China wants Taiwan back — can America hold the line?
Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who serves as senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, outlines America’s strategic concerns over Taiwan.
“The US commitment to defending Taiwan is about more than just defending a stellar example of liberal democracy in Asia,” he tells Mishpacha. “Taiwan’s robust economic development and its strong investments in numerous emerging high-technology industries have made it a key economic and industrial partner the US as well.
“Additionally, at this point, our commitment to Taiwan’s self-determination is also about our credibility as an ally and partner, both in Asia and Europe. If we can’t keep our word on Taiwan, why should any ally or partner trust us?”
When China made aggressive moves toward Taiwan in the 1990s, President Bill Clinton ordered the Navy into the Taiwan Straits in response — a move that’s unthinkable today. I asked Montgomery if the US Navy could successfully defend Taiwan against China’s improved capabilities.
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