The Deeper Contest: Dr. Derek Levine on China, Taiwan, and the Battle for the 21st Century
As President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping this past week at the APEC Summit, the stakes couldn't be higher. While trade negotiations will dominate headlines, the real struggle runs far deeper—it's a fundamental contest between democracy and authoritarianism, between freedom and control.
In a powerful op-ed published today in the Washington Examiner, KeyPoint Press author Dr. Derek Levine cuts through the diplomatic niceties to expose what's truly at stake in the U.S.-China confrontation: the fate of Taiwan, and with it, the future of the free world.
The Flashpoint That Will Define the Century
Dr. Levine, professor at Monroe University and King Graduate School, draws on his extensive research to illuminate why Taiwan represents far more than a geopolitical chess piece. As he writes, Taiwan is "the flashpoint nation whose fate will determine whether the next century is led by free nations that honor the human spirit or by regimes that command it."
The urgency is real. Xi Jinping has ordered China's military to be ready to conquer Taiwan by 2027—a deadline driven as much by internal political pressures as by strategic ambition. Behind Xi's aggressive posture lies deep insecurity, evidenced by repeated purges of senior military leaders. For authoritarian rulers facing domestic instability, external conflict becomes tempting.
The Economic and Strategic Imperative
The Taiwan question isn't merely ideological. Dr. Levine details the staggering economic implications: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company produces roughly 60% of global semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced chips. A Beijing takeover would hand China control of the global semiconductor supply chain, affecting everything from artificial intelligence to weapons systems.
Beyond semiconductors, Taiwan sits astride the Taiwan Strait—a vital economic artery carrying $586 billion in annual trade. Chinese control would fundamentally reshape the global economy and allow Beijing to project military power throughout the Pacific, threatening Japan, Australia, and America's entire network of regional alliances.
A Moral Imperative
Yet Dr. Levine's most compelling arguments are moral. Taiwan's transformation from authoritarian rule to vibrant democracy mirrors humanity's universal longing for freedom. Since martial law ended in 1987, Taiwan has built one of Asia's most dynamic democracies—a society where citizens identify as Taiwanese, "bound by liberty rather than ethnicity."
As Dr. Levine eloquently concludes: "For eight decades, the democratic international order has endured because it honors a fundamental truth: the human soul is meant to be free. Taiwan stands as a living testament to that truth... Letting that light go out would mean losing more than an island; it would mean surrendering the belief that freedom is the soul's native language."
Essential Reading for Understanding the Sino-American Confrontation
Dr. Levine's op-ed offers a preview of the rigorous analysis and moral clarity found throughout his book, China's Path to Dominance: Preparing for Confrontation with the United States. This essential volume provides scholars, policymakers, and concerned citizens with the comprehensive understanding needed to navigate the most consequential geopolitical challenge of our era.
At a moment when headlines focus on tariffs and trade deficits, Dr. Levine reminds us what's truly at stake: not just economic prosperity, but the survival of democracy itself in the face of rising authoritarianism.
Read Dr. Levine's full op-ed in the Washington Examiner: "Trump must stand up for Taiwan in Xi meeting"
Order China's Path to Dominance today and gain the strategic insight needed to understand the confrontation that will define the 21st century.
Get your copy on Amazon now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTTNT8F9
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