For decades, the US has been Taiwan’s most important backer in its efforts to keep Beijing at a distance.
That support now seems increasingly uncertain under President Donald Trump.
In July, President Lai Ching-te reportedly postponed an overseas trip after the US refused to grant him a transit stop in New York. Then in September, Trump blocked a military-aid package worth more than $400 million for Taiwan.
Around the same time, Beijing renewed pressure on Washington to change its wording on the self-governed archipelago, from the present stance that the US “does not support” Taiwan’s independence, to opposing it outright.
We don’t yet know the outcome of that diplomatic gambit. But Chinese President Xi Jinping reinforced the message for any doubters yesterday, calling for “separatist efforts” to be resolutely rejected.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick added to Taipei’s worries this week by calling on Taiwan to shift more of its world-beating chip fabrication to the US, so that half of America’s demand could be met domestically.
To many in Taiwan, such pressure further undermines its so-called silicon shield, since moving semiconductor production abroad would potentially give the US less incentive to come to Taipei’s aid in the event of a Chinese invasion of islands it claims as its own.
Taiwan’s government formally pushed back today, saying it wouldn’t agree, underlining tensions in ongoing trade talks.
The wider concern in Taipei is that Trump might sacrifice Taiwan’s interests in pursuit of engagement with Beijing as he seeks a trade deal with China and prepares to meet with Xi this month.
For now, it remains to be seen whether developments will continue to tilt in Beijing’s favor, or if US policy on Taiwan really is shifting despite Washington’s denials.
Regardless, it looks very much like Taipei will have to find new ways to maintain its precarious balance between the two superpowers. — Yian Lee