TAIPEI, 17 May 2026 – Taiwan remains the most volatile issue in US-China relations, sitting at the centre of a high-stakes contest involving sovereignty, military deterrence, semiconductor supply chains and the credibility of American security commitments in Asia.
The island’s importance is rooted in geography and identity. Taiwan is a self-governed democracy located just off China’s southeastern coast, while Beijing views it as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control. Washington, meanwhile, does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, but continues to support Taiwan’s self-defence under the framework of the Taiwan Relations Act and has repeatedly emphasised the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
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