During her keynote speech at the Halifax International Security Forum, former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen urged the U.S. to prioritize aiding Ukraine before turning its focus to Taiwan. She emphasized, “They should do whatever they can to help the Ukrainians. We [Taiwan] still have time,” as reported by Politico.
This week marked the 1,000th day of Ukraine’s defense against Russia, a war that continues to stir anxiety in Kyiv, particularly regarding President-elect Trump’s potential return to office.
Tsai underscores the urgency of supporting Ukraine, warning of implications for Taiwan’s future
While Trump has promised to achieve “peace through strength,” his past criticism of U.S. spending on Ukraine has raised concerns that his approach might involve painful concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, alarming both Ukraine and its allies.
At the same time, Taiwan is bracing for the possibility of a Chinese invasion by 2027, although uncertainty remains over whether such an attack will actually take place. Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered his forces to be prepared for a potential assault by that year.
Tsai’s remarks come as Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Navy commander in the Indo-Pacific, warned that the Pentagon’s military shipments to Ukraine and Israel are depleting U.S. stockpiles, potentially hindering resources needed for defense against China, as reported by Business Insider.
Some have voiced concerns that if Ukraine falls, Taiwan will be next. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the outgoing chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has criticized far-right members of his party who oppose U.S. support for Ukraine, as well as the Biden administration for its slow response to providing aid to Kyiv, which he believes has weakened Ukraine’s efforts against Russia.
In a panel discussion at the Atlantic Council, McCaul remarked, “Now we have these pro-Putin, Russia-loving people, and I don’t understand that,” referring to critics of Biden’s approval of Western weapons for Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory. He stressed, “We can’t afford to lose this fight, and it’s vital to our national interests, because if Ukraine falls, Taiwan is next. And that will be World War III.”
Tsai shared a similar perspective in her speech, reiterating that Taiwan’s defense is closely tied to global security. She highlighted that Taiwan depends heavily on American military aid and arms to safeguard itself and noted that a victory for Ukraine would act as a deterrent to China’s ambitions. “A Ukrainian victory will serve as the most effective deterrent to future aggression,” Tsai stated, according to Politico.
