Ask people in the US, Britain, France, Germany, and even Pacific region Japan if China and Taiwan are two separate countries and the answer overwhelmingly is yes, according to a new Gallup Poll survey. Such unanimity does not extend to the question of what to do should China invade Taiwan. On that issue, the survey shows that a clear majority of residents of the other countries favor using diplomacy only, while 42 percent of Americans think diplomacy only is the appropriate response and 23 percent favor a combination of diplomacy and military action.
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.