Taipei: A veteran American senator has issued a stark warning regarding the global consequences of a potential Chinese conquest of Taiwan. Senator Roger Wicker, who recently visited Taiwan, emphasized the significant impact such an event would have on both global security and the economy.
According to Focus Taiwan, Senator Wicker detailed the critical role Taiwan plays on the world stage in a weekly report posted on his official website. He highlighted Taiwan’s position as the seventh-largest trading partner of the United States and its pivotal role in producing the majority of the world’s semiconductors. Wicker argued that if China were to seize control of these semiconductor factories, it could potentially hold the global economy hostage.
The senator also underscored the broader geopolitical implications, noting that an invasion by China would threaten neighboring countries like Japan and South Korea, which are among the U.S.’ top trading partners. He pointed out that control of the Pacific region by Chin
ese communists could jeopardize the ability to conduct business with the growing marketplace in that area, which houses 60% of the world’s population.
During his visit to Taiwan in late August, Wicker, serving as the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, emphasized Taiwan’s strategic importance to U.S. national defense. He noted that America’s network of bases in the Pacific has provided security assurances to host nations and made it challenging for adversaries to threaten the U.S. mainland.
Wicker warned that if China were to attack Taiwan and the U.S. failed to respond, countries hosting American military assets might be less inclined to continue doing so, potentially forcing U.S. forces to retreat further east to Hawaii or Guam.
The senator reaffirmed the U.S.’ commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act, which ensures Taiwan receives the defensive materials necessary for its security. He pledged to uphold this commitment alongside other American lawmakers.
Wicker’s visit to Taiwan, accompanied
by Senator Deb Fischer, was part of a broader tour of the Indo-Pacific region. During the visit, the delegation met with key Taiwanese leaders, including President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, reaffirming the United States’ partnership with Taiwan. The trip marked Wicker’s first visit to Taiwan as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the first by a committee chairman since 2016.
