A Message from our Chairman: Taiwan is a Crucial Player for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework

By: Randall G. Schriver |

The Project 2049 Institute is deeply concerned about the administration’s noncommittal position regarding Republic of China’s (ROC, Taiwan) participation as a full member in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). When U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai declined to comment at the March 31 Senate Finance Committee hearing about Taiwan’s invitation to join the IPEF, the administration undermined the importance of Taiwan to the United States, the Indo-Pacific, and the global economy. The absence of support falls short of the administration’s own integrated deterrence policy, which it claims to promote in its relationship with Taiwan.

Taiwan is the United States’ 9th overall trading partner, 8th largest export market for food and agriculture, and accounts for 92% of the world’s semiconductor outputs. Taiwan occupies a critical position in the global high-tech supply chain and is a trustworthy economic partner that respects labor rights and intellectual property. In addition, Taiwan is a beacon of democracy, with over 23 million people who uphold many of the same values we cherish in the United States and throughout the free world.

When the U.S. excludes Taiwan from its own economic framework for the Indo-Pacific region, we are sending a message to important regional partners and allies that we do not value the strong relationship we have with Taiwan. More importantly, we embolden the People’s Republic of China (PRC, China) to perpetuate the erroneous narrative that we do not care about Taiwan, nor respect the significance of the U.S.-Taiwan economic relationship.

We strongly urge the Biden administration to invite Taiwan as a full member of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and, in so doing, highlight Taiwan as the meaningful, crucial partner that it is for the Indo-Pacific and the world.

The Honorable Randall G. Schriver

Chairman
The Project 2049 Institute