Lauren Dickey and DKI APCSS’ Col. Matthew Kent Call for a Reassessment of U.S. Policy on Taiwan in War on the Rocks
“This is Not the Status Quo You’re Looking For” by Lauren Dickey and DKI APCSS’ Col. Matthew Kent was recently published by War on the Rocks. In the article, the authors argue that the United States’ longstanding policy of maintaining the “status quo” on Taiwan is increasingly misaligned with contemporary geostrategic realities. Rooted in Cold War-era agreements, the policy aims to deter hostilities by avoiding an official stance on Taiwan’s sovereignty. However, this approach has not accounted for China’s use of gray zone tactics—subtle, coercive measures that fall short of provoking military conflict but aim to achieve political objectives. According to the authors, the “status quo,” once effective in a very different geopolitical landscape, now risks enabling China’s aggressive posturing and undermining Taiwan’s security.
