WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has outlined a strategy aimed at preventing conflict with China over Taiwan and the South China Sea through a significant buildup of military power by the United States and its allies, according to a newly released national security document.
The 29 page National Security Strategy, dated November but published online only recently, details the administration’s approach to one of the most delicate diplomatic challenges in the world. The document states that deterring conflict over Taiwan by maintaining military overmatch is a priority.
China considers self ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to place the island under its control. Beijing also claims nearly the entire South China Sea, a position contested by several neighboring countries.
While the United States maintains no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it remains the island’s most important international partner and is legally mandated to provide the means for Taiwan to defend itself.
The strategy paper notes that instability around Taiwan poses global risks. It highlights the island’s critical role in semiconductor production and the heavy flow of international trade through surrounding waters.
Tensions over Taiwan have long strained US China relations. President Trump has avoided publicly stating how he would respond to a major escalation but has expressed a desire to preserve stable relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He has also urged key allies Japan and South Korea to increase their defense spending.
The document asserts that the United States will build a military capable of denying aggression across the chain of islands from Japan to Southeast Asia. However, it emphasizes that allies must contribute more significantly to collective defense efforts.
According to the strategy, greater cooperation is intended to strengthen the ability of the United States and its partners to prevent any attempt to seize Taiwan or actions that could make its defense untenable.
The administration also pledged to block any potentially hostile power from restricting vital sea lanes or imposing toll systems, a goal that will require stronger naval capabilities.
In a foreword to the strategy, President Trump described the document as a roadmap to ensure that America remains the greatest and most successful nation in human history.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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