Taipei: A Taiwanese scholar emphasized on Thursday that Taiwan remains a crucial asset in the United States' ongoing "strategic competition" with China, one that the U.S. cannot afford to lose.

According to Focus Taiwan, Lin Wen-cheng, a professor at National Sun Yat-sen University's Institute of China and Asia-Pacific Studies, stated at a seminar in Taipei that despite U.S. President Donald Trump's reluctance to commit to Taiwan's defense against a potential Chinese invasion, the U.S. Congress has consistently upheld bipartisan support for Taiwan. Lin highlighted Taiwan's strategic importance to the U.S. within the second island chain and its dominance in the semiconductor industry as key reasons why Washington must not concede Taiwan to China.

Lin asserted that the structural bilateral "strategic competition" and confrontation between the U.S. and China is set to continue for decades. He made these remarks during a seminar focused on Taiwan-U.S.-China trilateral relations in 2025.

Professor Wang Hung-jen from National Cheng Kung University's Department of Political Science expressed concerns that Trump's hesitancy to defend Taiwan, coupled with his stance on Ukraine, could inadvertently embolden Chinese President Xi Jinping. Wang cautioned that this might lead to increased pressure from Beijing on Taipei, potentially resulting in aggressive actions, including military moves against Taiwan.

Trump's recent remarks on February 25, where he avoided clarifying his policy on Taiwan's defense, echo his previous statements. During a Cabinet meeting, he refrained from commenting on whether China could take Taiwan by force during his presidency, emphasizing his desire not to be put in such a position. Trump also highlighted his "great relationship" with Xi and Washington's welcoming stance towards good relations with Beijing.

This approach marks a departure from his predecessor, Joe Biden, who had firmly stated his commitment to defending Taiwan if a conflict arose in the Taiwan Strait. Biden's tenure saw a shift from the U.S.' longstanding "strategic ambiguity" on the cross-strait issue, as he repeatedly asserted U.S. defense commitments, though later walked back by administration officials.