US not disengaging from Asia, seeks 'partners, not protectorates': Pentagon official

Published Aug 10, 04:03 PM UTC

In a speech in Manila, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby stated that the United States is not disengaging from Asia but is 'digging in' to maintain a favorable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. He emphasized a strategy of deterrence by denial along the First Island Chain, which stretches from Japan to Taiwan, the Philippines, and Borneo. Colby called for allies to invest more in their own defense, seeking 'partners, not protectorates,' to strengthen deterrence. His remarks aim to counter concerns about Washington's reliability. The Philippines is the first stop on a trip that also includes Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia.