TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is in control of its own fate, Financial Times Chief Foreign Affairs Columnist Gideon Rachman said Monday.
In a Financial Times opinion article, Rachman said the focus on the Trump-Xi summit missed a major point: Taiwan is not a bargaining chip whose future can be decided by foreign nations. “Decisions made in Washington and Beijing are vital to the future of Taiwan. But they are not the last word,” he said.
If the Taiwanese can continue resisting Chinese annexation, then there is a high likelihood of success with or without American support, Rachman said. He pointed to the wars in Ukraine and Iran, saying military superpowers do not always win conflicts against smaller countries.
“Both Ukraine and Iran are benefiting from a transformation in warfare brought about by new technologies, in particular drones, and the development of long-range missiles,” he added, per the Financial Times.
Rachman noted that “Taiwan also has strengths that were not available to either Ukraine or Iran.” It is one of the richest and most technologically advanced economies in the world, producing more than 90% of the world’s advanced semiconductors, he said.
While the weapons Taiwan seeks to purchase from the US would be highly beneficial for defense against China, Taiwan already produces its own anti-ship missiles and drones, Rachman said. It also has the advantage of being separated from China by water, making it difficult for Chinese forces to seize, he said.
Rachman said a Chinese blockade would undoubtedly strain Taiwan’s energy reserves and food supplies, but enforcing a blockade requires ships and aircraft that are vulnerable to missiles and mines. Furthermore, “The critical role that Taiwan plays in global supply chains means that a prolonged Chinese blockade would massively disrupt the world economy,” he said, according to the Financial Times.
This could lead concerned nations to intervene militarily or through sanctions, he said.
China’s failure to understand Taiwan’s ability and determination to resist annexation could lead to disaster, Rachman said.
