If he had to set priorities among the three systems, Cole said, he would place the greatest priority on the PC-3 patrol aircraft, and the least priority on the diesel-powered submarines, because "it's going to be so difficult to get them."
In his speech, Cole also raised doubts about the willingness of the US to come to Taiwan's aid in the event of hostile Chinese action.
In the case of an overt Chinese invasion, he said, "I think any American president would find it very difficult to stand up in front of the cameras and say, `No. Good luck Taiwan. We're not going to help you.'"
But if China took lesser actions, "there is a range of other military options that would make it very difficult for a president to intervene," he said.
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