Geopolitics in Taiwan

Taiwan’s geopolitical significance outweighs its land area and population. After the outbreak of full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Taiwan was often referred to as another potential flashpoint that could lead to armed conflicts. Indeed, there appeared many similarities between Ukraine and Taiwan, as both represented challenged democracies on the doorstep of expanding authoritarianisms seeking a revanchist agenda, and to certain extent their survival hinged on the continuing support from international allies. Taiwan’s strategical importance derives from the triple sources in democracy, economics, and culture. Taiwan spent most of its postwar era in the rule of martial law (1949–1987), in which opposition parties, street protests, and strikes were outlawed. Riding on the worldwide third-wave democratization, Taiwan gradually transitioned from one-party authoritarian rule to a vibrant democracy. As an economic power house, Taiwan is the leading supplier of advanced chips. Being the only democracy in Chinese-dominant societies, Taiwan’s political freedom debunks the myth of Asian authoritarianism.