U.S. Alleged Support for Taiwan Asserted by Minister Amid Rising Chinese Nationalism: Interview Reveals

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Taipei, Taiwan - Taiwan is confident in the US's support, according to a top Taiwanese official, despite concerns on the island that the current U.S. administration may use Taiwan as a bargaining chip in negotiations with China.

"The U.S. and Taiwan have an unprecedented strong relationship, with bipartisan backing from the U.S. Congress," Minister Chiu Chui-cheng, who oversees Taiwan's relations with mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, shared with Al Jazeera.

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Beyond the US-Taiwan ties, Taiwan continues to tap into its strategic importance to Washington's first island chain strategy, aiming to keep a check on Chinese expansion in the Pacific. Additionally, Taiwan's position as a global leader in the semiconductor industry make it an invaluable partner to the U.S.

Relationship evolution

Like the US and China, Taiwan's relationship with the U.S. has grown stronger over the years. This bond rests on the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act and President Reagan's "Six Assurances," which outline commitments such as the U.S. not compromising on Taiwan's sovereignty, and not consulting Beijing on arms sales.

Still, Chiu emphasized that the impact of the current U.S. administration is as yet unclear.

"The Taiwanese government keeps a close watch on the current administration's moves, given that we have just entered its term," he explained, speaking through an interpreter.

"Our government remains dedicated to safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty, freedom, and democracy."

Past encounters

The relationship between Taiwan and the U.S. gained media attention in 2016 when then-U.S. President-elect Trump accepted a congratulatory call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, flouting diplomatic norms.

Officially, the U.S. has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China views as a part of its territory. However, ties between the two deepened during Trump's first term and continued under former President Biden, with frequent delegations from both Democrats and Republicans visiting Taiwan.

Despite these delegate visits, relations have strained under the current U.S. administration, with Trump accusing Taiwan of stealing the U.S. chip industry, arguing that Taiwan should pay for its own defense, and threatening Taiwan's top chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), with a "100 percent tax."

Other actions taken by Trump against Taiwan include a 32 percent "reciprocal" tariff (suspended until July) and expanded steel and aluminum tariffs on its exports. However, Washington remains committed to supporting Taiwan's defense under the Taiwan Relations Act.

Taiwan is keeping a wait-and-see approach, but concerns persist that Trump could abandon Taiwan to secure trade concessions from China. According to a survey by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation in March 2025, only 39.2 percent of respondents believe the U.S. will send troops to defend Taiwan, down from an all-time high of 65 percent in 2021.

United Front tactics

Chiu acknowledged growing threats from China's United Front tactics, which seek to divide Taiwanese society. He criticized Beijing for its communications with Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT), characterizing this as part of Beijing's efforts to drive a wedge between Taiwanese citizens.

The term "United Front" refers to both an official department of the Chinese Communist Party and activities employed to further its agenda, including convincing Taiwan's citizens that unification with China is both inevitable and desirable, despite polling showing most Taiwanese favor the status quo of de facto independence.

Espionage and Military Pressure

Taiwan faces ongoing threats from China, including espionage and increased military activities near Taiwan. In 2024, Taiwan's National Security Bureau charged 64 people with espionage—a number that has been steadily rising for the past three years.

Moreover, China launched over 5,000 military flights in the direction of Taiwan in 2024, crossing the "median line" of the Taiwan Strait on approximately 3,000 occasions. These flights, according to Chiu, pose a significant challenge to Taiwan's air defense capabilities.

Chiu also noted over 2,500 Chinese warships headed in Taiwan's direction, with some entering its contiguous waters—an area adjacent to the territorial sea and extending a maximum of 24 nautical miles from shore.

Looking ahead, Chiu expressed concern over the leadership style of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is often associated with a new type of authoritarianism and fanatical nationalism, which Chiu sees as a potential danger to neighboring countries. Chiu concluded, "China right now is not a rational decision-making party, and this nationalism poses a great threat to its neighboring countries."

In contrast to concerns on Taiwan, Minister Chiu Chui-cheng asserts that the relation between Taiwan and the US, supported by bipartisan backing from the US Congress, remains strong amidst diplomatic negotiations with China.
Beyond assurance, Taiwan's strategic importance to Washington's first island chain strategy and its global leadership in the semiconductor industry further reinforce the relationship between the two countries.
While emphasizing the strength of the US-Taiwan bond, Chiu acknowledged the unclear impact of the current US administration, which has only recently begun its term.
Amid varying opinions among lawmakers and general news media, Taiwan is dedicated to safeguarding its sovereignty, freedom, and democracy, regardless of the US administration's moves.
In the past, conflicts have arisen, such as during Trump's term, when he threatened Taiwan's top chipmaker and accused Taiwan of stealing the US chip industry. However, relations with the US continued to deepen under former President Biden, with frequent delegations from both Democrats and Republicans visiting Taiwan.
Recognizing the growing threats from China's United Front tactics, Chiu criticized Beijing for seeking to divide Taiwanese society by communicating with Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang.
Looking towards 2024, Taiwan faces ongoing threats from China, including espionage, military pressure, and an increased number of military activities near its territory. Taiwan's National Security Bureau charges 64 people with espionage yearly, and China launches thousands of military flights and warships in Taiwan's direction, posing a significant challenge to its air defense capabilities.