Guam's first-ever test intercept of a ballistic missile was described by the U.S. military as a “pivotal step” and a “critical milestone” in America’s first line of defense in case of war with China. In 2020, the PLA released a propaganda video showing an attack on Guam's Andersen Air Force Base, which would deny the U.S. military use of land-based aircraft in the western Pacific. Furthermore, Beijing's growing arsenal of DF-26 intermediate-range missiles, nicknamed the "Guam Express", can reach the U.S. territory of Guam from China. Why is Guam so strategically important for the U.S., and how significant is it in the defense of Taiwan?
Our guests:
Guermantes Lailari
- Retired U.S. Air Force Foreign Area Officer
Raymond Sung
- Prospect Foundation Vice President