Political leaders, experts, and young scholars from around the world gathered March 16-17 for the eighth Yushan Forum to address peace, security, and development in the Indo-Pacific.

In his address, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) emphasized Taiwan's commitment to working with like-minded countries to advance the region's prosperity. Other speakers underlined Taiwan’s centrality to sustaining a liberal, rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

One factor that makes Taiwan indispensable to other countries' Indo-Pacific strategies is its democratic value system. Promoting democracy, freedom, and an open society has been a major objective of the Indo-Pacific strategy. This, in turn, helps check the rise of authoritarian behavior in the region.

Taiwan, with its credentials as one of the best-functioning democracies in modern times, naturally attracts global attention. Experts and scholars increasingly realize that no effort can yield the expected outcome in this area without including Taiwan in Indo-Pacific strategies.

While the US and other countries have initiated actions to strengthen the democratic environment in the region, no bilateral, minilateral, or multilateral efforts have enabled Taiwan to play a role in realizing this objective. At the same time, Taiwan's threatened disappearance as an independent, democratic country would lead to the collapse of the movement for democracy. Authoritarian regimes would feel emboldened to expand their influence.

First, Taiwan’s geostrategic location makes other regional and global powers ensure its independent existence to sustain freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.

Contingency plans

While Japan has spoken strongly in recent times about its commitment to coming to Taiwan's rescue if it is attacked by China, and the Trump administration has announced one of the largest military sales to Taiwan, the time has come for the Quad countries to develop a contingency plan for Taiwan.

Second, since the Indo-Pacific strategy aims to promote free, fair, and reciprocal trade based on open investment, transparent agreements, and connectivity, Taiwan holds the key to achieving this objective, given its track record of implementing trade rules and regulations. 

Sadly, the US exclusion from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and its failure to form a comprehensive multilateral economic grouping have emboldened China. Taiwan continues to face exclusion from the global supply chain system.

Taiwan’s exclusion from the global supply chain hampers its capacity to strengthen security. It also underscores the need to address structural problems that hinder its effective inclusion in international trade and commerce. 

In this regard, one step the US, India, and other countries should take immediately is to enter a free trade agreement with Taiwan. At the same time, like-minded countries should form sector-specific groups to boost Taiwan’s presence in regional and global economic interactions.

Third, since Taiwan exports 90% of the world's advanced semiconductor components, it should ensure the "silicon shield" remains a major defense. After all, one factor that continues to prevent China from using military power against Taiwan is the latter’s global leadership in the semiconductor sector.

People-to-people ties

Fourth, cybersecurity is another area where Indo-Pacific countries can learn from Taiwan’s expertise. Taiwan is the most affected country by China’s cybersecurity attacks, with its critical infrastructure facing an average of 2.63 million cyberattacks daily in 2025 — a 6% increase from the previous year. 

Working with Taiwan in this area can help other countries protect their critical strategic infrastructure from China’s cyberattacks. Countries could also explore joint cybersecurity work with Taiwan. 

There is a need to expand the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue in both scope and membership. India and the other members should prioritize cybersecurity cooperation and integrate Taiwan.

Indo-Pacific countries should focus on people-to-people ties with Taiwan by promoting student exchanges, shared cultural values, and other initiatives. Think tanks also play a crucial role in fostering a better understanding of the needs and expectations of Taiwan and other Indo-Pacific countries. 

With the world entering another phase of uncertainty and disorder, the time has come for like-minded countries to translate their views on Taiwan into action — at least by instituting bilateral engagement at some political and bureaucratic levels. This not only boosts Taiwan’s self-survival spirit but also helps consolidate efforts to sustain a liberal order in the Indo-Pacific.

Only time will tell whether the realization of Taiwan’s centrality in the foreign policies of major powers will gain better bargaining leverage with China, and whether these countries genuinely care for Taiwan.