How the U.S. Can Protect Taiwan in the 21st Century

What U.S. policy would deescalate cross-strait tensions, while maintaining Taiwan’s security? This article is supported by the information and perspectives received from 12, one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with a variety of thought leaders in Taiwan. The goal of this proposal is to provide policymakers in the United States with a path for protecting Taiwan, while responsibly managing the U.S.-China relationship. The paper begins with a short background of the complex policy problem facing Taiwan and a review of the current official U.S. policy of “strategic ambiguity." The article then provides an evaluation of the U.S. policy by comparing its stated goals with current outcomes. Finally, three different policy options are proposed (Taiwan militarization, Taiwan internationalization, and U.S. Constructivism) and Taiwan internationalization is recommended as a successful “quiet, yet substantive” policy option for the U.S. in the 21st century.