2022 Year in Review

A PIVOT TOWARDS STRATEGIC CLARITY
Supporters of strategic ambiguity argue that the policy allows other countries to
balance their ties between Beijing and Washington. Increasingly, this argument is
losing merit. From the outset, the PRC has forced nations to adopt its ‘One China
Principle’ before establishing any diplomatic or commercial ties with it. On the
world stage, any efforts by nations to advocate for Taiwan’s participation in
international organisations have also drawn
the ire of China. With the Communist Party
continuously shifting the goalposts to fit its
interest, it is extremely difficult for nations to
manage their relationship with China and the
US.
In this light, the US must also recognise that
the game and the players have changed
since the Cold War. Any conflict surrounding
Taiwan will now predictably draw a
multilateral response affecting the entire
region and the world in more ways than one.
Partners have demonstrated their
willingness to combat the PRC’s
incrementalism. The US has effectively
enacted and coordinated clear policy
strategies and responses to Chinese actions,
including creating the AUKUS alliance
between the United Kingdom, Australia, and
itself. Japan has also indicated Taiwan’s
integral importance to its security equation.
More recently, former British Prime Minister
Liz Truss also affirmed the UK’s commitment
to improve Taiwan's self-defence ability and
re-highlighted the importance of Taiwan to
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