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Jun Mai

The United States is seeking to quash suggestions that the war in Ukraine presents an opportunity for mainland China to attack Taiwan, Chinese observers said.
The assessment was in response to a commitment from White House Indo-Pacific policy coordinator Kurt Campbell that the US would keep its focus on the Indo-Pacific despite the Ukraine crisis.
“There is a deep recognition and intention here inside the government, in the White House, to sustain every element of our engagement in the Indo-Pacific,” Campbell said at a German Marshall Fund event on Monday.
Campbell added that Washington had been deeply engaged in two theatres simultaneously before, including during World War II and the Cold War.


The comment came as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered a fifth day.
China so far has called for dialogue and de-escalation, but refused to join others in condemning Moscow. It has also voiced sympathy for Russia’s security concerns about Nato’s enlargement and opposition to Western sanctions on Russia’s economy.
Zhu Feng, an international relations professor at Nanjing University, said Campbell’s comment underlined Washington’s firm focus on the Western Pacific despite a war in Ukraine.
“China shouldn’t have any illusion that Ukraine could shift the US’ attention on China,” Zhu said. “Military build-ups in both Europe and Asia are aimed at maintaining its status as the leading world power.”
Taiwan hails arrival of US delegation as sign of ‘bipartisan consensus’
He added that the Ukraine war was set to intensify US pressure on China, because Beijing was unlikely to support sanctions against Moscow or scale down trade between the two countries.
“The distraction factor is very limited, and I believe the US’ focus on China is the fundamental reason why it won’t get involved in the Ukraine war,” he said.
In early February, Washington published its long-awaited Indo-Pacific Strategy, pledging military deterrence and a stronger presence in Southeast Asia to counter China’s growing regional and global footprint.
To drive home the point, the US Navy sent guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, the third day of the Ukraine war.

Shi Yinhong, a US specialist with Renmin University, said Campbell’s remark was intended to rebuke discussions both in China and the US that the Ukraine war provided a window for Beijing to seize Taiwan by force.
“Washington is aware of the discussions that the war provided a good timing for military solution to Taiwan, though I personally think Washington is clear-eyed that these discussions do not represent Beijing’s official stance.”
Shi agreed that the US was capable of deep military engagement in Europe and Asia at the same time, because the two regions required different fighting units and weapons.
“I personally think the US is capable of fighting two wars at the same time, though it’s hard to say if they can win those wars,” he said.
“But I think the chance of an imminent war over Taiwan is zero. Mobilisation among the US and its allies would be extraordinary when Ukraine is under attack already.”




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US-China relations

‘US signals resolve on Indo-Pacific, Taiwan’ despite Ukraine war

White House Indo-Pacific policy coordinator Kurt Campbell says the White House will sustain every element of engagement in the Indo-Pacific. Photo: Reuters

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson is seen in the Philippine Sea in June 2020. Photo: US Navy

With eye on Ukraine invasion, Taiwan warns off Chinese jets in its air defence zone

An undated file photo released by the Taiwan Ministry of Defence shows a Chinese J-16 jet. Photo: Taiwan Ministry of Defence via AP

China says US sanctions over Ukraine should not affect right to trade with Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.  Photo: AP

What lessons are there for China in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?

Despite US intelligence, Ukraine did not seem prepared for the Russian invasion. Photo: AFP

News

China

Diplomacy


US forces able to fight conflicts on two fronts, Chinese analysts say
Russian invasion likely to ‘intensify US pressure on China’



Russian invasion likely to ‘intensify US pressure on China’, Chinese analyst says


Ukraine

Ukraine war

‘US signals resolve on Indo-Pacific, Taiwan’ despite Ukraine war

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} US forces able to fight conflicts on two fronts, Chinese analysts say Russian invasion likely to ‘intensify US pressure on China’

US forces able to fight conflicts on two fronts, Chinese analysts say

Russian invasion likely to ‘intensify US pressure on China’