VIRTUAL DEBATE: Is Taiwan Indefensible?

China recently sent 25 warplanes into Taiwanese air defense identification zone, the largest ever incursion into the region by the People's Liberation Army. The Biden administration is warning Beijing against an invasion, bolstering the island's defense with the sale of military hardware, but some argue that the scale of China's military presence has already surpassed anything the U.S. or Taiwan militaries could stop. Others, though, say American credibility is on the line, that the U.S. could indeed win if it had to, and that its political posturing should reflect that reality. On Thursday May 20, in partnership with Foreign Affairs, nonpartisan debate series Intelligence Squared U.S. digs into these questions with an invite-only preview screening of their latest debate, tackling the motion "Taiwan Is Indefensible."

Arguing in favor of the motion are Lyle Goldstein, a research professor in the China Maritime Studies Institute at the United States Naval War College, and Charlie Glaser, a political science professor whose research focuses on international relations theory and international security policy. Arguing against it are former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development Elbridge Colby and Political Science and International Affairs professor Elizabeth Larus, who has 30 years of research and practical experience in the domestic politics and foreign relations of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The viewing audience will vote to determine the winner, based on which side's numbers improve the most between pre- and post-debate votes. Polling will close and the winner will be announced seven days after the debate.

The debate will be released publicly on Friday, May 21 via public radio, video and the Intelligence Squared U.S. podcast. However, there is a private preview screening on May 20 at 4:30pm ET that will include a live roundtable Q&A with all four debaters as well as a guest appearance from Ian Bremmer, seven-time Intelligence Squared debater and founder of Eurasia Group and G-Zero Media. Media can email raypadgett@shorefire.com for press access.

FOR THE MOTION - BIOS

* Lyle J. Goldstein: Research Professor, China Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College 
Lyle J. Goldstein is research professor in the China Maritime Studies Institute at the United States Naval War College in Newport, RI. In addition to Chinese, he also speaks Russian and he is also an affiliate of the new Russia Maritime Studies Institute (RMSI) at Naval War College. He is the author of "Meeting China Halfway: How to Defuse the Emerging US-China Rivalry," among others.

* Charlie Glaser: Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University 
Charlie Glaser is professor of political science and international affairs and director of the Elliott School's Institute for Security and Conflict Studies at George Washington University. His research focuses on international relations theory and international security policy. He is the author of "Rational Theory of International Politics: The Logic of Competition and Cooperation," among others.

AGAINST THE MOTION - BIOS

* Elbridge Colby, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense 
Eldridge Colby served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Strategy and Force Development from 2017-2018, and is the former director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security. He currently serves as co-founder and Principal of The Marathon Initiative, a non-profit research organization focused on diplomatic, military, and economic strategies within great power rivalries. He is also the author of "The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict."

* Elizabeth Larus: Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, University of Mary Washington 
Elizabeth Larus is professor and department chair of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Mary Washington. She has 30 years of research and practical experience in the domestic politics and foreign relations of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. She has authored three books on China and more than twenty academic articles and book chapters on international relations in the Asia-Pacific. She is currently conducting research on U.S. naval diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific.

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
A non-partisan, non-profit organization, Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded to address a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics. Their mission is to restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to American public discourse. The award-winning debate series reaches millions of viewers and listeners through multi-platform distribution, including public radio, podcasts, live streaming, newsletters, interactive digital content, and on-demand apps including Roku and Apple TV. With over 180 debates and counting, Intelligence Squared U.S. has encouraged the public to "think twice" on a wide range of provocative topics. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated IQ2US since 2008.

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