Potential Impact of China-Taiwan Conflict on the US Military

Research Proposal
Student’s Name
Research Electives 1
Date
Instructor’s Name
Air Command and Staff College
eSchool of Graduate PME
Maxwell AFB, Alabama
Working Title:
In the Name of Partnerships: Understanding the Potential Impact of China-Taiwan Conflict on the US Military
Research Question:
What impact will the recent China-Taiwan tension have on the US military?
Problem Background and Significance:
Conflict between two countries has never existed in a vacuum. Other countries get involved in the conflict because of existing partnerships or common interests. The recent China-Taiwan conflict stems from China’s desire to reunify with Taiwan and Taiwan’s desire to be independent of China. It has resulted in China’s increased need to establish its authority over Taiwan, despite Taiwan’s resistance. This conflict will affect not only the two countries but also other countries. The US, for instance, is an ally of Taiwan, and according to the US Department of State, Taiwan is a key US partner in the Indo-Pacific area. The US supports Taiwan's efforts to maintain sufficient defense capability and emphasizes the importance of peaceful conflict resolution. Also, Taiwan is a vibrant democracy whose success is vital to the US. Taiwan has received support from different US administrations. Recently, President Joe Biden said that the US would continue to protect and support its allies in Asia Pacific, including Taiwan. As such, the US cannot stand by the sideline if the tension between China and Taiwan escalates. It has a responsibility to protect its ally, more so because Taiwan holds a strategic position that is important to the US.[Ayu Agnia and Joko Setiyono, "United States Intervention in the China - Taiwan Conflict over Taiwan Territorial Sovereignty," International Journal of Social Science and Human Research 5, no. 6 (2022): 2282-2286, doi: 10.47191/ijsshr/v5-i6-37] [US Department of State, US Relations with Taiwan. May 28, 2022. /u-s-relations-with-taiwan/ (accessed May 17, 2023).] [John Bolton and Derik Zitelman, "Why Taiwan Matters: Clarifying American Interests and What’s at Stake for the United States," Small Wars Journal, (2022), https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/why-taiwan-matters-clarifying-american-interests-and-whats-stake-united-states] [Agnia and Setiyono, "United States Intervention in the China - Taiwan Conflict over Taiwan Territorial Sovereignty."] [Agnia and Setiyono, "United States Intervention in the China - Taiwan Conflict over Taiwan Territorial Sovereignty."]
China and Taiwan’s conflict has increasingly attracted the attention of the US public. According to Pan, most Americans believe this conflict presents the US with a serious problem, especially because of China’s military strength. As such, the conflict has some military implications for the US, and it is important to explore these implications. In addition, any military intervention by the US in Taiwan's defense can increase the public's war support by at least 7% and affect the outcomes of the war in case one takes place.[Hsin-Hsin Pan, "US public opinion on cross-strait relations: the effect of China threat on the China–Taiwan tension," Japanese Journal of P...