DORAL, Fla. — Taiwan's representative to the U.S. is trying to keep China front of mind in MAGA foreign policy, sounding warnings that Beijing's "threat is active" at the Heritage Foundation's Miami Security Forum this week.

America's intelligence agencies recently assessed that Beijing is not planning a military invasion in 2027. Ambassador Alexander Tah-Ray Yui said that did not mean the People's Republic of China was not increasing its capabilities to threaten the island by force.

"The threat is active. It's real. And Taiwan will do all it can, to have the best deterrence possible," Yui told The Hill this week, speaking on the sidelines of the Heritage Foundation's inaugural national security conference at President Trump's golf resort near Miami.

The 2027 deadline was first put forward in 2021 by an American admiral who noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping might take action in the centennial year of the People's Liberation Army.

The conference largely focused on two major pillars of Trump's security strategy in the Western Hemisphere: combating drug cartels and boxing out China — a somewhat discordant pair of themes as Trump's war on Iran focuses America's military on the Middle East.

Part of China's ambitions in Latin America is to cut off Taiwan from any official diplomatic ties in the region. And Yui's presence at the conference is aimed at promoting Taiwan as a reliable partner for the attending Latin American officials.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative and Republican voices have largely embraced Taiwan as a critical U.S. partner in countering Chinese aggression in the Pacific. The Heritage Foundation's conference, with its explicit "anti-CCP" theme, reflects a growing consensus on the right that containing China's influence is essential to U.S. national security.

Heritage President Kevin Roberts said of Yui's invitation: "We want them to be part of the conversation. We're very proud to say that it's anti-CCP."

Conservatives have pointed to Taiwan's role in semiconductor manufacturing — the island produces 90 percent of the world's chips — as a strategic asset that cannot fall under Chinese control. Republican foreign policy thinkers have argued that any Chinese takeover of Taiwan would cripple the U.S. economy and military supply chains.

The Trump administration's focus on securing the Strait of Hormuz, conservatives argue, underscores the broader need for U.S. allies like Taiwan to contribute to global stability. Yui's appearance at the Heritage conference signals Taiwan's willingness to be a partner in that effort.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive and Democratic voices have expressed caution about escalating tensions with China, arguing that diplomatic engagement rather than military posturing offers a more sustainable path to peace in the Taiwan Strait. Progressive foreign policy analysts have noted that the 2027 timeline, while concerning, should not be used to justify blanket arms sales or a permanent U.S. military presence in the region.

Some Democrats have also raised questions about whether the focus on China distracts from other pressing issues, including climate change and domestic economic inequality. Former officials have suggested that Taiwan's security is best ensured through multilateral dialogue, including with Beijing, rather than through exclusive military partnerships.

Progressive lawmakers have also noted that Taiwan's own former president Tsai Ing-wen said in November 2024 that weapons deliveries should be prioritized for Ukraine, suggesting Taiwan itself recognizes it has time to build its defenses through diplomatic means.

What the Numbers Show

U.S. intelligence agencies assess that China is not planning a military invasion of Taiwan in 2027, though the timeline was first proposed by an American admiral in 2021.

Taiwan depends heavily on energy imports: a third of its natural gas comes from Qatar, and 39.4 percent of its oil imports came from the Middle East in 2025, down from 45 percent in 2022. Taiwan is seeking to diversify its energy sources, particularly by increasing natural gas deliveries from the U.S.

Taiwan manufactures approximately 90 percent of the world's semiconductor chips, a critical component for everything from consumer electronics to military equipment.

A $14 billion U.S. arms sale to Taiwan remains under internal review and has not been finalized. The Trump administration is also seeking $200 billion in funding for the war in Iran, which could impact weapons delivery schedules.

Taiwan maintains official diplomatic ties with seven countries in Latin America. Nicaragua severed ties with Taiwan in 2021, and Honduras did so in 2023, both switching recognition to Beijing.

The Bottom Line

Taiwan's representative to the U.S. is working to maintain focus on China's threat despite competing priorities in the Trump administration's foreign policy, particularly the war in Iran. Yui's appearance at a conservative conference underscores Taiwan's strategy of building relationships with the MAGA-aligned foreign policy establishment.

The island faces real strategic vulnerabilities, including energy dependence on the Middle East and a potential bottleneck in semiconductor supply chains should conflict erupt. At the same time, Taiwan is working to diversify its energy sources and secure timely delivery of U.S. weapons systems.

The status of a $14 billion arms sale remains uncertain pending Trump's meeting with Xi, which was postponed due to the Iran conflict. Taiwan continues to advocate for timely weapons deliveries while also working to maintain diplomatic ties in Latin America, where China's infrastructure investments have generated backlash in countries like Honduras.

What to watch: Whether Trump's meeting with Xi eventually takes place and what, if any, arms deal emerges; Honduras's ongoing review of its China ties; and whether Taiwan can secure alternative energy supplies to reduce its Middle East dependence.