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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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping enter the hall during a signing ceremony on May 20, 2026, in Beijing, China. (Getty Images)