China must see invading Taiwan as not worth the cost: Marco Rubio

Taipei, May 21 (CNA) U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Tuesday (U.S. time) that deterring a conflict initiated by China over Taiwan requires making the cost "more than what it's worth" for Beijing.

Rubio made the remark in response to a question from Republican Senator John Cornyn, who warned that Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed the People's Liberation Army to "be ready to take Taiwan" by 2027.

"In essence, it has to cost more than what it's worth," Rubio said, alluding to Beijing's ambitions to annex the island.

"Deterrence is the key," Rubio said, adding that "deterrence obviously begins with Taiwan's own self-defense capabilities."

"The harder they are to take militarily, the more time I think they buy for themselves," he said.

He called for "a credible regional deterrent" involving Japan and other allied countries, and said European allies were showing greater interest in the Indo-Pacific.

He added that at a NATO foreign ministers gathering in Turkey last week, several member states raised concerns about how a potential conflict in the region could affect Europe.

Cornyn also voiced concern that the U.S. and its allies may not be adequately prepared for a conflict with China over Taiwan.

Rubio, who officially serves as the principal advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump on all foreign affairs matters, said that when America responds to conflicts in Europe or the Middle East, resources are pulled from the Indo-Pacific.

"We would like to be able to do all things everywhere, but the fact of the matter is, there are finite resources, and there's only 24 hours in every day," he said.

At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing later the same day, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham asked if the way the U.S. "ends the war in Ukraine with Russia" could affect China's calculus on Taiwan.

"I think the way we end the war [in Ukraine] could impact how China views it," Rubio replied, without elaborating.