Taiwan and Guam: First lines of defense for each other
- Admin
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
When we think of Guam’s place in the Indo-Pacific, the conversation often focuses on our role as “the tip of the spear” for the United States. But in the shifting security landscape of our region, it’s time we also recognize something else: Guam and Taiwan are each other’s first lines of defense.
That may sound like rhetoric, but it’s grounded in reality. The threats facing Taiwan and the threats facing Guam stem from the same source: the same adversaries with ambitions that reach far beyond their borders.
For Taiwan, the challenge is direct: an existential struggle to preserve sovereignty, democracy and the rule of law in the face of increasing pressure and coercion. For Guam, the challenge is strategic: we are home to critical U.S. military bases that project power, deter aggression and uphold freedom of navigation in the Western Pacific.
If Taiwan falls, the geopolitical map shifts overnight, and Guam’s vulnerability skyrockets. The sea lanes we depend on for everything, from food to fuel, would be in jeopardy. U.S. forces here would be forced to operate in a far more hostile environment. The buffer that Taiwan provides is not just geographic; it is a shield for Guam and the entire Pacific.
Conversely, Taiwan’s defense is deeply tied to Guam’s resilience. Our bases serve as forward logistics hubs, power projection points, and strategic assets that support Taiwan’s deterrence. In a crisis, Guam’s ability to remain operational could determine whether Taiwan receives timely support or stands isolated. That’s not just theory; it’s embedded in U.S. and allied war planning.
This is why Guam and Taiwan should not think of each other as distant points on a map, but as linked frontlines. Our shared threat environment means our security interests are intertwined. It also means we have shared opportunities:
1) Information sharing: Leveraging technology and intelligence exchanges to monitor and respond to evolving regional threats.
2) Resilience building: Collaborating on critical infrastructure hardening, disaster preparedness and cybersecurity to ensure both Guam and Taiwan can weather the first strikes of any crisis.
3) People-to-people ties: Expanding exchanges in education, governance and public policy because strong democratic societies are as important as strong defenses.
The narrative of the Indo-Pacific is often dominated by great powers, but small territories and islands like ours are where the real strategic lines are drawn. Taiwan’s fate is linked to Guam’s security, just as Guam’s security is tied to Taiwan’s survival. Recognizing this is not about inflaming tensions, but rather, about facing reality with clarity and purpose.
Our adversaries already see the connection. It’s time we see it too.
Chirag M. Bhojwani is the director of the Regional Center for Public Policy at the University of Guam. He is a fellow at Mosaic Taiwan and an alumnus of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs Executive Leadership Development Program. Send feedback to strategy@bluecontinent.solutions
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