Prioritizing Ukraine Threatens Deterrence in the Pacific

Deterring China has far less to do with the war in Ukraine than it does with convincing Xi Jinping that U.S. and Taiwanese forces will be able to soundly defeat a Chinese assault. Prioritizing Ukraine at the expense of U.S. and Taiwanese forces in the Pacific has not only detracted from America’s ability to do just that. It may also cause Beijing to doubt America’s commitment to Taiwan’s defense.