BIG worry for Xi Jinping as Indonesia shows how China can be defeated, PLA’s ‘Cabbage Strategy’ can be crushed through…, US also plans to…

Senator Cotton asked him, "In the past few years, you have said that Taiwan is an important interest, but it is not a matter of existence for us. It is not essential for us. Can you tell us why you have somewhat softened your stance on Taiwan's defense?"

Jakarta: Elbridge Colby is one of the most aggressive officials when it comes to China, and if he gets Senate approval to become the US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, it will confirm that the real concern of the Donald Trump administration is not Russia but China.

He has consistently argued that the US should shift its focus away from Europe and toward China and the Indo-Pacific. Elbridge Colby views Chinese dominance in the Indo-Pacific as the biggest threat to the U.S., jeopardizing its security, freedom, and prosperity. However, his stance on Taiwan has faced resistance, with even Republican senators raising tough questions about his position.

Senator Cotton asked him, “In the past few years, you have said that Taiwan is an important interest, but it is not a matter of existence for us. It is not essential for us. Can you tell us why you have somewhat softened your stance on Taiwan’s defense?”

To this, Kobli replied that he has always said that Taiwan is “very important” for the United States, but he argued that considering the shift in the “military balance” between the United States and China, it is not an “existential interest.”

What is Elbridge Colby’s view on China?

Elbridge Colby told a senator, “Senator, what has changed is the dramatic decline in military balance. Getting involved in a futile and excessively expensive effort will destroy our military.” He further emphasized that there is “a lack of preparation on our part” to counter China in its sphere of influence. Colby argued that Taiwan’s defense spending is less than 3 percent of its GDP and needs to be increased to 10 percent.

According to him, Taiwan is making weak efforts to strengthen its security. It is worth noting that Taiwan’s President William Lai promised last month to increase military spending from 2.45 percent of GDP this year to 3 percent, aiming to show his defense commitment to the Trump administration. However, Taiwan’s parliament has still blocked the file that would increase the defense budget.

What is the Indonesian Model to Defeat China?

In an article, U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Joel N. Ree has suggested that the Indonesian model can be followed to counter China. Ree explained how, since the 1970s, China has used the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM), the China Coast Guard, and the outermost layer, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), to implement the “cabbage strategy” to seize sovereign territory from neighboring states.

American strategists divide China’s maritime strategy into six series. The “First Island Chain” includes islands stretching from the Kurils, Japan’s home islands, and the Ryukyus to Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The “Second Chain” extends from Japan to the Marianas and Micronesia, while the “Third Chain” is centered on Hawaii.