S8 Ep881: Elbridge Colby explains that a denial defense focuses on preventing China from successfully executing a fait accompli by denying their ability to seize and hold key territory. The primary goal is to degrade or destroy the invasion force while it is most v

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John Batchelor

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🗓️ 17 May 2026

⏱️ 11 minutes

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Summary

Elbridge Colby explains that a denial defense focuses on preventing China from successfully executing a fait accompli by denying their ability to seize and hold key territory. The primary goal is to degrade or destroy the invasion force while it is most vulnerable—during transit across the Taiwan Strait or while preparing on the mainland. Unlike the total dominance the U.S. enjoyed in the 20th century, Colby argues that denial is a more attainable standard given China'smassive economic and military strength. Success is measured by keeping the target state "on side" rather than achieving a total defeat. (5/8)
NOV 1931

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is CBS Eye on the World with John Batchelor.
0:10.0	Here's John Batchelor.
0:12.1	This is CBSI on the world.
0:13.9	I'm John Bachelor.
0:14.9	Elbridge Colby.
0:15.8	His new book is The Strategy of Denial,
0:18.4	American Defense in an Age of Great power conflict. This is the future
0:22.9	based upon prologue, the past, about a contest between the great power, the United
0:29.5	States of America and the great power of the People's Republic of China. We will also mention
0:34.7	the great power of the Russian Federation.
0:39.4	We will look to the EU and NATO.
0:46.3	But right now we're dealing with a scenario that is not here, and we do not welcome it. But it's very likely possibility of all the choices in an armed conflict, which is the People's Republic of China launching an invasion
0:57.5	against Taiwan, a fatal compli invasion, invasion. An invasion such as was imagined by Mao,
1:06.7	I'm told before the Korean War, many of the soldiers that wound up counterattacking the American
1:12.9	advance to the Yalu were scheduled to invade Taiwan, is the story.
1:18.8	We come now to the 21st century, and we start with denial defense, which is the best choice for the U.S. and its coalition against China.
1:30.2	We need definitions.
1:31.4	Bridge, what is denial defense?
1:33.9	How does it work?
1:35.6	A denial defense is basically the ability to deny China, its ability to subordinate
1:41.7	one of the members of the anti-hegemonic coalition,
1:45.4	and in this case, Taiwan. So it's an ability to keep Taiwan going on side, on our side.
	...

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