Why China will need a ‘more persuasive security offer’ to win over middle powers
Just weeks before Chinese leader Xi Jinping is due to visit the White House, tensions have flared between Washington and its allies after one of the administration’s sharpest rebukes yet. Speaking in Manila on August 10, Elbridge Colby, undersecretary of defence for policy, pressed regional partners to increase defence spending and align more closely with American priorities. He said Washington…
As Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares for a visit to the White House, tensions have risen between Washington and its allies over allegations of a "middle powers" strategy. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby recently urged regional partners to ramp up defense spending and closer alignment with American priorities, warning against superficial ideas of middle-power alliances that exclude the United States.
Colby's comments echo the administration's criticism of allies, sometimes employing it as a form of leverage, and have sparked debate among US allies about balancing dependence on Washington while reducing reliance on China. However, experts argue that China's offer of security and benefits is selective, transactional, and lacks dependable security guarantees, making it an unsuitable substitute for the American security umbrella.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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