In Munich, the US urges ‘collective strength’ among allies to deter China

Chinese military activities – and the need to respond to them – were framed as a major driver of cooperation between US allies in the Indo-Pacific and Europe during this year’s Munich Security Conference (MSC).It comes as Washington pushes its allies to spend more on their own defence and in the collective defence of the “First Island Chain” to deter potential war with China.Speaking at the conference on Saturday, Elbridge Colby, US undersecretary of defence for policy, said that while Washington wanted a “stable and respectful” relationship with China and to avoid conflict, this could only be done from a “position of strength” economically and militarily, with a focus on working with allies in “collective strength” for the First Island Chain.The First Island Chain is a series of islands and archipelagos in East Asia, running from Japan to the Philippines. It includes Taiwan, which Beijing views as part of China to be reunited by force, if necessary.Most countries, including the US and its allies, do not recognise self-governed Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any forcible change to the status quo and is legally bound to supply Taipei with weapons for defence.While stressing that Washington sought “stability” in the Taiwan Strait, Colby said the US was not trying to “strangle” Beijing.