Trump effect? Taiwan poll reveals deep doubts about US military protection

AdvertisementTaiwanChinaPoliticsTrump effect? Taiwan poll reveals deep doubts about US military protectionResults also suggest a more pragmatic public mood on cross-strait relations, with many respondents favouring dialogue over confrontation 3-MIN READ3-MIN4 ListenLawrence Chungin TaipeiPublished: 10:00am, 22 Apr 2026Half of Taiwanese not only doubt the US would send troops to defend Taiwan in the event of a cross-strait conflict but also question whether American weapons would prove effective, a poll this week has revealed.The results highlighted mounting scepticism on the island over Washington’s security guarantees, according to the survey released on Monday by the Taipei-based Democracy Foundation. The poll found that 57 per cent of respondents did not believe the US would send troops to defend the island if war broke out in the Taiwan Strait – and thereby risk direct conflict with mainland China. AdvertisementLess than a quarter said they believed Washington would help militarily. Asked if US forces could provide timely and effective military assistance in a crisis, 55.6 per cent said no – versus 31.5 per cent who believed they could. AdvertisementConfidence in US-made weapons was equally low: 49 per cent lacked faith in their defensive power, while just over a third expressed confidence. AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x