Forget Trump, Taiwan Faces Much Bigger Problems

The international politics of cross-strait security will shift as more countries back China's claim over Taiwan and its efforts to control the island.

- Benjamin Herscovitch

Trump Mark Two is going to be a white-knuckle ride for governments around the world. Even US allies and partners have already faced threats of military aggression and economic coercion. But, for all of Mr Donald Trump's capriciousness, he is unlikely to give up on Taiwan's security. Rightly or wrongly, many of his top picks believe stopping China from taking Taiwan is vital for US security.

Nonetheless, Taiwan is losing more of the world despite Washington's ongoing backing. New Lowy Institute analysis of every UN member state reveals widespread and growing international support for China's efforts to seize the island.

Nearly three-quarters of UN member states (74 per cent, or 142 in total) now support Beijing's position that Taiwan is part of China.

At least 119 countries (62 per cent of UN member states) have gone a step further by formally signing up to the Chinese government's preferred "one China" principle, which stipulates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.