Rising Tensions between the U.S. and China over Taiwan

This brief examines the rising geopolitical tension due to Taiwan's growing semiconductor industry and the increased US support for Taiwan, which has upset China. It delves into the history, current political climate, and potential policy options while exploring the strategic interests of the US, China, and Taiwan.

Published by

 on 

June 2, 2023

Inquiry-driven, this project may reflect personal views, aiming to enrich problem-related discourse.

HeadingHeading 3

Card Title

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet conse adipiscing elit

Card Title

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet conse adipiscing elit

Card Title

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet conse adipiscing elit

Card Title

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet conse adipiscing elit

Support

This brief examines the rising geopolitical tension due to Taiwan's growing semiconductor industry and the increased US support for Taiwan, which has upset China. It delves into the history, current political climate, and potential policy options while exploring the strategic interests of the US, China, and Taiwan.

(PIIE), C. P. B. (2023, April 6). US-china trade war tariffs: An up-to-date chart. PIIE.
https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/us-china-trade-war-tariffs-date-chart

BUREAU OF EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS. (2023, April 26). U.S. relations
with Taiwan - united states department of state. U.S. Department of State.
https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-taiwan/
Chairman Menendez announces historic inclusion of Taiwan legislation in annual defense
bill: United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Chairman Menendez
Announces Historic Inc... (2022, December 7).

https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/dem/release/chairman-menendez-announces-historic-
inclusion-of-taiwan-legislation-in-annual-defense-bill

Cheung, E. (2022, October 11). “no room for compromise” on Taiwan’s sovereignty,
president Tsai says in National Day speech. CNN.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/10/asia/taiwan-national-day-tsai-intl-hnk/index.html
Congressional Research Service. (2019, June 25). China’s economic rise: History, trends,
Challenges, and implications for the United States. EveryCRSReport.com.
https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL33534.html#:~:text=Database%2C%20April%2
02019%2C-,Causes%20of%20China’s%20Economic%20Growth,gone%20together%20ha
nd%20in%20hand.
Council on Foreign Relations. (n.d.). Timeline: U.S.-China relations. Council on Foreign
Relations. https://www.cfr.org/timeline/us-china-relations
Evans, M. (2003, December 11). No Support for Taiwan Independence, Nixon Assured
China in 1972; New Documents Reveal Origins of Current U.S. Policy; Nixon Trip to
China Now Fully Declassified. Nixon’s trip to China.
https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB106/press.htm
Financial Services Committee Advances Bipartisan Bills to Combat Economic Threat from
China. Financial Services Committee. (2023a, February 28).
https://financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=408617
Garcia , C., & Tian, Y. L. (2021, October 9). China’s XI vows “reunification” with Taiwan.
Reuters.
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-xi-says-reunification-with-taiwan-must-will-b
e-realised-2021-10-09/
Green, M. J., & Glaser, B. S. (2017, January 3). What is the U.S. “One China” policy, and
why does it matter? CSIS.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/what-us-one-china-policy-and-why-does-it-matter
H.R.2479 - 96th Congress (1979-1980): Taiwan Relations Act. Congress.gov. (1979).
https://www.congress.gov/bill/96th-congress/house-bill/2479

H.R.554 - Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act of 2023 - congress.gov. Congress.gov. (2023).
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/554
Huang, N. (2022, September 27). A Taiwan perspective on what is at stake after Nancy
Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. Brookings.
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2022/09/26/a-taiwan-perspective-on-wh
at-is-at-stake-after-nancy-pelosis-visit-to-taiwan/
Kate, D. T. (2019, June 17). Hong Kong unrest stirs Anti-China mood in Taiwan.
Bloomberg.com.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-17/hong-kong-unrest-stirs-anti-china-m
ood-in-taiwan#xj4y7vzkg
Kwan, R. (2023, March 13). Xi Jinping vows to oppose Taiwan “pro-independence”
influences as third term begins. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/13/xi-jinping-taiwan-independence-china-pa
rliament-national-peoples-congress
Lee, Y. N. (2021, May 18). U.S. companies are bearing the brunt of Trump’s China tariffs,
says Moody’s. CNBC.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/18/us-companies-bearing-the-brunt-of-trumps-china-tariffs
-says-moodys.html
Maizland , Lindsey. (2023, April 18). Why China-Taiwan relations are so tense. Council on
Foreign Relations.
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/china-taiwan-relations-tension-us-policy-biden#chapter-t
itle-0-4
Maizland, Lindsay. (2022, May 19). Hong Kong’s freedoms: What China promised and
how it’s cracking down. Council on Foreign Relations.
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/hong-kong-freedoms-democracy-protests-china-crackdo
wn
Preussen, W. (2022, September 19). China blasts back at Biden’s vow to defend Taiwan
from invasion. POLITICO.
https://www.politico.eu/article/china-us-joe-biden-defend-taiwan-invasion/
Reilly , M. (2022, November 16). How Taiwan won the Semiconductor Race. Engelsberg
ideas. https://engelsbergideas.com/notebook/how-taiwan-won-the-semiconductor-race/
Rigger, S., Nachman, L., Mok, C. W. J., & Chan, N. K. M. (2022, March 11). Why is
unification so unpopular in Taiwan? it’s the PRC political system, not just culture.
Brookings.

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2022/02/07/why-is-unification-so-unpop
ular-in-taiwan-its-the-prc-political-system-not-just-culture/
Ruwitch, J. (2022, September 19). Biden, again, says U.S. would help Taiwan if China
attacks. NPR.
https://www.npr.org/2022/09/19/1123759127/biden-again-says-u-s-would-help-taiwan-if-c
hina-attacks
Ruwitch, J., & Feng, E. (2023, April 5). Taiwan’s president Tsai meets Kevin McCarthy
despite China’s warnings. NPR.
https://www.npr.org/2023/04/05/1167872114/kevin-mccarthy-taiwan-president-tsai-meetin
g-california-china
Sato, Y. (2023, April 13). US is buying chipmaking machines from Taiwan more than ever.
Bloomberg.com.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-13/us-is-buying-chipmaking-machines-
from-taiwan-more-than-ever#xj4y7vzkg

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited. (2010).
https://www.tsmc.com/english
Text - h.con.Res.88 - 114th congress (2015-2016): Reaffirming the ... Congress.gov. (2015).
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/88/text
Wasson, E., & Dorning, M. (2023, March 30). Republicans’ Taiwan bill requires US
sanctions if China invades Taiwan. Bloomberg.com.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-30/stand-with-taiwan-act-requires-us-s
anctions-if-china-invades-taiwan#xj4y7vzkg
Wikimedia Foundation. (2023a, March 12). Six assurances. Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Assurances
Wikimedia Foundation. (2023b, May 15). 2022 visit by Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_visit_by_Nancy_Pelosi_to_Taiwan
Wikimedia Foundation. (2023c, May 25). Kuomintang. Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuomintang#:~:text=By%201949%2C%20the%20KMT%20

Edan Kauer

2023 Cohort B Fellow

I'm a high school senior from Pennsylvania with passions in politics, policy, and education. In my free time I enjoy playing volleyball, biking, and hanging out with friends.

Author's Page