Taiwan needs to get ready for Trump 2.0

The Taiwanese share something in common with the Japanese. Both nations have deep-seated doubts that the United States really will defend them. That question is ringing out out as loudly as ever since Donald Trump won the November US presidential election. However, in Taiwan‘s case, it’s probably a more rational concern.

A Taiwanese friend noted that Donald Trump made no clear statement of support for Taiwan during his electoral campaign. Then he asked a handful of questions about Taiwan’s future prospects under the new administration.

Q: What will Trump’s Taiwan policy look like during his second term? Should Taiwan worry?

A: Taiwan was not an issue in the US election campaign. It never is ― for any candidate. Very few, if any, voters decide on a presidential candidate based on their position on Taiwan.

So, the fact that Trump didn’t deliver a detailed explanation of his Taiwan policy while running his presidential campaign ― and even suggested Taiwan wasn’t doing enough ― shouldn’t be much of an issue.

More importantly, consider how Trump and his administration handled Taiwan during his first term from 2017-2021. While Trump was president, arms sales to Taiwan expanded considerably over the Obama administration‘s “weak” on China / “weak” on Taiwan performance.

Also, Taiwan’s isolation eased as the United States paid more attention to it. Also, senior US officials (serving and former ones) visited Taiwan. And, most importantly, Trump’s administration was the first one ever ― since Nixon opened up to China ― that stood up to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and for the free world’s interests.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hated the Trump administration and his advisors handling China policy in particular: Mike