Senator Marco Rubio emphasized the need for a robust deterrent against Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, warning that Beijing must perceive an invasion of Taiwan as a prohibitively costly endeavor.
Speaking at a security forum in Washington, the Florida Republican asserted that only a clear and credible threat of retaliation both economic and military can dissuade China from taking unilateral action against the self-governed island.
“We have to make sure that Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party calculate that taking Taiwan is not worth the cost,” Rubio said. “That means strengthening our alliances, boosting Taiwan’s defenses, and making our military presence in the region unmistakable.”
The senator, a senior member of the Senate Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committees, criticized what he called “ambiguous or weak signals” from Western nations, arguing they embolden Beijing’s territorial ambitions.
Rubio’s remarks come amid growing concerns in Washington over China’s military buildup near the Taiwan Strait and its increasingly assertive behavior. Analysts believe the 2027–2030 timeframe may pose the highest risk for potential Chinese action, prompting U.S. lawmakers to push for accelerated weapons sales and military coordination with Taipei.
The Chinese government considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. The U.S., while maintaining a One-China policy, is bound by the Taiwan Relations Act to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
Rubio called for an expansion of joint military exercises with regional allies, expedited delivery of defense systems to Taiwan, and enhanced cybersecurity cooperation. “The goal is peace through strength,” he said. “We don’t want a war in the Pacific, but we must be prepared to prevent one.”