MAC Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung: US Remains Committed to First Island Chain Deterrence

Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung said on September 18, 2026 that the United States remains committed to maintaining deterrence along the first island chain, and that Taipei has received messages indicating this remains a US policy priority. Speaking at a National Chengchi University seminar on China's trajectory since the CCP's 20th National Congress, Shen was responding to warnings from former National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi about rising Taiwan Strait risk and declining US security commitment. Shen also clarified Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung's earlier remark about Taiwan and the US 'jointly managing China,' saying 'jointly managing China means jointly managing risks — it does not mean managing mainland China,' and said Taiwan would watch closely whether President Trump reiterates an unchanged Taiwan policy during his September 24 meeting with Xi Jinping.