Fox News Op-Ed: 3 Key Reasons Why the US Cannot Afford to Let Taiwan Fall to the CCP
A US expert argues in Fox News that Taiwan's fall to the CCP would be catastrophic for the West. Beyond semiconductors, Taiwan is vital for its strategic location, diplomatic influence, and democratic symbolism. The author urges the US to accelerate arms deliveries and deepen military cooperation to deter aggression.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 24, 2026 at 23:26
- 🔍 Collected: May 24, 2026 at 23:31 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 31, 2026 at 20:42 (165h 11m after Collected)
Following President Trump's visit to China, Taiwan-related issues continue to draw significant attention. Experts argue that neither the United States nor the broader Western world can afford to let Taiwan fall into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), calling on the U.S. to accelerate arms deliveries to Taiwan and deepen military cooperation.
Fox News published an op-ed today by Chuck DeVore, Vice President of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, titled "3 Key Reasons Why the U.S. Cannot Afford to Let Taiwan Fall to Communist China."
DeVore is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and a former member of the California State Assembly.
The article states that many analysts emphasize that advanced semiconductors produced in Taiwan drive global smartphones, AI systems, and precision-guided weapons. Indeed, TSMC’s wafer fabs dominate cutting-edge chip manufacturing, making Taiwan indispensable to the global economy and U.S. military superiority. If China were to take over Taiwan, it would allow Beijing to control the lifeblood of a supply chain worth trillions of dollars and severely undermine U.S. technological dominance.
However, Taiwan’s true importance goes far beyond silicon wafers. Beyond its economic and military value, there are three key factors that require high-level U.S. attention: its geographic location, its diplomatic influence, and the powerful symbolic significance of a thriving democracy just across the sea from China.
The article points out that, geographically, Taiwan sits at the hub of the First Island Chain. This natural barrier and chain of island outposts, extending from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines, restricts the Chinese navy to its near seas. If China were to control Taiwan, its rapidly expanding fleet would be able to break into the open Pacific, directly threatening Guam and more distant U.S. allies and bases.
Furthermore, once Taiwan is lost, the strategic map of Asia would tilt significantly toward Communist China. Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines would face immense pressure, and Beijing would use its geographic proximity, economic coercion, and military intimidation to force them to gradually distance themselves from Washington. Therefore, "the fall of Taiwan would trigger a diplomatic disaster, bringing about a series of realignments favorable to authoritarianism rather than freedom."
The article notes that whether through invasion, blockade, or coercion, the fall of Taiwan would send a clear signal to U.S. partners in the Pacific that Washington’s security guarantees are hollow. Those allies already hedging their bets would accelerate their shift toward Beijing, eroding the network of partnerships that has maintained regional stability since 1945.
The article also points out that Taiwan’s independently functioning democratic system is a problem for the corrupt and totalitarian CCP. The CCP insists that only authoritarian rule can govern Chinese society; Taiwan proves that this is not the case, and its thriving democracy exposes the lie at the heart of the CCP’s "unification" narrative. "Taiwan is a de facto independent nation, a self-governing representative democracy with a robust rule of law."
The article emphasizes that the U.S. must view Taiwan as a strategic asset. This means accelerating arms deliveries, deepening military cooperation, and rebuilding the U.S. industrial base—particularly in semiconductors and shipbuilding—to support a protracted competition should deterrence fail. This also requires a sober diplomatic strategy that reassures allies while signaling to Beijing that aggression will bring unacceptable risks. Seeking peace through strength remains the best path when dealing with the CCP.
The article concludes by stating that the fate of Taiwan is not just about chips or an island; it is about whether the world’s leading democracy will defend its own national interests against the world’s most powerful authoritarian state.
Clues from economic, geographic, diplomatic, and symbolic perspectives all point to one fact: the U.S. and the entire West cannot afford the price of losing Taiwan. "Our prosperity, security, and the cause of freedom in Asia depend on it," and "as long as Taiwan remains free, the Chinese Communist Party cannot threaten the free world."
Fox News published an op-ed today by Chuck DeVore, Vice President of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, titled "3 Key Reasons Why the U.S. Cannot Afford to Let Taiwan Fall to Communist China."
DeVore is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and a former member of the California State Assembly.
The article states that many analysts emphasize that advanced semiconductors produced in Taiwan drive global smartphones, AI systems, and precision-guided weapons. Indeed, TSMC’s wafer fabs dominate cutting-edge chip manufacturing, making Taiwan indispensable to the global economy and U.S. military superiority. If China were to take over Taiwan, it would allow Beijing to control the lifeblood of a supply chain worth trillions of dollars and severely undermine U.S. technological dominance.
However, Taiwan’s true importance goes far beyond silicon wafers. Beyond its economic and military value, there are three key factors that require high-level U.S. attention: its geographic location, its diplomatic influence, and the powerful symbolic significance of a thriving democracy just across the sea from China.
The article points out that, geographically, Taiwan sits at the hub of the First Island Chain. This natural barrier and chain of island outposts, extending from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines, restricts the Chinese navy to its near seas. If China were to control Taiwan, its rapidly expanding fleet would be able to break into the open Pacific, directly threatening Guam and more distant U.S. allies and bases.
Furthermore, once Taiwan is lost, the strategic map of Asia would tilt significantly toward Communist China. Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines would face immense pressure, and Beijing would use its geographic proximity, economic coercion, and military intimidation to force them to gradually distance themselves from Washington. Therefore, "the fall of Taiwan would trigger a diplomatic disaster, bringing about a series of realignments favorable to authoritarianism rather than freedom."
The article notes that whether through invasion, blockade, or coercion, the fall of Taiwan would send a clear signal to U.S. partners in the Pacific that Washington’s security guarantees are hollow. Those allies already hedging their bets would accelerate their shift toward Beijing, eroding the network of partnerships that has maintained regional stability since 1945.
The article also points out that Taiwan’s independently functioning democratic system is a problem for the corrupt and totalitarian CCP. The CCP insists that only authoritarian rule can govern Chinese society; Taiwan proves that this is not the case, and its thriving democracy exposes the lie at the heart of the CCP’s "unification" narrative. "Taiwan is a de facto independent nation, a self-governing representative democracy with a robust rule of law."
The article emphasizes that the U.S. must view Taiwan as a strategic asset. This means accelerating arms deliveries, deepening military cooperation, and rebuilding the U.S. industrial base—particularly in semiconductors and shipbuilding—to support a protracted competition should deterrence fail. This also requires a sober diplomatic strategy that reassures allies while signaling to Beijing that aggression will bring unacceptable risks. Seeking peace through strength remains the best path when dealing with the CCP.
The article concludes by stating that the fate of Taiwan is not just about chips or an island; it is about whether the world’s leading democracy will defend its own national interests against the world’s most powerful authoritarian state.
Clues from economic, geographic, diplomatic, and symbolic perspectives all point to one fact: the U.S. and the entire West cannot afford the price of losing Taiwan. "Our prosperity, security, and the cause of freedom in Asia depend on it," and "as long as Taiwan remains free, the Chinese Communist Party cannot threaten the free world."
FAQ
What is the 'First Island Chain'?
It is a series of islands including Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines that acts as a natural barrier, containing Chinese naval power within its coastal waters.