Biden will continue Trump's pro-Taiwan policy

Significance

This sees Washington refrain from declaring, either to Beijing or Taipei, whether US forces would intervene if military conflict broke out in the Taiwan Strait. Beijing has recently increased the number of military flights into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

Impacts

• Biden will urge other allies, including Japan and Australia, to express their concern over security in the Taiwan Strait.
• Democrats will resist Taipei’s urging to negotiate a free trade agreement amid wider party concerns about trade liberalisation.
• The Biden administration will attempt to balance a firm line on Taiwan with cooperative gestures toward Beijing.