Dr. Clarke says he would like Taiwan to receive more international support, while understanding why governments hesitate when a much larger state sits next door and reacts forcefully to such moves. The pressure is not an abstract disagreement because proximity gives China many ways to raise the cost of support. Anticipated retaliation deters governments without making that pressure a moral endorsement.
Notable Point · 2:05:27-2:05:46
Why states hesitate to support Taiwan more openly
In this 2020 discussion, stronger support for Taiwan is presented as desirable but politically difficult because nearby China can impose immediate diplomatic and strategic costs.