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China and Taiwan: The Pacific Power Struggle Explained

China claims Taiwan as its territory and threatens invasion. Here's what the Pacific power struggle means for America, the world, and the conservative response.

WorthFighting Editorial Team

Editorial

Aug 30, 2026 Updated Sep 3, 2026 7 min read 0 views

Key Takeaways

1.China claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out military force
2.Taiwan produces over 60% of the world's semiconductors, including 90% of the most advanced chips
3.Xi Jinping has ordered the PLA to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027
4.The Taiwan Relations Act requires the U.S. to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons
5.A Chinese invasion would trigger a global economic and strategic crisis

The relationship between China and Taiwan is one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) claims Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out using military force to take it. The United States is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself — and a Chinese invasion would trigger a global crisis.

The History

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, was established in 1949 when Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist government fled to the island after losing the Chinese Civil War to Mao Zedong's Communists. For decades, both governments claimed to be the legitimate ruler of all China.

Taiwan has since developed into a vibrant democracy with 23 million people and the world's 21st-largest economy. It is a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, producing over 60% of the world's chips — including the most advanced processors used in everything from smartphones to military systems.

China's Claims and Threats

The CCP considers Taiwan a core interest and has vowed "reunification" — by force if necessary. President Xi Jinping has ordered the People's Liberation Army to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. China has built the world's largest navy, conducts regular military exercises near Taiwan, and uses diplomatic and economic pressure to isolate the island.

Why It Matters to America

Economic Impact

A Chinese invasion or blockade of Taiwan would devastate the global economy. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) produces roughly 90% of the world's most advanced chips. A disruption would cripple the tech industry, auto manufacturing, and military supply chains.

Strategic Impact

If China controls Taiwan, it dominates the First Island Chain — the string of islands from Japan to the Philippines that currently limits China's naval access to the Pacific. This would allow China to project power directly into the Pacific and threaten U.S. allies including Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.

The U.S. Commitment

The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 requires the United States to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons and to maintain the capacity to resist any use of force. It does not formally guarantee U.S. military intervention, but it is widely understood that an unprovoked Chinese attack would draw an American response.

The Conservative Response

Conservatives argue for a policy of strength: arming Taiwan with the weapons it needs to deter invasion, strengthening alliances with Japan, South Korea, and Australia, and rebuilding the U.S. Navy. The lesson of Ukraine is clear — weakness invites aggression. Deterrence is far cheaper than war.

For more on how great-power competition shapes global conflict, see our roots of modern conflict analysis.

What's at Stake

The Taiwan Strait is the most likely site of a great-power war in the 21st century. The outcome will determine whether the United States remains the dominant power in the Pacific — or whether China's authoritarian model becomes the world's default.