U.S. backing not Taiwan’s only line of defence

Any American commitment to defend Taiwan from China’s aggression died years ago when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine and the U.S. did not come to its defence. But that doesn’t mean the island is doomed.

Comments by United States President Donald Trump, right, following his visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, created a noisy debate in the U.S. about whether Trump is selling Taiwan out to China, writes Gwynne Dyer. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Opinion

BY GWYNNE DYER

May 20, 2026

LONDON, U.K.—On Donald Trump’s flight home from his visit to China, all the journalists wanted to know was whether the American president had talked to President Xi Jinping about Taiwan. China has been pushing hard for the United States to cancel its military commitment ...

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