| Summary/Abstract |
Given the events of recent months, it seems that world affairs might
very well be on the verge of entering a new stage. While this observation
may not be very original, it is still of profound significance to the
Asia-Pacific region: with respect to the new US administration that
just took office, many observers are wondering about the possible
consequences for US foreign policy in Asia and other parts of the
world. The future progress of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
appears precarious in light of President Donald Trump’s publicly
stated reservations about this projected agreement, and it remains to
be seen whether the United States will move away from the “Return
to the Asia-Pacific” strategy (later labelled as “pivoting” or “rebalancing”
to the Asia-Pacific) that had been pursued by former US president
Barack Obama since 2009. These uncertainties are particularly
troublesome for established US allies in the region, amongst them
Taiwan, which has long relied on US support in its delicate political
dealings vis-à-vis an ever-rising Chinese mainland.
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