Taiwan

Taiwan

Forty years after the signing of the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States’ and Taiwan’s democratic values continue to provide a foundation for security and economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Today, the Taiwan Strait remains one of Asia’s most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints. Taiwan, facing diverse pressures from a rising China, continues to pursue means to defend its people, economy, and democracy in an increasingly complex strategic environment.

The future of US extended deterrence in Asia to 2025

Dispatches Jan 27, 2026

Taiwan has been a strategic blind spot for South Korea

By Bee Yun Jo

South Korea is beginning to acknowledge that cross-Strait stability is increasingly a foundational element of overall regional security.
China Indo-Pacific
The future of US extended deterrence in Asia to 2025

New Atlanticist Dec 18, 2025

Can US leaders convince Americans that Taiwan is worth fighting for?

By Phillip M. Ramirez

If elected leaders in the United States want to continue to deter Chinese military action, they must work to convince Beijing that Americans would be willing to fight for Taiwan.
China Conflict
The future of US extended deterrence in Asia to 2025

Report Dec 15, 2025

Beijing pressures Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic partners. Here’s what the US should do in response

By Kitsch Liao, Nik Foster, Santiago Villa

Taiwan’s shrinking circle of diplomatic partners plays a crucial role in deterring Chinese coercion, and the United States needs a more targeted strategy to help preserve this support and maintain cross-strait stability.
China Politics & Diplomacy

Projects

Close up of tiger

The Tiger Project: War and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific

Explore the Atlantic Council’s work on current and enduring defense and deterrence issues in the Indo-Pacific, featuring expert commentary, multimedia content, and in-depth analysis.

Explore the programs

The Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) informs and shapes the strategies, plans, and policies of the United States and its allies and partners to address the most important rising security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including China’s growing threat to the international order and North Korea’s destabilizing nuclear weapons advancements. IPSI produces innovative analysis, conducts tabletop exercises, hosts public and private convenings, and engages with US, allied, and partner governments, militaries, media, other key private and public-sector stakeholders, and publics.

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Events

Public Event Thu, February 12, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

Congressman John Moolenaar on deterring aggression against Taiwan

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, discusses how the United States and Taiwan can strengthen deterrence in the Taiwan Strait.
China Defense Industry Defense Policy Indo-Pacific
Public Event Wed, January 28, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Taiwan’s critical role in global supply chains and the future of US-Taiwan ties
Economy & Business Energy & Environment Indo-Pacific Politics & Diplomacy
Online Event Mon, December 15, 2025 • 2:30 pm ET

How the US and Taiwan can deter Chinese coercion by shoring up Taiwan’s partners
China Politics & Diplomacy Taiwan

Content

Report

Oct 6, 2014

The future of US extended deterrence in Asia to 2025

By Robert A. Manning

US leadership, undergirded by the US military, has played a central role in ensuring the stability necessary to produce remarkable economic and political transformations in Northeast Asia. More specifically, American commitments to defend its allies in Northeast Asia, with nuclear weapons if necessary, have deterred major power war, prevented regional conflict, stemmed nuclear proliferation, and […]

China Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Mar 14, 2006

Taiwan in search of a strategic consensus

By Banning Garrett, Jonathan Adams and Franklin Kramer

This Issue Brief is based in part on an Atlantic Council delegation trip to Taiwan in December 2005, led by Franklin D. Kramer, chairman of the Council’s Committee on Asia and Global Security, and including Jan M. Lodal, president of the Council, and Council board members, Julia Chang Bloch, John L. Fugh, and Helmut Sonnenfeldt, […]

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy

Report

May 1, 2005

In search of a legacy: Three possible paths for Taiwan’s Chen Shui-bian

By Kay Webb Mayfield

Time and circumstances make it more and more unlikely that Taiwan’s President Chen Shui-bian will declare de jure independence for Taiwan during his term of office, but Chen has not abandoned his quest for a resolution of Taiwan’s status. The People’s Republic of China and the United States are on guard for new independence-leaning initiatives […]

East Asia Elections

Report

Sep 1, 2002

Staying the course: Opportunities and limitations in U.S.-China relations

This paper discusses US relations with the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan. It is based on a report by a delegation of former military and defense policy leaders that were sent to visit Beijing and Taiwan to examine the longer-term issues in relations among the three countries. The paper concludes by offering recommendations for […]

China East Asia

Experts

Fellow

Marvin J. Park

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Policy

Fellow

Daryl G. Press

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Arms Control Defense Policy

Fellow

Dexter Tiff Roberts

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Global China Hub

China Chinese

Fellow

Laura Shen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative Indo-Pacific Security Initiative

Artificial Intelligence China

Fellow

Yu-Hao “Vinson” Shen

Visiting Military Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Disinformation
Isaac Stone Fish

Fellow

Isaac Stone Fish

Visiting Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

China East Asia
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