TAIWAN
For years, China has used significant pressure to force Taiwan to accept China’s One China vision, which essentially gives China complete control of Taiwan, a democratic nation off the coast of China. Plus, China has persuaded many diplomatic partners to not recognize Taiwan at all. As a result, only 11 countries officially recognize the island.
The 2024 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community, released February 2024, predicts:
The PRC combines its economic heft with its growing military power and its diplomatic and technological dominance for a coordinated approach to strengthen CCP rule, secure what it views as its sovereign territory and regional preeminence, and pursue global power. In particular, Beijing uses these whole-of- government tools to compel others to acquiesce to its preferences, including its assertions of sovereignty over Taiwan.
In 2024, following Taiwan’s presidential and legislative election, Beijing will continue to apply military and economic pressure as well as public messaging and influence activities while promoting long-term cross-Strait economic and social integration to induce Taiwan to move toward unification.
Taiwan is a significant potential flashpoint for confrontation between the PRC and the United States as Beijing claims that the United States is using Taiwan to undermine China’s rise. Beijing will use even stronger measures to push back against perceived increases in U.S. support to Taiwan.
Although the 1979 U.S.-P.R.C. Joint Communique officially changed U.S. diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing – meaning the United States recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and considers Taiwan a part of China – the United States has always had a great unofficial relationship with Taiwan.
Further, the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, obligates the United States to assist Taiwan in maintaining its defensive capability, demands peaceful resolutions between Beijing and Taipei, and forbids unilateral changes to the status quo by either side.
Taiwan is one of our most trusted Pacific alliances, plus they make things we need…like semiconductors, for example. Already a leading manufacturer of computer chips, Taiwan will undoubtedly continue to be at the forefront of the race for global technological domination – a contest that will be primarily between China and the United States.
Regardless of how China reacts to the relationship, the United States must remain committed to Taiwan and protect the island with every tool at our disposal.