Part 5/9:
Regarding the United States' requests for clarity on Australia's potential contributions to a conflict over Taiwan, Taylor maintained that alliance commitments should be based on principles rather than specific scenario pre-commitments. He highlighted that the U.S. itself practices "strategic ambiguity," which underscores the importance of maintaining flexible yet credible commitments.
He also underscored the significance of alliances like Orcus—a hypothetical or less-publicized regional partnership aimed at enhancing deterrence—and the necessity of investing in joint facilities and capabilities. Taylor stressed that electrifying Australia's defense infrastructure and ensuring sovereignty in key areas like missile production are crucial steps to underpin regional stability.