What is arguably the most important bilateral relationship in the world teeters on the brink of catastrophe as the Taiwan issue threatens to precipitate a war between the two nuclear-armed superpowers of China and the United States. Beijing demonstrated its determination to pursue unification with Taiwan during August 2022 by shooting ballistic missiles over the island. Meanwhile, the Ukraine War has increased Washington’s resolve to confront perceived Chinese aggression. There are many dimensions to the unfolding crisis over Taiwan’s future status—and the wisest US policy is one of realism and restraint in order to avert a disaster of global proportions.
Read article in Bulletin of Atomic Scientists
Author
Lyle
Goldstein
Director, Asia Program
More on Asia
op-edGrand strategy, Alliances, Asia, Burden sharing, China, Europe and Eurasia, Global posture, Middle East
