Did you know that most Americans can’t find Taiwan on a map? That may sound like a joke, but unfortunately, it’s not. A 2022 Morning Consult poll found that only 34 percent of Americans could correctly identify Taiwan’s location. Some even thought it was in the Arctic Circle.
Taiwan may not be top of mind for most Americans, but it should be—because the future of our prosperity, our security, and our democratic values is deeply tied to the future of Taiwan.
The contrast between both sides of the Taiwan Strait, between Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is a stark one. Taiwan is a vibrant and free democracy. On the other side of the Taiwan Strait, in contrast, Xi Jinping wields supreme power over all matters of state. Taiwan is governed by the will of the people; the PRC is governed by the will of one man.
But Taiwan is more than just a beacon of freedom—it’s one of America’s most important economic partners. In fact, it’s our seventh-largest trading partner and a critical customer for American farmers. Taiwan is the No. 2 importer of Illinois corn and No. 3 importer of Illinois soybeans. On a per capita basis, Taiwan buys 47 times more wheat than China. And Taiwanese companies like TSMC are investing billions to build advanced semiconductor fabs right here in the U.S.—securing our tech future and creating American jobs.
This is not charity. It’s strategic partnership. Taiwan supports American jobs. Taiwanese investment strengthens our supply chains. And Taiwan’s democracy serves as a counterweight to the rising authoritarianism of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
But that partnership is under threat. Xi has ordered the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. PLA warplanes violated Taiwan’s airspace more than 3,000 times last year. In response to Taiwan’s elections, the PLA staged military drills simulating a blockade and missile strikes. Any conflict over Taiwan is incredibly dangerous. A war over Taiwan could wipe $10 trillion off global GDP and plunge the U.S. into a deep depression.
So what do we do? We must stand with Taiwan. Not to provoke conflict, but to deter it. Peace across the Taiwan Strait is not just a regional concern; it’s an American interest.
The Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the CCP recently held a hearing titled “Deterrence Amid Rising Tensions: Preventing CCP Aggression on Taiwan.” We heard from former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who reminded us that Taiwan is not just important—it’s indispensable. Taiwan produces more than 90 percent of the world’s most advanced semiconductors, supports American farmers, and acts as an international example of freedom and democracy.
Campbell also emphasized that Taiwan’s fate is being closely watched by our allies—from Japan and South Korea to our NATO allies. If authoritarianism triumphs in Taiwan, it could embolden aggression elsewhere. We see this clearly with China’s enabling and support of Russia in its deadly war in Ukraine. Supporting Taiwan, Campbell argued, is not just good policy—it’s a global credibility test for the United States.
The military balance in the Taiwan Strait has shifted. The PLA now fields a force that vastly outnumbers Taiwan’s—and it continues to rehearse amphibious invasions, missile strikes, and blockades. But Taiwan still holds advantages: geography, a strong civil society, and—most importantly—deepening ties with the United States and our allies.
That’s why we need to act now. The U.S. should expedite arms deliveries to Taiwan, especially asymmetric defenses like sea mines, anti-ship missiles, and drones. We should strengthen Taiwan’s food and energy reserves, boost military and disaster relief training programs, and deepen economic ties—especially in agriculture, energy, and tech.
The Taiwan Relations Act, passed in 1979, declared that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are in America’s interest—and that any attempt to determine Taiwan’s future by force is “of grave concern” to the United States. That bipartisan law still guides us today and inspires new legislation like the Six Assurances to Taiwan Act and Taiwan Allies Fund Act, which I’m proud to lead in Congress.
We are in a decisive moment. The Select Committee’s hearing made clear that deterrence is only credible if it’s bipartisan, sustained, and backed by real investment. That’s why I’m working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure the U.S. is prepared—not for a war, but to prevent one.
In a world growing more dangerous by the day, Taiwan remains one of our best friends. It’s time we treated it that way.
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi serves as ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party and represents Illinois’ 8th Congressional District.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
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