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"When Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby met Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in New York this month, he said there would be “no change” to the U.S.-Philippine defense alliance, according to Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez, the Philippine ambassador to the U.S. “We were told there’s no immediate concern,” Romualdez said. “But we may have to review that depending on how long this Iran crisis continues.”

Some analysts say the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, along with the U.S. capture of Venezuelan strongman leader Nicolás Maduro, have been a show of American military might that could deter China from attempting to forcibly retake Taiwan or expand its claims over contested territory in the South China and East China Seas. That deterrence only works, however, if U.S. capabilities are readily available in Asia, said Chen, the Taiwanese legislator.

“Military assets cannot be deployed at two places at the same time … Even though United States is a very resourceful country, there is a limit,” he said from his office in Taipei.

Chen said he is worried that if the U.S. sends troops into Iran, it could be the start of a complicated, drawn-out occupation like in Iraq or Afghanistan. Another concern is Taiwan’s dependence on Middle Eastern fuel, which has been choked off by Iran. If the conflict extends another month, Chen said, Taiwan’s leaders will be wholly absorbed by an energy crisis, with little time to focus on China’s military buildup or its increasing efforts to infiltrate Taiwanese society."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/03/28/us-iran-war-japan-oil-prices/

#Asia #Taiwan #Philippines #China #USA #Trump #Iran #Imperialism