There will be a detrimental impact on global democracies if Taiwan falls under Chinese occupation. That’s the word from defense expert Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), who currently serves as the director of the Institute of National Defense and Security Research.
On Wednesday, the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council partnered with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council to host the Taiwan-U.S. Defense Industry Forum. The forum invited defense contractors and experts from both countries to discuss opportunities for cooperation and partnerships.
Shen was an attendee and says a common denominator for conflict between countries is the presence of an authoritarian country with strong military capabilities. He gives the examples of the border disputes between China and India and the Russo-Ukrainian war. He says the situation in the Taiwan Strait is no different.
Shen adds that Taiwan’s strategic value lies in being part of the first island chain and playing a significant role in the global semiconductor industry. On top of that, he says Taiwan’s democracy serves as a beacon in the Asia-Pacific region.