April 19, 2022
New CNAS Report: "Global Island: Sustaining Taiwan's International Participation Amid Mounting Pressure from China"
Washington, April 19, 2022—China under Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping has ramped up political, economic, and military pressure on Taiwan. The roots of Beijing’s pressure campaign, including Xi’s personal interactions with Taiwan policy, go back decades. But recent events have deepened and intensified China’s efforts, which include seeking to block Taiwan from engaging the rest of the world as part of a comprehensive strategy to force Taipei to move toward unification with the mainland on Beijing’s terms.
Today the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a new report, "Global Island: Sustaining Taiwan's International Participation Amid Mounting Pressure from China," from authors Jacob Stokes, Fellow in the Indo-Pacific Security Program; Alexander Sullivan, Adjunct Fellow in the Indo-Pacific Security Program; and Zachary Durkee, former consultant with the Indo-Pacific Security Program.
The report explores trends related to Taiwan’s international participation and offers a framework for how Washington, Taipei, and interested allies and partners can respond to growing pressure from Beijing.
The authors make three general recommendations for policymakers from the United States, Taiwan, and like-minded partners for sustaining Taiwan’s international participation and detail specific steps to advance them. The recommendations include:
- Keep U.S. and Taiwan policies aligned on common strategies that maximize substance over symbolism and foster deep, politically sustainable ties across their governments, legislatures, and societies.
- Facilitate the expansion of unofficial links between Taiwan and like-minded allies and partners that can help sustain the political status quo and blunt China’s isolation campaign.
- Defend and advance Taiwan’s ability to contribute to multilateral international organizations in ways that are consistent with long-standing U.S. policy.
For more information or to schedule an interview with the report authors, please contact Cameron Edinburgh at [email protected]