Nikki Haley in Taiwan: Isolationism Isn’t Healthy, Supports Trump

During her recent visit to Taiwan, Nikki Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, emphasized the importance of a robust foreign policy over isolationism. Speaking to reporters in Taipei, she urged the Republican Party to strengthen its ties with American allies, including Ukraine and Israel, while also endorsing Donald Trump as the party’s nominee.

Haley, who previously competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, asserted that the U.S. cannot afford to adopt an isolationist stance. She underscored America’s responsibility to support its allies, especially Taiwan, which is under increasing pressure from Beijing. “I don’t think the isolationist approach is healthy. I think America can never sit in a bubble and think that we won’t be affected,” she stated.

While the U.S. does not officially recognize Taiwan, it remains the island’s most significant supporter and primary arms supplier. Trump’s push for the presidency has raised concerns, particularly after he suggested that Taiwan should bear the costs for its U.S. protection in a July interview. Furthermore, Trump has been ambiguous about whether he would defend Taiwan in the event of Chinese military action.

Haley did not immediately endorse Trump following the end of her campaign. She had previously criticized him for creating chaos and undermining U.S. alliances. However, she has since expressed her intention to vote for him, although she believes he must work to regain support from her own voter base.

On Saturday, Haley spoke positively about Trump’s foreign policy record, citing their time together in the Trump administration. “We did show American strength in the world,” she remarked, referencing the administration’s tough stance on China, as well as its sanctions on Russia and North Korea.

She attributed the lack of global conflicts during Trump’s tenure to their demonstrated American strength, declaring, “I think Donald Trump would bring that back.” Despite Trump claiming that he could resolve the situation in Ukraine before taking office, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations indicated that such a resolution is unlikely. Trump has alternated between advocating for U.S. support for Ukraine and questioning it, while his running mate, Senator JD Vance, has led efforts to curtail military and financial aid to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in 2022.

Haley raised alarms regarding the potential loss of U.S. support for Ukraine, particularly with the rising momentum behind Trump’s campaign.

Haley also took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris, criticizing her for lacking effective leadership during significant global crises, including the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. She emphasized, “She was in the situation room right next to Joe Biden. She was there making the exact same decisions. Those decisions have made the world less safe.”

Highlighting bipartisan agreement on the threats posed by China, Haley asserted that Taiwan is prioritizing its defense readiness. She underscored the necessity for the U.S. to support its allies and project strength on the global stage. “We don’t want to see communist China win. We don’t want to see Russia win. We don’t want to see Iran or North Korea win,” she declared.

In her engagements, Haley met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, advocating for increased global support for Taiwan, a concerted response to China’s claims over the island, and for Taiwan’s admission to the United Nations as a full member.

In a sign of growing tensions, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported detection of 38 Chinese warplanes and 12 vessels around the island within a 24-hour time frame. Notably, 32 of these aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary often viewed as a buffer between Taiwan and the mainland.