The Role of the United States in Preventing a Conflict in Taiwan

Published March 21, 2023

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022 precipitated the largest set of Chinese military exercises in twenty years. China’s recent aggressive actions, along with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have led many Americans to reconsider their stance on military support for foreign conflicts. Should America remain involved with Taiwan? And should we defend it if China were to invade?

Discussion Questions:

1. Should America remain involved with Taiwan, even if that means war with China?
2. Are there any other solutions to the Chinese-Taiwanese issue other than defending Taiwan or leaving it alone?

Additional Resources:

• Listen to “Taiwan’s Outlook: Independence, Unification, or Status Quo?” with Kharis Templeman and Bill Whalen, on Matters of Policy & Politics. Available here.
• Read “Xi Doesn’t Need Taiwan,” by Kharis Templeman et al. in Foreign Affairs. Available here.
• Read “In the South China Sea and Elsewhere, East Asia Stumbles Toward Conflict,” by Michael Auslin in National Review. Available here.