The United States' Next Move in the China-Taiwan Conflict: The Argument for a Conditional Commitment
Date
2022-12
Authors
Malcom, Alexia
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Abstract
This thesis examines the United States’ role regarding the potential Chinese invasion of the island of Taiwan. By examining this ongoing case, I recount the history between the three nations that has led to the start of this conflict. Then, I discuss the three major policy options being debated by scholars today—maintaining the status quo of strategic ambiguity, abandoning all defense commitments to Taiwan, and taking a stance of strategic clarity on the situation. This thesis then advocates for a fourth position that I argue the United States should take, a conditional commitment. My main research method to do so is literature reviews of the most renowned scholars on the topics, as well as an in-depth examination of a conditional commitment in practice today with South Korea. In order to make my argument, I address topics such as the legality of defending Taiwan and the reality of a war against China. Despite these risks, I conclude that Taiwan is worth defending due to the moral and strategic interests of the United States.
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Keywords
China, Taiwan
Citation
Malcom, A. (2022). The United States' next move in the China-Taiwan conflict: The argument for a conditional commitment (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.