Taiwan Conflict Would Devastate Global Economy, US Envoy Warns
· World · Al Jazeera, Reuters
Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, warned on Wednesday that any armed conflict across the Taiwan Strait would inflict greater damage on the global economy than World War II. Speaking at a defence forum in Taipei, Greene stated that the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping offers an opportunity to avoid miscalculations. While the US maintains no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Washington remains the island's principal arms supplier and international backer. Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te's administration has responded to rising security pressures by setting next year's defence budget to exceed 1 trillion Taiwan dollars ($31.76bn) for the first time. The US administration continues to prioritize peace in the Indo-Pacific through diplomatic engagement and support for Taiwan's self-defence capabilities.
Why it matters
Escalation in the Taiwan Strait threatens global trade, semiconductor supply chains, and regional stability across the Indo-Pacific.
Read the original report — Al Jazeera
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