The Asia Chessboard Ely Ratner - Does Asia Need a Collective Defense Pact?
Jan 6, 2026
Ely Ratner joins to discuss his extensive experience in U.S.-China strategic competition and Indo-Pacific security. He highlights the urgent need for a more cohesive strategy in Washington as crises often spark necessary focus on national security. Ratner explores the increasing demands from allies for advanced capabilities, stressing the importance of a formal Pacific defense pact to deter China. He also addresses the implications of rising military spending among allies and the need for credible, cooperative deterrence strategies in the region.
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Say-Do Gap On China
- Washington has a large say-do gap on China: policies declare urgency but actions and resources lag.
- Beijing is advancing across domains while U.S. efforts remain uneven and under-resourced.
Early Pentagon China Task Force
- Ely Ratner ran a China task force on Inauguration Day before confirmation.
- The task force found many pockets of excellence but no comprehensive synchronized Pentagon strategy.
Dual Challenge: Kinetic And Gray-Zone
- Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific must address both high-end warfighting and gray-zone coercion simultaneously.
- Sole focus on kinetic deterrence risks neglecting South China Sea, Pacific Islands, and other non-kinetic threats.
