Chinese academics see Trump's policy as a "prelude to abandonment" of Taiwan by the US

Chinese academics argue that Trump's Taiwan policy aims to maximize economic benefits while preparing for a potential abandonment of the island. Their analysis highlights a shift in U.S. strategy, moving away from long-standing support for Taiwan. They identify a trend of risk reduction, where the U.S. seeks to decrease military intervention costs and transfer defense responsibilities to regional allies. The study notes a fragmentation of consensus among U.S. experts regarding Taiwan's strategic value, with some advocating for explicit defense commitments while others support gradual abandonment. The authors conclude that Taiwan's military capabilities must be strengthened to deter potential Chinese aggression, despite the U.S. maintaining a strategic ambiguity policy.