europe, the Middle East and East Asia to take on the bulk of the role in deterring Russia, North Korea and Iran, the memo said.
“China is the [US] Department [of Defense]’s sole pacing threat, and denial of a Chinese fait accompli seizure of Taiwan — while simultaneously defending the US homeland is the department’s sole pacing scenario,” Hegseth said in the memo.
The memo also called for “pressuring” Taiwan to significantly increase its defense spending.
The document is strikingly similar to a longer report published last year by the Heritage Foundation, titled “Project 2025,” the article said.
Although Trump denied that the plan was a blueprint for his second term during the election campaign, the document shows that the foundation’s plans have been deeply influential to his policies, it said.
Asked for comment, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) in Taipei yesterday said the memo showed that the US is adjusting its military strategies to focus on Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region.
Taiwan should respond to the US’ strategic adjustments by investing more resources to bolster its capacity for self-defense, Chen said, adding that the nation should recognize the US’ strong commitment to the region and strengthen regional cooperation.
Institute for National Defense and Security Research research fellow Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲) said that Hegseth’s memo, which prioritizes “deterring China’s actions to seize Taiwan,” stems from a shift in US overall strategy.
The shift introduced a “reverse Nixon” strategy, emphasizing Asia over Europe to concentrate efforts on countering China, Su said.
It also addresses China’s shift from a land-based military power to a marine power, which poses a threat to major marine trade routes, he said.
Although the expression is different in the way Hegseth’s discourse is rendered, it is similar to the US’ past promises that reiterated its commitment to Taiwan, he said.
Additional reporting by Huang Chin-hsuan
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