Taiwan is a ‘Model Ally,’ Not Trade Bait

This opinion piece argues that Taiwan serves as a model ally to the United States, characterized by significant self-defense investments and critical contributions to the global semiconductor supply chain. As President Donald Trump prepares for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the author warns against trading Taiwan's security for hollow economic promises from Beijing. The article highlights Taiwan's robust democracy, independent judiciary, and vibrant civil society as stark contrasts to China's autocratic rule. Economically, Taiwan is pivotal to U.S. prosperity, producing nearly three-quarters of the world's semiconductors, including 90 percent of advanced logic chips essential for American military and commercial technologies. Furthermore, Taiwan has pledged over $500 billion in foreign direct investment to the U.S., particularly in advanced computing and AI. The author contends that sacrificing this strategic partnership for short-term trade gains would be a historic blunder, undermining both U.S. national security and the broader competition between free nations and aggressive dictatorships.