U.S. defense policy increasingly reflects the view that U.S. threats to defend its Asian allies, and Taiwan, are becoming less credible as Chinese power rises. This view is wrong. Geography and technological trends mean defenders have the advantage - whether the power playing defense is China or its would-be rivals. While the Chinese threat to Taiwan remains worrisome, Asia's defensive advantages are good news for the U.S. as a supporter of the Asian status quo.

One minor note: the major European city that is as close to Taipei as Sydney is is MOSCOW, not London.  

Benjamin H. Friedman is policy director at Defense Priorities and a PhD candidate in political science at the MIT.  He previously worked as a Defense Analyst at the Cato Institute and a Researcher at the Center for Defense Information. He's edited three books on defense policy and strategy and has published in a number of academic journals and major publications.  

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