As Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza continues and international support wanes, Taiwan remains steadfast in its solidarity. In an exclusive interview with VOA, Abby Lee, Taiwan’s Representative to Israel, explained that the commonalities between Taiwan and Israel - particularly their existential threats from hostile neighbors - bind these two democratic entities together.
Shared Challenges#
“Taiwan has lived under China’s military intimidation and threats for decades,” Lee told VOA in Tel Aviv. “If you’re being bullied at school, you don’t want to hide from your classmates and friends. China is one of our bullies.”
Lee draws parallels between Israel’s regional challenges and Taiwan’s situation. “Today, we’re seeing a confrontation between democracies and authoritarian regimes. Both Israel and Taiwan must deal with challenges from turbulent countries like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.”
This comparison is based on China’s ongoing military exercises near Taiwan’s coastal waters, widely seen as preparations for potential invasion and control. Similarly, since the October 2023 outbreak of war in Gaza, Iran and its proxies in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq have intensified attacks on Israel.
Democratic Frontline#
“We see an axis of evil - or an axis of disruption - trying to undermine global order,” Lee stated. “Democratic countries must strengthen and coordinate our actions. Taiwan and Israel play crucial roles in defending frontline democracies and resisting terrorists.”
While China has positioned itself as a peace advocate in the Gaza crisis, pushing for ceasefires and Palestinian statehood, it has simultaneously criticized U.S. Middle East policy and consolidated its leadership position in the “Global South.”
Taiwan, however, has maintained unwavering support for Israel. After the October 7 Hamas attack, Taiwan’s government immediately provided tens of thousands of dollars in aid. Recently, Taipei pledged $500,000 for medical and communication projects in Israel.
No Military Alliance, But Moral Unity#
Does this mean Taiwan expects military support from Israel if China attacks?
“We don’t ask friends to fight for us,” Lee clarified. However, Taipei’s leaders do hope “like-minded democracies can unite and speak with one voice to increase the political cost of any potential invasion.”
“When we saw Russia invade Ukraine, we paid close attention because we know China is closely monitoring the situation to assess what consequences they would face if they invade Taiwan,” Lee explained.
Strategic Vulnerabilities#
Both nations face deliberate shipping disruptions. Since October 2023, Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen have seized ships and launched airstrikes in the Red Sea, causing global shipping costs to surge 284%. The Taiwan Strait, which carries 50% of global maritime trade, could face similar disruption if China blockades it.
Taiwan is also the world’s largest computer chip supplier, producing 90% of advanced chips and 100% of AI chips globally. Any disruption would severely impact global supply chains - what Lee calls Taiwan’s “silicon shield.”
Israel has similarly established itself as an indispensable provider of global technology.
“Our goal for both sides is to invest in human capital, education, and innovation as leverage to create indispensable roles on the global political stage,” Lee said. This strategy counters China’s global propaganda that “democracy causes chaos.”
Global Stakes#
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan recently warned on the Freakonomics podcast about underestimated global risks.
“If there’s a larger-scale global conflict - say between Israel and Iran - leading to the closure of the Persian Gulf, exacerbating Houthi violence in the Red Sea straits, not to mention Taiwan issues, God forbid, but its impact on the global economy… you think supply chain disruptions are bad now? My God,” Sullivan warned.
“The American people haven’t been told how dangerous the situation is. It’s more dangerous than you think.”
For Taiwan and Israel, two small democracies facing existential threats, the path forward lies in strengthening bonds with like-minded nations and demonstrating their indispensability to global stability.
Source: VOA Chinese
