fight in Ukraine helps Pentagon prepare for potential fight with China

The US Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks has said that the Pentagon will use the lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict to help Taiwan in a potential conflict with China. The US has used the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to speed up the transfer of stockpiles to Ukraine and plans to do the same with Taiwan. The Pentagon is committed to making sure that China does not undertake aggression that threatens US interests. In December, US President Joe Biden signed the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes $2 billion in military loans to Taipei. The law allows Washington to muster an emergency stockpile of ammunition worth up to $100 million on or near the island.

Beijing has held large-scale military exercises around the island in response to a visit by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to the US. China has accused Washington of backing “secessionist forces” on the island. The US supports the 'One China' policy and has been selling arms to the local authorities and promised to defend the island in case of an invasion.