America's top diplomat in Taipei says any war over Taiwan would do more damage to the global economy than World War II — a stark warning aimed at both Beijing and anyone assuming a fight would stay local.

• Raymond Greene, head of the American Institute in Taiwan, called Taiwan Strait peace the most urgent issue facing the region and the world.
• The economic hit from a conflict would exceed WWII losses, on top of the human cost.
• Washington is pushing three tracks: top-level diplomacy including an upcoming US-China summit, more military presence along the first island chain, and help for Taiwan's own defenses.
• Claims that arming Taiwan is a provocation or a policy shift were rejected outright — US support for Taiwan's defense dates to 1979 and has held across both parties.
• Taiwan does not need to prove it could win a war, only that landing and supplying a large invasion force across 90 miles of rough sea and into mountainous cities would be near impossible.

Outlook: The coming US-China summit is being framed as a chance to steady the relationship, while Taiwan keeps borrowing lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East on cheap, adaptable defense.