İrem Efnan ÖKSÜZ Taiwan, located in the Pacific Ocean and southeast of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is an island nation governed by representative democracy. Approximately 98% of its population consists of immigrants from China. The first wave of Chinese migration to the island occurred during the Song Dynasty. Following the late 19th-century Japan-China War, the island was ceded to Japan and was returned to China after World War II. In 1949, following the Chinese Civil War, the nationalists from the mainland settled in Taiwan, where they proclaimed the Republic of China and remained a member of the United Nations until 1971. .
There has long been competition between the United States (US) and the PRC in the Indo-Pacific region. The US regional strategy is primarily based on forming multilateral partnerships to balance China’s military expansion. China’s Belt and Road Initiative, extending to Europe and neighboring countries, diminishes US influence. Taiwan plays a significant role in the region due to its strategic location. The Biden administration aims to strengthen its presence in the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) to solidify its position
On the other hand, security issues, particularly in the Taiwan Strait, have expanded the scope of this competition. North Korea’s increased nuclear tests and missile trials have led to enhanced cooperation between Japan and South Korea. South Korea, in its 2023 Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region Strategy, has focused on strengthening security cooperation with the United States, especially in response to the North Korean threat. China, meanwhile, is expanding its military presence in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and South China Sea, and maintaining military cooperation with Russia.
The cooperation between China and Russia in joint maritime and aerial exercises serves as a counterbalance to the collaboration between the United States (US), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Japan. Security concerns, particularly exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine War that began on February 24, 2022, have led to an increase in defense budgets among countries. In 2023, military expenditures compared to 2022 increased by 26% for Japan, 7.2% for the People’s Republic of China, 4.6% for South Korea, 13% for India, 7.4% for Australia, and 12% for Taiwan. [1] This situation supports John Hertz’s argument that an arms race, undertaken by one state to ensure its security, can lead to others also arming themselves due to mutual mistrust.
Japan, which considers the People’s Republic of China one of its “greatest strategic challenges,” maintains a “comprehensive global strategic alliance” with the United States. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the AUKUS Pact, consisting of the US, Australia, and the United Kingdom, are other mechanisms for cooperation in defense technologies, arms, and cybersecurity that limit China’s expansion.
In 2022, during the ASEAN Summit, Southeast Asian countries emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation to mitigate traditional and non-traditional threats to defense capabilities. In response, the US has pledged support for Taiwan’s military modernization in line with its own interests.
To address the military tension between the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, it is essential to enhance defense capabilities through cooperation with the US and in accordance with the Taiwan Strategic Document and the Indo-Pacific Strategy. In the context of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA 2023), Taiwan has been added to the list of Major Non-NATO Allies (MNNA), granting the US government the authority to provide Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Taiwan, establish a Regional Contingency Stockpile for Taiwan, and offer security assistance, including international military education and training, to enhance Taiwan’s defense resilience [2]
Other countries, such as Germany, Lithuania, France, and the Philippines, have also expressed support for Taiwan, acknowledging the threat posed by the People’s Republic of China. [3] Presently, the US conducts joint exercises with its alliance group in the Indo-Pacific and considers the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait to be on par with international peace and stability due to its strategic location. This is because the Taiwan Strait sees nearly 50% of the world’s annual cargo ship transits, and the Taipei Flight Information Region is a vital flight route, making the strait an integral part of global economic development. In conclusion, considering Taiwan’s somewhat distant relationship with China, the Taiwan Strait is the easiest and most strategic location for Western interests in the region. Efforts by Western countries to alter the situation in the strait through military presence and diplomatic influence have created a security dilemma that is not in the interests of Taiwan or regional nations. Western attempts to weaken China within its own geography have not significantly hindered China’s economic growth or had substantial diplomatic implications.
[1] ROC National Defense Report 2023, s. 11.
[2] ROC National Defense Report 2023, s. 15.
[3] ROC National Defense Report 2023, s. 16.
