Washington: The likelihood of China invading Taiwan without contest is “very, very small” because the Taiwan Strait is under constant surveillance by multiple countries, a U.S. general has said. General Ronald Clark, commanding officer of the U.S. Army’s largest service component command, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), made the remarks during a dialogue hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

According to Focus Taiwan, General Clark emphasized that the skill and will of American service members are “unmatched,” which is a lesson the Chinese military has learned from its U.S. counterpart. He highlighted the Taiwan issue as a focal point for U.S. strategic planning, particularly concerning countering a cross-strait invasion, which he described as the most dangerous course of action.

The U.S. Army’s strategy involves building its warfighter program at the division and corps levels to counter a wet gap crossing, a military maneuver involving creating means to cross a body of water. In the Taiwan context, this refers to moving People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops and equipment across the Taiwan Strait. Clark noted that the 80-mile wet gap is under constant surveillance by multiple countries, making an uncontested or successful crossing unlikely.

The U.S. continues to build partnerships across the region with allies and partners in conducting Taiwan Strait transits. These partnerships aim to build the interoperability necessary to contest China’s aggressive activities. General Clark stressed the importance of teamwork and understanding the mission among U.S. military personnel.

The U.S. Army Pacific, headquartered at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, with elements stationed throughout the Indo-Pacific, frequently conducts “freedom of navigation” sailings through the Taiwan Strait. Allies such as Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan have also participated in similar transits. Most recently, the British Royal Navy’s HMS Spey transited through the Taiwan Strait on June 18.