I wonder if the us government will help taiwan to independence ,and if that came ture ,it means the us government will be the enemy of china ,and the war will break out not just between china and taiwan but also American or even janpan and north korea ,and that will likely lead the fire spread to American !
and I wonder is that worth!

just talk about your opinion ~

For me it boils down to this,
If China wants to go and start invading countries and embarking on some conquest, we'll fight them. Or they could play nice and stay put and just be happy. I'm betting they'll do the former. They have the power, the capability, and the desire. My guess, 15-20 years before all-out war. Many military officers and analysts agree with this time frame. And if they attack, I plan to stop them or die trying. Freedom is for the world, not just for the US. We're not going to let China trample Taiwan. If Taiwan wants our help, by God we'll give it. Freedom is worth great bloodshed, and many will shed it for an oppressed neighbor. Bottom line: China and USA can be buddies our enemies, it's in China's court.

(I'd appreciate feedback, we could get a nice volley going here.)


Signed either your future enemy-in-arms or your dear American friend

I think that China wouldn't site Taiwan for war against the US. Unless the US made an effort to "weaponize" the little island. I'll go back...The US didn't rattle too heavily with Cuba until the Soviets started dropping nukes in there. Then it was freak out time. China, I suspect would have the same right to react the same way if Taiwan proved a military waypoint for the US.

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This is politics! The Chinese don't like Chiang Kai-shek's out post on their door step. If they invade it'll be bloody, but they'll win. Th UN will condemn it and business will continue as normal after a few half hearted sanctions. It will be viewed as the Chinese taking care of business. (Think Tianamen Sq). The US won't go to war over it, no alteration of the balance of power, absolutely no benefit for them in it at all.

Different kettle of fish if it was Japan - Holy Kobe Cow Batman, we've got war!

I'm afraid you underestimate the American sympathy towards Chiang Kai-Shek's wonderful little island government (not a day goes by when I wish he had beaten Mao Zedong). I do agree, however, that there would be great hesitancy over engaging in a war with China. With US help, China will not be able to take Taiwan. America wants to see Taiwan thrive. Many have traveled there and rather like the little country. If China attacks Taiwan, 52% of Americans or more would demand intervention. Look into what happened in 1939 when Russia invaded Finland. The entire world was in uproar. But the situation today would be different in one aspect; we would be able to react more quickly and put forces in a position to help Taiwan in a very short period of time. Americans don't like seeing Communists invading free little countries. America is well aware of the importance of Taiwan to China, and that is why they will help. We know quite well that in event of war with China, Taiwan is an indespensible ally. We have already sent millions upon millions of dollars in technology for bargain prices. We want to see Taiwan survive. Because Taiwan is a friend of US, if they ask, we'll come. Oh, and one more thing, most Americans don't give a rip about the UN anymore.

Interesting analysis Clive - I wouldn't claim the definitive anwser - especially being a Brit. The only point I would make is that IF the Chinese struck hard and fast, what exactly would be an appropriate US response? For them to defend Taiwan and resist the Chinese would mean they'd have to be "on station" and post troops before the Chinese attacked, thereby making the Chinese attack an attack on the USA. However if the Chinese got there first the undertaking would have a whole new meaning. Lastly and most importantly for the USA to respond to that, on consistently claimed Chinese sovereign property risks war with a nuclear power....does the US populace really care that much for them? I wonder....

It shouldn't be.

Are our kids worth Taiwan? No and that fight would take a hell of a lot more of them than Iraq.

If Taiwan isn'r rightfully claimable by China, then Ireland isn't claimable by the British and Guam isn't claimable by the Americans.

I find it very hypocritical to be doing what were doing and say that "if China wants to to go and start invading countries and embarking on some conquest. we'll fight them."

I ask, what is the coalition doing that should not be faught against by their enemies?

I feel more compassion for Tibet than Taiwan. Is anyone gunna' help Tibet? No. Why? No good reason other than tye liberation of common people. That's why not. Taiwan is stategically gigantic.

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Humans, a renewable resource?
Bumble Bees Die to sting you

you need to pursue this further CS.Its yet another example of our willingness to fight for countries with strategic or mineral importance . Every other country (such as Tibet) can rot in hell apparently !

Taiwan has nothing to do with minerals. It does have to do with how strategically important it is and what a symbol of Communist defiance it is. There are a lot of people who wouldn't like to see the march of Communism into the thorn in its side. Peccavi brings a good point, if China was able to attack quickly enough, we wouldn't be fast enough to make any differance in the matter. China may count on that if they decide to use military force. But, Taiwan would be able to defend herself for quite some time under the right circumstances. Perhaps it could hold on long enough for us to move in and help. Taiwan is a tough nut to crack for the Chinese. If they can not take it diplomatically, they will take it by force. If they attempt it by force, the situation becomes completely different from that of Ireland or Guam. It is no longer political pressure, it is military conquest. You get a completely different response to the matter. And as for the question of will Americans want to fight, it depends heavily on those circumstances. I do believe however, that they would lean heavily towards keeping Taiwan independent.

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War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature, and has no chance of being free unless made or kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
- John Stuart Mill

I think you will find that the US recognises that Taiwan/Formosa is a Republic of China .The US would only become involved in a conflict over Taiwan .If Taiwan was attacked .The US fully supports a peaceful reintergration of Taiwan into China .Thats the official line !

I never said Taiwan had anything to do with minerals .Its purely strategic .