Are we asking for war in the Pacific? A conversation with Lyle Goldstein

The headlines are almost scary these days: China and Russia together engaging in massive military drills — including live-fire exercises in the Sea of Japan — the US sailing so-called 'freedom of navigation" operations through the Taiwan strait, Taiwan boosting its defense budget in anticipation of a Chinese attack. The tensions are high since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi decided to visit Taipei this summer in a sort of declaration of defiance against China. Is the US asking for something it can't readily finish? China military expert and author Lyle Goldstein thinks so. He talks to us this week about the strategic dynamics in the Pacific, and the potential consequences of American hubris. In the second segment, Kelley and Dan discuss "The Rise of the Liberal Hawks" — the latest attempt by the Atlantic magazine to smear anyone who doesn't agree with the company line.

More from Lyle Goldstein:

How Beijing Is Changing Its Rules Around Taiwan — Defense One, 8/16/22

The US should keep a cool head over China’s courting of the Solomon Islands  — The Hill, 4/27/22

The new Indo-Pacific Strategy is too shallow — Defense News, 2/24/22 

Stop counting warships. China's special-operations forces are Taiwan's real problem — Insider, 1/22/22

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