WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has laid out a bold plan to prevent conflict with China over Taiwan and the South China Sea — one of the world’s most sensitive and dangerous flashpoints.
According to a newly released U.S. strategy memo, the Trump administration intends to strengthen U.S. military power and boost the defenses of key allies to ensure deterrence and keep tensions from escalating into open conflict.
The 29-page National Security Strategy document, dated November but published online only recently, makes the administration’s stance clear:
“Deterring a conflict over Taiwan, ideally by preserving military overmatch, is a priority.”
China considers Taiwan a part of its territory, despite the island’s democratic government. Beijing has repeatedly refused to rule out the use of force to claim Taiwan and continues to assert sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea — claims disputed by several neighboring countries.
The United States, while maintaining no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, remains its strongest international partner and is legally required to help Taiwan defend itself.
The Trump administration warned that conflict in the region wouldn’t just be political — it would carry massive global consequences. Taiwan leads the world in semiconductor manufacturing, and huge volumes of global trade move through the nearby waters.
For years, Taiwan has been a pressure point in U.S.-China relations. Trump has avoided publicly stating how he would respond if tensions flare, saying he aims to maintain good ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping. At the same time, he has pushed U.S. allies — especially Japan and South Korea — to significantly increase defense spending.
The strategy document sets a clear direction:
“We will build a military capable of denying aggression anywhere,” particularly across the chain of islands from Japan down to Southeast Asia.
But it also stresses that America cannot shoulder this responsibility alone. Allies, it says, must “step up and spend — and more importantly do — much more for collective defense.”
This strengthened alliance network is meant to ensure the U.S. and its partners can block any attempt to seize Taiwan or undermine its ability to defend itself.
The memo adds that the U.S. will also work to prevent any “hostile power” from controlling major sea lanes or imposing economic tolls — an effort that will require expanded and modernized naval capabilities.
Trump signed the foreword of the document, calling it “a roadmap to ensure that America remains the greatest and most successful nation in human history.”
