21 November 2024

It is now more a question of can America defend Taiwan, not will it

Stephen Kuper

It is not hyperbole to say that the United States dodged a bullet in the aftermath of the recent election – there was no major outbreak of civil unrest and no collapse of the American republic.

Equally, it is safe to say that the world dodged a bullet at the same time, as any potential US civil unrest would have had truly global ramifications, particularly for key geopolitical and strategic flashpoints like the Middle East and Eastern Europe, particularly holding their breath.

However, by far, the most pivotal flashpoint to impact the future peace, prosperity and stability of the global environment and most consequential for Australia’s own enduring peace and security is the Taiwanese flashpoint.

In recognising this, many policymakers, strategic thinkers and historians have raised major concerns about America’s resolve, particularly in the new Trump era, to defend the island democracy of Taiwan.

Most recently, Australian historian Geoffrey Blainey, in a piece for The Weekend Australian titled The US has the strongest incentive to prevent Taiwan from being captured by China, focused on the important question about the enduring US will in the new world.

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