Part 4/16:
Taiwan occupies a crucial geopolitical position amidst the US-China tensions, acting as both a democracy and the epicenter of high-tech manufacturing, particularly semiconductors. The island is part of the 'First Island Chain,' a series of islands from Japan through Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia that parallel China's coast. The strategic importance is clear: as long as these islands are independent, China’s rise as a strategic power remains limited. The United States' involvement essentially guarantees the security buffer that prevents China from consolidating dominance in the region.