Who the Taiwanese people elect significantly affects the island’s relationship with China, and therefore very much concerns American interests, which would be seriously threatened if a pro-Chinese candidate emerges victorious.
President Trump can take steps now to assure Taiwan of America’s commitment to the island’s democracy, free of Chinese rule, and to deter China from using force to compel reunification.
The Trump administration has approved the sale of dozens of new F-16 jet fighters to Taiwan, the first major warplane sale to the island state in nearly 30 years.
The interagency decision, to be announced in the near future, authorized the sale of up to 66 F-16V jet fighters at an estimated cost of $13 billion, according to administration officials familiar with internal discussions.
Despite maintaining military supremacy—albeit by a smaller margin than in recent decades—the U.S. could still lose wars against China and Russia, both of which have developed concepts of defeating a more powerful America in armed conflict.
TAIPEI (Reuters) – The United States sent two warships through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday in the first such operation this year, the Taiwan government said, as it increases the frequency of transits through the strategic waterway to the concern of China.
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Voters in Taiwan have delivered a strong rebuke to the island’s pro-independence ruling party in local elections, emboldening the China-friendly opposition, one of whose main figures says he will now reach out to Beijing to forge more friendly ties.
Two Navy warships transited the Taiwan Strait on Monday in a show of force in Pentagon efforts to push back against China’s expansive claims to control waters near the communist mainland.
Taiwan vowed on Tuesday to fight China’s “increasingly out of control” behavior after Taipei lost another ally to Beijing when El Salvador became the third country to switch allegiances to China this year.
Congress has sent the fiscal 2019 defense authorization act to the White House with several provisions targeting China.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) on Wednesday condemned U.S. airlines for caving to demands by the Chinese government that the companies remove references to Taiwan from their websites.
