China is trying to show the world this week that it can isolate Taiwan, with a show of live-fire military exercises and trade restrictions. One non-military way the U.S. can respond is by expanding economic and free-trade ties with the island democracy.
Beijing claims its escalations are a response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan this week. After meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, the House Speaker said she discussed “a trade agreement that might be possible and soon.” That’s good news, and the Democrats now running Washington could move with dispatch to help Taiwan withstand China’s economic coercion.
