Colin Kahl Archives - Maritime Shipping News

High Cost of Taiwan Invasion Will Dissuade China, Pentagon Official Says

3 March 2023

Taiwanese Marines on Jan. 11, 2023. Taiwan Ministry of National Defense Photo

China will not attempt to invade Taiwan before the end of the decade because it understands the high cost, the senior Pentagon official in charge of Indo-Pacific security said Thursday.

“Deterrence is real; deterrence is strong” today and tomorrow, said Ely Ratner, the assistant secretary for the Indo-Pacific. The United States can likely deter Beijing from attacking the self-governing island 100 miles off the Chinese...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/02/high-cost-of-taiwan-invasion-will-dissuade-china-pentagon-official-says

China Will Increase Pressure on Taiwan in Next Two Years Rather Than Invade, Says Pentagon Official

7 November 2022

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin H. Kahl holds a press briefing about the latest security assistance package in support of Ukraine at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Aug. 24, 2022. DoD Photo

The Pentagon’s top civilian for policy does not think China is likely to attack Taiwan in the next two years, although he expects Beijing to ratchet up pressure on Tapei as Xi Jinping continues to expand his military’s capabilities for a possible amphibious invasion.

The Chinese response to...

https://news.usni.org/2022/11/07/china-will-increase-pressure-on-taiwan-in-next-two-years-rather-than-invade-says-pentagon-official

Report to Congress on Military, Intelligence Issues on Russian Invasion of Ukraine

20 September 2022

The following is the Sept. 14, 2022, Congressional Research Service report, Russia’s War in Ukraine: Military and Intelligence Aspects.

From the report

Russia’s renewed invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022 marked the start of Europe’s deadliest armed conflict in decades. After a steady buildup of military forces along Ukraine’s borders since 2021, Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, with Russian ground forces attacking from multiple directions.

Initially, Russian forces made...

https://news.usni.org/2022/09/20/report-to-congress-on-military-intelligence-issues-on-russian-invasion-of-ukraine

U.S. Announces Nearly $3 Billion in Aid For Ukraine

24 August 2022

Pallets holding munitions are transported off an aircraft cargo loader into a Boeing 747 at Travis Air Force Base, California, April 26, 2022. The United States continues to reaffirm its unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonathon Carnell)

The United States pledged nearly $3 billion in aid for Ukraine, the Department of Defense announced Wednesday.

The most recent package will come from the Ukraine Security Assistance...

https://news.usni.org/2022/08/24/u-s-announces-nearly-3-billion-in-aid-for-ukraine

U.S. Will Continue Taiwan Strait Transits, FONOPs in Western Pacific Despite Growing Tension with China

9 August 2022

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) on June 24, 2022

U.S. warships will continue to make Taiwan Strait transits and perform freedom of navigation operations in the Indo-Pacific despite the recent Chinese live fire drills, the undersecretary of defense for policy told reporters Monday.
The U.S. Navy is expected to conduct some freedom of navigation operations in the region in the coming days, Colin Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy, said during a press...

https://news.usni.org/2022/08/08/u-s-will-continue-taiwan-strait-transits-fonops-in-western-pacific-despite-growing-tension-with-china