China/Taiwan fight.

DaveXA said

Understood. I would argue that from a purely political, strategic American standpoint, a free, independent Taiwan is far more advantageous to us than a Taiwan run by China. The stakes in an economic sense couldn't be much higher because so much of their trade involves electronics and semiconductors. That would have a real impact on the global supply chain, which has already seen tons of disruptions over the last couple of years due to covid and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

To what degree we can or should influence China-Taiwan relationship, I don't know, but it seems to me there have to be some significant pressure points because of the importance of Taiwan to global trade.

Click to expand...

Agreed but, again, at what cost.

As DCSaint suggests, the trick is to find a way to preserve a level of autonomy for Taiwan in a "non-Hong Kong" way that also allows the PRC to claim victory. :shrug:

Remember my "cut, run and support from afar" view applies only after the PRC has irrevocably committed to invasion. And, of course, there would be a VERY steep cost to pay in terms of global prestige and creating uncertainty in our allies. But if compared to the costs of a full conventional war approach, I'll accept that prestige loss as something that time will cure, even assuming that the next following test of our non-Taiwan resolve by the PRC will be tricky and dangerous.

Btw, can you tell me how to correctly do a multi-quote?? When I click multiple quotes and then try to reply, I only see the last post quoted.