U.S.-Taiwan ties critical in countering China's influence

Taiwan plays a significant role in U.S.-China relations. China views Taiwan as part of its territory. Meanwhile, the U.S. sees Taiwan as crucial for limiting China's influence in Asia. Despite not officially recognizing Taiwan as an independent nation, the U.S. has supported its defense for many years. The U.S. has sold weapons to Taiwan and pledged to defend it if China were to attack. Taiwan is vital not only for its status as a self-governing democracy but also for its strategic location. A takeover by China would threaten U.S. allies in the region and disrupt global technology supply chains, as Taiwan is a leader in semiconductor production. Historically, after World War II, Taiwan was placed under the Republic of China, led by the Nationalist Party. The Chinese Civil War led to the Nationalist government fleeing to Taiwan in 1949. The U.S. then provided support to Taiwan but later shifted its stance as China grew more powerful. In 1979, the U.S. established diplomatic relations with mainland China, which required the U.S. to end its formal ties with Taiwan. To ensure Taiwan's defense, the U.S. passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979. This act allowed continued arms sales to Taiwan and maintained non-diplomatic relations, while adopting a policy of "strategic ambiguity" regarding military support. Tensions have increased recently due to a warming relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan, notably through trade agreements and high-level visits by U.S. officials. President Biden has stated that the U.S. would defend Taiwan, despite U.S. policy not officially changing. The potential return of Donald Trump to the presidency could shift this dynamic further. Trump's transactional approach raises concerns, as he has suggested Taiwan increase its defense spending and might link U.S. support to Taiwan's financial contributions. Such changes could affect the long-standing relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan as tensions with China continue to rise.