TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese trust in the United States is eroding dramatically, potentially undermining American strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a stark warning issued Monday (Aug. 18) by German Marshall Fund researchers. Bonnie Glaser and Jennifer Lan (藍立雅) published their analysis highlighting deteriorating sentiment, particularly following Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC, 台積電), the world's largest chipmaker, expansion of production facilities in America. The researchers cautioned that this declining confidence could create strategic openings for China to advance its long-term objectives regarding Taiwan.
Multiple surveys documented the alarming deterioration in Taiwan-U.S. relations, with Brookings Institution analysis revealing that 40.5% of Taiwanese respondents now hold negative views of America, surging from 24.2% in July 2024. Academia Sinica (中研院), Taiwan's premier research institution, reported that 59.6% consider the United States untrustworthy, nearly 10 percentage points higher than the previous year. The researchers linked this decline to President Trump's reciprocal tariffs, which 81.9% of Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation (TPOF, 台灣民意教育基金會) respondents deemed unreasonable.
Regional allies across the Indo-Pacific are scrutinizing America's Taiwan policy as a critical barometer of Washington's broader security commitments, with Australia, Japan, and the Philippines particularly attentive to any shifts. Glaser and Lan concluded their analysis with urgent recommendations for American policymakers, emphasizing that future U.S.-China negotiations must never compromise Taiwan's security or economic prosperity. The researchers strongly advocated for maintaining robust congressional delegations to Taiwan as a demonstration of sustained American support. ◼
