the line in the sea is the line in the sand

I recently traveled to Taiwan and am now writing this from the Philippines, where the contrast and the connection between the two places could not be more apparent. I came to listen and observe—to understand how China’s aggression is affecting real people in these two remarkable countries. What I found were stories and lessons that demand sharing—not just with the world, but especially with my fellow Americans. In Taiwan, I witnessed a society vibrant and resilient in the face of constant pressure from mainland China. In the Philippines, I saw communities living in the shadow of Chinese aggression. Together, these experiences made it impossible for me to stay silent. The danger is real. Authoritarian China is omnipresent—and growing bolder by the day in its pursuit of regional and global dominance.

Here in the Philippines, I’ve spent the past several days speaking with local fishermen, students, diplomats, and security officials. From the bustling streets of Cebu to the more remote fishing communities along the coast, one message rings loud and clear: the people here feel the growing weight of Chinese aggression—and they’re looking to the United States not just as an ally, but as a necessary partner in preserving peace, sovereignty, and freedom in the region.

One story in particular struck me—a fisherman, a father of four from Luzon, told me he no longer dares to fish near Scarborough Shoal. Not because the law forbids him—but because the Chinese coast guard might stop him. Board him. Or worse. “We have no navy,” he said. “We only have hope. We hope America remembers us.”

That plea—"we hope America remembers us"—is one I’ve heard before in many places around the world. And I suspect many in Taiwan feel the same. Surrounded, scrutinized, and under pressure, Taiwan remains a beacon of democratic resolve in the Indo-Pacific. But it cannot—and should not—be expected to stand alone. Taiwan may be an island, but it is no outlier. Its fate is entwined with the broader fight for regional sovereignty, democratic resilience, and the international order. From the perspective of those on the front lines of Chinese expansion, what happens to Taiwan won’t stay in Taiwan.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe understood this clearly when he declared, “A Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency, and therefore an emergency for the Japan-U.S. alliance.” He didn’t say it for effect. He said it because he saw the chain reaction that would follow if Taiwan were to fall. It would not just be a humanitarian tragedy—it would be a strategic catastrophe.

The Philippines understands this too. General Romeo Brawner, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, recently warned: “If something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved.” His words were not hyperbole. Over 250,000 Filipinos work in Taiwan. But beyond that, Taiwan’s airspace and sea lanes intersect with the lifelines of the Philippines, Japan, and the entire democratic Indo-Pacific.

Geography doesn’t lie. Taiwan sits at the center of the First Island Chain, a natural barrier to authoritarian expansionism. If that barrier is breached, the consequences will ripple far beyond its shores. Trade routes will be jeopardized. Military pressure on Southeast Asia will increase. And authoritarian powers will learn that force rewrites the rules.

That is especially true in the South China Sea, one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors. Over $3.5 trillion in global trade flows through these waters each year. If China is allowed to dominate the South China Sea unchallenged, it would not only compromise the sovereignty of regional nations—it would give Beijing a stranglehold over the global economy. Free commerce would no longer be upheld by international law; instead, it would be dictated by the whims of an authoritarian regime. The economic stakes are enormous. What happens in these waters touches every port, every market, and every consumer around the globe—especially in America.

Some argue that major powers like the United States should avoid entanglement in faraway disputes. But ask anyone in the Philippines—or Taiwan—and you’ll hear a different truth: what happens here affects the world. Regional instability causes global tremors, from trade disruptions to refugee flows to emboldened strongmen.

The growing uncertainty around U.S. foreign policy compounds these concerns. In both Taiwan and the Philippines, there is unease about shifting rhetoric from Washington and the recent imposition of new trade tariffs that could undermine regional trust. Friends and allies worry about whether America’s commitment is still as strong as it once was. And yet, amid that anxiety, there are moments of reassurance. The recent visit by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to the Philippines sent a positive and much-needed signal. His reaffirmation of the Mutual Defense Treaty reminded many in the region that the United States has not forgotten its friends. However, the absence of any words of support for Taiwan during his trip only emphasized the uncertainty of U.S. resolve to defend the island against a Chinese attack.

In my time in the Philippines, I saw not just fear—but quiet determination. Officials are ramping up patrols. Locals are tracking incursions. They know they cannot stop China alone, but they aren’t giving up. What they ask for is solidarity: not for America or others to fight their battles, but to stand beside them—to show that democracy is not negotiable.

The same is true for Taiwan. Its strength is not just its economy or technology—it is its clarity of purpose, its commitment to self-determination, and the growing community of nations that recognize its critical role. Taiwan may be an island, but it is not isolated. Its fate is tied to the region—and to the broader global order.

Supporting Taiwan is not charity. It is strategy. It is a stand for a world where might does not make right, where rules are not rewritten by force, and where silence does not become complicity. The people of Taiwan do not ask others to fight for them—but they deserve to know they won’t stand alone.

That’s why America’s current policy of “strategic ambiguity” is no longer enough. If we want to deter aggression, we must remove doubt. The clearest, boldest signal the United States could send is to formally recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation and discard a policy that only invites risk and miscalculation.

This is not just a line in the sea—it is a line in the sand. How we respond to Taiwan’s challenges will shape the global order for generations. We must not blink.

From Manila to Taipei, the message is clear: Taiwan’s fight is not Taiwan’s alone. It is the fight of every nation that values sovereignty over submission, law over coercion, and freedom over fear.

Now is the time for every American to stand resolutely with Taiwan and the Philippines. Let us be worthy of the hope that fisherman spoke of. Let us stand with Taiwan—before it’s too late.

This piece appeared as an op-ed in the Taiwan News.