TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that to deter China militarily, the cost of invading Taiwan must be more than it is worth.

Rubio was speaking at the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing to review the State Department’s budget next year, per CNA. He responded to senators’ questions on US diplomacy, its position on the Ukraine War, and responses to a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan. 

Republican Senator John Cornyn questioned Rubio on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s reported ambitions to take Taiwan by 2027. Rubio said that deterrence is the key. 

"In essence, it has to cost more than what it's worth,” Rubio said. "The harder they are to take militarily, the more time I think they buy for themselves.” 

Rubio said that deterrence starts with building Taiwan's self-defense capabilities. The Indo-Pacific region also needs to build deterrence, he added. 

Rubio said European allies are paying more attention to the Indo-Pacific region. When he was in Turkey for the NATO foreign ministers' meeting last week, several members were concerned about the impact of an Indo-Pacific conflict on Europe.

Rubio also stressed the need to end current conflicts. He said conflicts in the Middle East, Europe, or other parts of the world mean less time and resources the US can invest in the Indo-Pacific region.

Senator Lindsay Graham asked whether the US approach to ending the Russo-Ukrainian War would affect how China views its attitude towards Taiwan. Rubio responded that this was possible, but added that if the US can end wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, it would be able to focus on long-term challenges, especially those in the Indo-Pacific.