Representative Mike Gallagher (R., WI.) emphasized the importance of hard power in deterring Chinese aggression, saying the U.S. needs to “arm Taiwan to the teeth” during a National Review Institute conference on Monday.
Gallagher sat down with National Review board member John Hillen as part of NRI’s seminar: “The Case for American Power; Why we must lead the free world.” Asked about the idea of “integrated deterrence,” or investing in national security through the construction and maintenance of alliances, technology, and other kinds of soft power, Gallagher expressed his skepticism.
Gallagher argued that integrated deterrence is merely a “clever phrase” to describe cuts to traditional hard power, including ships, munitions, and troops.
“Soft power can play a supporting role,” but making cuts to hard power investments weakens soft power capabilities, said Gallagher. Only hard power can provide solutions to the country’s “most stressing national security problems,” he argued.
He finished by noting that in Ukraine “we [the United States] deliberately led with soft power, and it failed.”
Gallagher also stressed the importance of responsible presidential rhetoric, citing the failure of the Obama administration to follow through on its promise to respond to the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
He said that to avoid such disasters, the U.S. should seek to deter through “denial” instead of “punishment,” because it prevents presidents from failing to follow through, maintaining American credibility.
According to Gallagher, the competition between the U.S. and China could be a slow-burn, or end “all at once” with the invasion of Taiwan — an eventuality, he was quick to point out, that soft power doesn’t address.
What could deter an invasion, said Gallagher, would be subs, special operators, and other forces in the “weapon engagement zone,” as well as a stockpiling of munitions and fully-staffed and equipped bases in the Indo-Pacific region.
Gallagher, a member of the House Armed Services committee, asserted that China is “set on destroying” the U.S-led world order.