U.S. senators urge stronger Indo-Pacific deterrence ahead of Trump-Xi meeting

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U.S. senators urge Indo-Pacific deterrence

Highlights

Senators Shaheen and Curtis call for expedited U.S. military equipment sales to Taiwan, a stronger regional force posture, and bipartisan sanctions legislation against potential Chinese aggression.
They highlight that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait could disrupt one-fifth of global maritime trade, threaten over 90% of world chip production, and cost the global economy more than $10 trillion.
Japan is set to spend 2% of GDP on defense, Taiwan is increasing missile and drone production, and proposed U.S. Senate measures on sanctions and cable protection remain pending.

Op-ed sets out Taiwan security agenda

As reported by Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Shaheen and Curtis publish an op-ed in The Economist arguing that rising pressure from the People’s Republic of China toward Taiwan and regional allies requires clear, consistent and bipartisan American leadership. The senators recently lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, and they urge Taiwan’s legislature to approve a stronger supplementary defense budget for the island.

The pair say U.S. backing for Taiwan and allied governments is central to preserving security in the Indo-Pacific and protecting global economic stability. They call for Washington to strengthen its existing force posture in the region, speed up sales of American-made military equipment to Taiwan and advance bipartisan legislation that would prepare severe sanctions if China takes aggressive action.

Their argument comes as the senators say partners across Asia are closely watching U.S. actions. In Taiwan, they describe growing Chinese air and naval activity, including exercises in December that simulate a blockade, along with daily grey-zone pressure such as interference with undersea cables, commercial shipping and elections. In Japan and South Korea, they point to concerns over Beijing’s use of rare earths and maritime pressure, while warning that conflict in the Middle East could divert U.S. assets needed for deterrence in the Taiwan Strait.

Economic and regional stakes extend beyond security

The senators argue that the consequences of a crisis over Taiwan would reach far beyond military balance. They say one-fifth of global maritime trade by value moves through the Taiwan Strait, while Taiwan produces more than 90% of the world’s advanced semiconductor chips, making stability there critical for supply chains, prices and industrial production worldwide.

Citing Bloomberg Economics, they say a Chinese move against Taiwan could cost the global economy more than $10 trillion and immediately cut U.S. GDP by 7%. They add that such a conflict could also escalate between two nuclear-armed powers and force U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific into a more dangerous security environment dominated either by deeper alignment with Washington or by pressure from China.

The article also argues that regional allies are increasing their own defense efforts. Taiwan extends conscription and raises missile and drone production, Japan is on track to spend 2% of GDP on defense, and South Korea is investing more heavily in its capabilities as North Korea deepens military cooperation with Russia and China. Shaheen and Curtis say Congress and the administration must keep U.S. commitments in Asia credible, adding that proposed Senate measures on sanctions, undersea cable protection and Taiwan policy have been advanced but are not yet law.

Our earlier report on a proposed U.S. arms sale notification to Taiwan covered how a bipartisan group of senators urged the White House to move the $14 billion package forward ahead of a planned Trump–Xi meeting. The article noted that Taiwan’s legislature had approved a major special defense budget intended to finance U.S.-provided defensive systems, and warned that any attempt by Beijing to seize control of Taiwan could trigger severe economic fallout and supply-chain disruption.

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