John Lee appears on Taiwan Talks to discuss how the Iran war is offering a real-time stress test for a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Despite the United States's overwhelming military power, Iran has demonstrated how a weaker actor can impose costs, threaten distant bases, and exploit escalation dynamics.
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US sailors conduct routine maintenance on a jet blast deflector on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz on July 9, 2025. (US Navy)