Ep 19: Will the US Step In?

In this episode, we touch on the question that's on many people's minds: will the US intervene in the event of a war across the Taiwan Strait?

We do this by breaking down "The Taiwan Fixation: American Strategy Shouldn’t Hinge on an Unwinnable War," an article by US foreign policy insiders Jennifer Kavanagh and Stephen Wertheim. Despite being staunch defenders of US hegemony, thoroughly embedded in the American foreign policy establishment, the authors warn against US military intervention in a Taiwan Strait conflict—proposing instead a "porcupine strategy:" arm Taiwan in ways that complicate a PLA attack, but not to win a war.

This strategy isn't just about deterrence—it's also a cash cow. The true winnners are defense contractors and politicians who receive kickbacks from the arms trade, and experts admit these weapons won't stop the PLA from launching or winning a war. The people of Taiwan spend billions to raise tensions without security guarantees.

We go deeper into why the U.S. is backing away from military commitment—strategically, economically, and politically—and examine the short-sightedness and careless of the Lai Ching-te administration. While bending to US pressure on defense spending and TSMC relocation, it risks dragging the people of Taiwan into a war they'll be expected to fight alone.

The rhetoric may still sound soft on Beijing to some—but it is in reality a well thought scam.

The content of this episode can also be read in article form

Support Strait Talk on Patreon
Become a member of Strait Talk's YouTube channel

Make a one-time donation to Strait Talk through Buy Me a Coffee, CashApp, or Venmo

Follow Xiangyu on X and more

Subscribe on YouTube and Telegram