Top US diplomat in Taiwan says aside from the human toll, any conflict across the Taiwan Strait would have a bigger impact on the global economy than the Second World War

Says: US under the Trump administration has made maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific one of its key priorities. Upcoming US-China summit offers an opportunity to further strengthen a relationship based on strategic stability, fairness and reciprocity, while reducing the risk of misunderstandings and miscalculations. US continues to support Taiwan’s efforts to strengthen its self-defence capabilities. Taiwan’s ability to deter conflict has been, and will remain, central to preserving its political, economic and social system. US views credible deterrence as essential to creating room for genuine cross-Strait dialogue and resolving differences without coercion or the threat of force.