{"id":40822,"date":"2021-12-08T16:03:10","date_gmt":"2021-12-08T16:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/12\/08\/on-deterring-russia-and-china-pentagon-officials-walk-a-fine-line\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:21:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:21:49","slug":"on-deterring-russia-and-china-pentagon-officials-walk-a-fine-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2021\/12\/08\/on-deterring-russia-and-china-pentagon-officials-walk-a-fine-line\/","title":{"rendered":"On deterring Russia and China, Pentagon officials walk a fine line"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SIMI VALLEY, Calif. \u2014 Although Saturday\u2019s Reagan National Defense Forum had no shortage of concerned statements from senior military officials about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2021\/12\/07\/how-might-allies-respond-if-russia-invades-ukraine\/\" target=\"_blank\">potential Russian<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/smr\/reagan-defense-forum\/2021\/12\/04\/air-forces-new-goal-get-rid-of-planes-that-dont-scare-china\/\" target=\"_blank\">Chinese aggression<\/a>, details \u2014 or even hints \u2014 on what the Pentagon might do to deter or respond were hard to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cautious tone reflects the delicate balance being struck by Pentagon officials as they try to signal potential adversaries shouldn\u2019t act \u2014 while attempting not to inflame already high regional tensions, inadvertently provoke a reaction or back President Joe Biden into a corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou heard the president say yesterday he\u2019s looking at a number of initiatives [on how to assist Ukraine], so I won\u2019t get out in front of my boss,\u201d Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a discussion with Fox News journalist Bret Baier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But some Republicans want to see more concrete moves or signals from the administration making it clear to Russia or China they will pay a price for aggressive actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is a moment in time where we need to show leadership,\u201d Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said at a panel earlier that day. \u201cWe need to push back and say, \u2018Putin, you can\u2019t do this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his keynote address to attendees at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Austin previewed his concept of \u201cintegrated deterrence\u201d to counter China, which aims to ensure the military works with the rest of the U.S. government, allies and partners to make \u201cthe folly and cost of aggression very clear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stressed that the while U.S. will work with allies in the region to strengthen free and stable international systems based on rules and free from coercion, it doesn\u2019t seek to build an \u201canti-China coalition\u201d or \u201can Asian version of NATO.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And he said his integrated deterrence concept would leverage American technology and operational concepts \u2014 including artificial intelligence and nanotechnology \u2014 to dissuade aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Austin sought to lower the temperature surrounding the debate over China, emphasizing the strength of American industry and innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re clear-eyed about the challenge China presents,\u201d Austin said. \u201cBut China\u2019s not 10 feet tall. This is America.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, Austin tried not to downplay the seriousness of the geopolitical situation. He said China\u2019s efforts to rapidly develop military capability and actions in the region \u2014 such as October\u2019s flight of 52 fighters and bombers toward Taiwan in a major show of force \u2014 are worrying. He said the Pentagon will continue to speak out against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt looks a lot like rehearsals,\u201d Austin acknowledged of the flights near Taiwan. He said the U.S. is \u201cdoing a lot to support Taiwan right now\u201d and would look for ways to do more, but wouldn\u2019t detail what that might mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With China and Russia attacking U.S. satellites with lasers and jamming devices, and even a widely-condemned Russian <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/battlefield-tech\/space\/2021\/11\/15\/russia-tests-anti-satellite-weapon-astronauts-take-cover\/\" target=\"_blank\">anti-satellite missile test<\/a> that flung dangerous debris in orbit, space is becoming an increasingly contested environment, Austin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked about the potential for adversaries to go too far and cross the line into acts of war in space, Austin cautioned, \u201cI\u2019ve always found that it\u2019s never a good idea to publish red lines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pressed on what the U.S. might do if Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, Austin declined to elaborate, saying that would be speculating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The possibility of a looming Russian invasion of Ukraine also hung over the conference \u2014 but as with China, officials were hesitant to lay their cards on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said on the panel with Ernst he is \u201cvery, very concerned\u201d about intelligence reports indicating some 95,000 to 100,000 Russian soldiers are positioned on the border with Ukraine. McConville said he doesn\u2019t know what Russia might do, but said that posture gives them \u201ca lot of options\u201d and could deal a blow to stability and security in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Austin said the U.S. would ensure Ukraine has what it needs to protect its sovereignty and has already provided weapons and non-lethal equipment. Previous military aid has included Javelin anti-tank weapons, mortars and others. Austin wouldn\u2019t say if Ukrainian assistance would include advisers or additional equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ernst again urged the administration to be aggressive with Russia to deter them from taking actions like they did in Georgia and Crimea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McConville said a \u201cwhole of government \u2026 and whole of Europe\u201d effort would be needed to deter Russia, but deferred to more senior officials to lay out how that might happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s peace through strength,\u201d McConville said. \u201cThe way you deter is you impose some type of cost to make sure the cost is worth more than the benefit. It may be even a global effort, making sure people understand, you can\u2019t just go into a sovereign country and conduct malign activities without having some type of cost.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But throughout the conference, officials\u2019 desire to find a middle ground was clear \u2014 as was the trickiness of that task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re in a competition with China, but we don\u2019t have to be in a conflict,\u201d Austin said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sought to assure the Reagan Defense Forum that &#8220;China&#8217;s not 10 feet tall,&#8221; but was often hesitant to get 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