In the first IISS Sounds Strategic podcast of 2021, to coincide with the audiobook release of Brendan Taylor’s Adelphi Series publication Dangerous Decade: Taiwan’s Security and Crisis Management, Meia Nouwens and Brendan discuss the geopolitical importance of Taiwan and the challenges it faces in the coming year and beyond.

Starting with President Tsai Ing-Wen’s re-election in January 2020 and her government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic that won international praise, the discussion moves to look ahead to potential security crises facing Taiwan. Brendan identifies US-China rivalry as a potential flashpoint and argues, ‘perhaps controversially’, that the next crisis brewing over Taiwan will be more serious than previous ones as the geopolitical status quo affecting Taiwan begins to fracture.

Meia and Brendan go on to discuss why Taiwan is strategically important for China, the likelihood of reunification and independence, whether there will be a major change in US-Taiwan relations under President Biden’s administration, Taiwan’s international standing, and where Taiwan could take advantage of the US-China trade war. 

Date of recording: 18 December 2020

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.

Theme music: ‘Safety in Numbers’ by We Were Promised Jetpacks

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