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. In fact, China has persuaded many diplomatic partners to not recognize Taiwan at all. As a result, only 12 countries officially recognize the island: Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Marshall Islands, Palau, Paraguay, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Eswatini and Tuvalu.

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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 relationship with Taiwan.

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Further, the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 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. 

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Taiwan is one of our most trusted Pacific alliances, and the island is a bright spot for democracy around the world. The United States must be committed to Taiwan and protect the island with every tool at our disposal.

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We must develop a strategy now, because Chinese president Xi Jinping will most definitely force a confrontation over Taiwan eventually (probably sooner rather than later). In many ways, it’s already started. China’s increasingly complex military exercises in the waters around Taiwan now include Chinese forces encircling Taiwan and simulating blockades. China is also increasing its incursions into Taiwan’s airspace.

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We cannot let this happen. If China seizes Taiwan, it will destabilize the entire first island chain, a perimeter of American allies that stretch from Japan to Southeast Asia. The global economic crisis that it will ignite will make COVID’s look like child’s play. And remember, if China invades Taiwan, Xi Jinping won’t stop there. From there, he will aim to reshape the entire Indo-Pacific regional order and undermine the rules-based global economy – by any means necessary.