This is John Batcher, conversation with Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, United States Navy retired

at the Foundation for the Defense of democracies, along with his colleague Brad Bowman of the

FTD as well.

About deterrence and Taiwan.

Is it adequate for Taiwan to spend 2.5% of its budget

on defense and other considerations.

Here the Admiral speaks to deterrence

and what the Chinese learned from the conduct of the United States

these last years.

In probes, provocations of the South China Sea, in the same in the East China Sea,

and looking to Afghanistan. What model is that for the Chinese?

This is Admiral Mark Montgomery, United States Navy retired on deterrence and its

discontents. More of this tonight.

And we look like a terrible partner in Ukraine, even though we're giving them all this money

all this treasure and no blood all the restrictions we put on Ukrainian use looks like we're

telling him to play for Thai that hurts deterrence so John when the Chinese are pressurizing us in the South

China Sea and the East China Sea, which are the two examples that you've

brought up, you know South China Sea with the Philippines and East China Sea with

Japan, and when they pressurized Taiwan what they're really doing is

they're trying to find out they're probing and they're saying is the United States

is weak here in Asia as they appear to be in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan and in Europe with

Ukraine and if they decide the answers yes it doesn't really matter how much

...