How would the region respond to a hole left in its defenses if Washington diverted ships and missiles it now uses to deter China? If the war dragged on, there was a realistic possibility that the US could draw down its naval strength in Asia to reinforce the Iran conflict, he added. The Iran conflict is also depleting reserves of US munitions, about which experts have long warned. Since then, Trump has captured the leader of Venezuela in an audacious military strike, threatened to annex Greenland and teamed with Israel to launch the air war against Iran. By hitting Venezuela and Iran, Trump weakened two of its allies that sent China streams of cheap oil, buoying its economy.

Source: Taipei Times March 05, 2026 18:10 UTC