In “Through the Looking-Glass,” the Red Queen tells Alice: “My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere you must run twice as fast as that.” She might have been thinking of Taiwan.
During a recent trip there, I heard repeatedly from the country’s new leaders that they are committed to the status quo. According to a February poll from the American Institute in Taiwan, more than 80% of Taiwanese agree. But a contested geopolitical status quo doesn’t maintain itself. To do so, the U.S. and Taiwan must pursue sustained actions and counteractions.