America and the Asia Pacific

What Now for Taiwan, with Biden Out of the US Presidential Election?

There was much discussion about the implications for Taiwan in the wake of the first US presidential debate, which took place late last month between Joe Biden of the Democratic Party and Donald Trump of the Republican Party. Biden is the current US president, while Trump is the former president, but Trump is running for reelection...

Hou You-yi Travels to the US, Emphasizes Similar Policies to Tsai

KMT presidential candidate Hou You-yi recently traveled to the US. Taiwanese presidential candidates traditionally travel to the US ahead of elections. This is not only to meet with US government officials and conduct meetings, but to meet with wealthy members of the Taiwanese diaspora that live in the US, so as to solicit campaign funds. TPP presidential candidate Ko visited the US in April, while independent presidential candidate Terry Gou visited both in April and in late July. Ko has announced another trip for October. DPP presidential candidate William Lai visited the US in September...

US Conservatives Increasingly Frame Ukraine and Taiwan in Zero-Sum Terms

Comments by US Senator Josh Hawley made at the Heritage Foundation last month linked Taiwan’s fate to that of Ukraine, though in the context of calling for the US to decrease support for Ukraine and increase support for Taiwan. Hawley’s comments prove revealing about current views among American Republicans, particularly those of the MAGA camp, about the geopolitical role played by the US with regard to Taiwan and Ukraine...