Mariana El-khouri
Rising U.S and China Tensions: How to Secure the Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait, being a 245-mile-long stretch of water, isn’t just a geographical divide; it is also a flashpoint that could determine the future of global power dynamics. It just so happens to be one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, as it links the Middle East and Europe with Northeast Asia. This allows for the trade of natural resources, consumer goods, and food to be distributed with ease. The United States also views Taiwan as an important middleman in the island chain that runs from Borneo to South Korea. This chain assists in reducing the deployment of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the Western Pacific. However, China has different ideas regarding the Taiwan Strait. President Xi Jinping has set a goal for ‘national rejuvenation’ with Taiwan. In China’s narrative, Taiwan and mainland China were separated because of a once weak nation, and this will be resolved once the country of Taiwan is reunited with the mainland as ‘One China’ under the Communist Party. The ‘One China’ Policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act to have U.S. unofficial security relations with Taiwan, always remains consistent. However, China is consistently applying military pressure against Taiwan. The United States needs to establish a more interactive and protective role in securing the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan itself from China.
Over the years, China has grown to become a dominant global superpower. America makes up roughly 20% of the global GDP and is a strong economic force, whereas China is the only country today that has been able to match up to America so far. By making up around 20% of global GDP, China does not currently overpower the United States economically. However, they are a significant threat because of the heavy trade imbalance in China's favor; this will be especially problematic if they end up being able to dominate the continent of Asia economically, with Asia leading all continents and making up 50% of global GDP, it places China in a strong position to dominate global politics.
The Taiwan Strait ultimately separates the state of Taiwan and mainland China and is also connected to the 160-mile-wide Luzon Strait that divides Taiwan from the Philippines. To further emphasize this distinction, Taiwan retreated from mainland China (People’s Republic of China) and established itself as the Republic of China in 1912. Because most of the world’s container ships pass through the Taiwan and Luzon Straits, whichever country has control over these waterways has leverage to block access or cut supplies to any adversaries during times of diplomatic tension. Not only that, but China would also have the ability to pursue a form of hegemonic imperial control over the surrounding independent islands of Asia, as well as the continent itself.
Taiwan is in a crucial position as it connects to other islands that China doesn’t have as easy access to, known as the ‘first island chain.’ This ‘first island chain’ is controlled by U.S. allies and houses military bases. If the ‘first island chain’ were to end up in the hands of the Chinese, America would lose control over economic shipments as well as its strategic buffer between the Chinese mainland and U.S. territories in the Pacific. This break in the first island chain will put China in a position of deeper military access in the Pacific using the Taiwan Strait as a foundation and break through to the two surrounding islands of Japan and the Philippines.
With all that is on the line for the United States, crucial steps need to be swiftly taken to secure the Taiwan Strait. While Taiwan has always had the luxury of natural defenses, such as its eastern mountains, to protect itself from a Chinese invasion, the state of China has since then advanced its military capabilities, and as a result, Taiwan is now in dire need of support. To avoid this chaos, the United States needs to highlight how China's threat to Taiwan’s peace will directly impact the rest of the global community. If more are aware of how critical the Taiwan Strait and the country itself are to regional stability, more assistance will be granted from other stakeholders.
In response to the increased competition between the United States and China, the United States should enhance its military power and actively improve Taiwan’s security in all dimensions. Expanding the U.S. Navy's presence in the Indo-Pacific, particularly with aircraft carriers, destroyers, and submarines equipped with advanced anti-ship and anti-submarine capabilities, would assist in reassuring dominance in the Taiwan Strait.
Supporting Taiwan in a military sense will ultimately make an invasion from China more difficult and assist in protecting the control of the Taiwan Strait. This includes providing Taiwan with small and hard-to-detect systems such as drones and coastal defense systems tools to counteract China's numerical superiority. Coordinating with allies of the United States as well, such as Europe, to align with policies on Taiwan and advocate for their inclusion in global health forums would strengthen Taiwan’s international standing.
For instance, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expressed its gratitude to the United States in their joint agreement with Japan and Australia in their call for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. This alliance allows for the burden of military strength to be passed on to other countries that can support protecting Taiwan from China and its military. Because of Taiwan’s geographical placement, maintaining a commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities will ensure that global stability and international economic endeavors are protected.
To protect regional stability and preserve the international rules-based order in the face of escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the United States must act quickly to strengthen its leadership position and collaborate closely with partners. The United States can safeguard its strategic interests and guarantee that Taiwan continues to be an indicator of democracy in the increasingly disputed Indo-Pacific by combining military deterrence, diplomatic engagement, and economic resilience. The stakes are high, and failure to act might undermine the confidence of U.S. pledges to its friends and encourage further authoritarian aggression across the globe. This is why the United States must make it evident that peace and security in the Taiwan Strait are not only regional issues but also urgent global priorities by promoting a unified collaborative strategy.
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