Taiwan's gateway role in the US-led regional security architecture: a defence interest perspective

After a few years of lull at the turn of the 2010s, the Taiwan Strait is today again the most important security flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific and the focus point of great power competition in the region. To a large extent, Washington’s enduring involvement in the security of Taiwan stems from its defence interests in the region. The United States understands the significant geostrategic value of Taiwan first of all due to the island’s position right in the middle of the first island chain. Second, Washington understands the interdependence of its security commitments in the Indo-Pacific region and that US credibility hinges on the enduring security of Taiwan. For Taiwan, the challenge has been to maintain this dual relevance and ensure that Washington continues to have a maximum stake in the defence of the island.