How Iran’s strikes on US bases could offer a preview for the Asia-Pacific

Iran’s retaliatory strikes on US military assets across the Middle East serve as a preview of how Beijing might target American bases in Asian countries in the event of a Taiwan Strait conflict, according to analysts.In retaliation for large-scale air attacks by the US and Israel since February 28, Iran has launched missiles and drones at Gulf states that host US military bases and facilities, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.Those targets included Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military base in the Middle East, which serves as the regional headquarters of the United States Central Command.At least 11 American military bases or installations across the Middle East have been damaged, around half of those in the region, according to a March 11 report by The New York Times, citing anonymous US officials.Analysts said the retaliatory strikes could serve as a template for a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing might consider actions against US allies hosting American military assets such as Japan, the Philippines and South Korea.“These moves by Iran against nearby US military bases in the Persian Gulf region do absolutely highlight the possibility that in a Taiwan scenario that China would likely target US bases throughout the Asia-Pacific region,” said Lyle Goldstein, a senior fellow at Brown University’s Watson School of International and Public Affairs.