The Tea Leaves Podcast

Former USINDOPACOM Commander Adm. Philip S. Davidson Examines Taiwan’s Deterrence Capabilities
Admiral Philip S. Davidson served as the 25th Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command from 2018 to 2021. Before leading USINDOPACOM, Admiral Davidson held U.S. Navy leadership roles in North America, Europe, and Africa, and served ashore in multiple policy, strategy, and operations roles; these included service as senior military advisor to the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP) at the State Department, deputy director for Strategy and Policy in the Joint Staff, and as the Navy’s military aide to the vice president of the United States. On this episode, Admiral Davidson examined China's strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific region, assessed the strengths and weaknesses of Taiwan's deterrence capabilities, and underscored the value of U.S. engagement and cooperation with allies and partners in the region.