By Taiwan is adopting an unconventional diplomatic strategy as tensions rise over its future.
Worried that Donald Trump’s upcoming talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping may compromise its standing, the self-ruled island is turning to conservative US media platforms and influencers aligned with the former president to strengthen its visibility.
The move reflects Taipei’s growing concern that traditional channels of engagement may not be enough to secure Washington’s support if Beijing pushes for concessions on Taiwan’s independence.
Taiwan turns to US conservative media for visibility
According to a Bloomberg report, officials in Taipei have embarked on a deliberate campaign to engage with right-leaning US media figures and podcasters close to Trump’s political base.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te and senior officials have appeared on several popular conservative shows in recent months, including The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, where Lai highlighted the risks of China’s growing influence and urged the US to safeguard its interests by standing with Taiwan.
The outreach aims to reach Trump’s inner circle indirectly, using platforms that appeal to his core supporters.
Taipei hopes that by emphasising shared democratic values and economic cooperation, it can position itself as a vital US partner in the Indo-Pacific, even if broader trade and defence policies shift under Trump’s leadership.
Taiwan’s ambassador to Washington, Alexander Yui, has also taken to high-profile conservative outlets.
Appearing on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, Yui discussed how Taiwan’s diplomats were “fighting hard” to maintain global visibility.
He later appeared on Fox News and attended meetings with former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan, whose podcast featuring Trump last year drew more than 4.6 million views.
Beijing steps up pressure as Trump-Xi talks approach
Bloomberg states that the new media drive comes as Trump prepares to meet Xi Jinping next week, with Beijing reportedly pressing Washington to declare it “opposes” Taiwan’s independence.
Such a statement would mark a significant diplomatic victory for China and could upend decades of US strategic ambiguity on the issue.
Taiwanese officials fear that Beijing’s demands, combined with Trump’s transactional style of diplomacy, could see Taiwan’s security interests sidelined.
Their concern grew after the former president cancelled a $400 million military aid package for Taiwan earlier this year and refused a request from Lai to transit through New York.
In response, Taiwan’s leadership has increased its outreach to conservative American audiences, ensuring that its message reaches those most likely to influence Trump’s policy stance.
During his US media appearances, Lai stressed that China’s annexation of Taiwan would strengthen Beijing’s global dominance and threaten American interests.
The Taiwanese president even suggested that Trump could win a Nobel Peace Prize if he stood firmly with Taipei.
Balancing ideology and pragmatism
While Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party champions progressive causes such as same-sex marriage, its latest outreach to Trump-aligned groups underscores a pragmatic approach to diplomacy.
Analysts say this balancing act reflects the government’s recognition that securing bipartisan US support is vital amid global uncertainty.
As per Bloomberg, Taiwan’s efforts have not gone unnoticed in Washington.
A former Trump administration official confirmed that US agencies had encouraged Taiwanese leaders to engage with “real Americans” through alternative media channels rather than relying solely on traditional political elites.
The official added that this strategy was not an indication of policy concerns but a sign of how Taiwan seeks to adapt its communication style to shifting political realities.
A test of Taiwan’s new diplomatic strategy
The results of this unconventional approach remain uncertain.
Taiwan sees its influencer-based engagement as a necessary adaptation to an evolving global media landscape.
With the island’s formal diplomatic ties limited and traditional allies increasingly cautious, leveraging new communication channels allows Taipei to amplify its voice ahead of one of the most consequential US-China meetings in years.
The next few weeks could determine whether this media-driven strategy succeeds in ensuring Taiwan remains central to US strategic thinking—or whether it risks being overshadowed in Trump’s broader negotiations with Beijing.
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