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Lifting Self-Imposed Restrictions on the U.S.-Taiwan Relationship

state.gov

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Re: Lifting Self-Imposed Restrictions on the U.S.-Taiwan Relationship

#31

Post by judgardner »

pm90 wrote: post #22
ilaksh wrote: post #10

My concern is that Taiwan is extraordinarily strategic and could be a linchpin. In the past, extreme economic situations have been "improved" by wars. Is there another, better plan? Does anyone on the Biden team or on planet earth have a plan for resolving the severe cultural and political divide between the US and China? Or is the divide not as great as it seems? What happens if they actually take Taiwan? Or try?

If China tries to take Taiwan by force, it would spark WW3. There are US military bases in Taiwan [0] which would automatically ensure that the US military is involved in any such attempt. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Taiwan_Defense_C... US-China relations were OK under the Obama administration. Note that the Trade war and the cultural divide were initiated mostly by the current administration, an…

Linked wiki shows USTDC as inactive for about 40 years. Are there active US bases in Taiwan?

Re: Lifting Self-Imposed Restrictions on the U.S.-Taiwan Relationship

#33

Post by krona »

pm90 wrote: post #22
ilaksh wrote: post #10

My concern is that Taiwan is extraordinarily strategic and could be a linchpin. In the past, extreme economic situations have been "improved" by wars. Is there another, better plan? Does anyone on the Biden team or on planet earth have a plan for resolving the severe cultural and political divide between the US and China? Or is the divide not as great as it seems? What happens if they actually take Taiwan? Or try?

If China tries to take Taiwan by force, it would spark WW3. There are US military bases in Taiwan [0] which would automatically ensure that the US military is involved in any such attempt. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Taiwan_Defense_C... US-China relations were OK under the Obama administration. Note that the Trade war and the cultural divide were initiated mostly by the current administration, an…

> US-China relations were OK under the Obama administration

Scarborough Shoal, 2012. All the major geopolitical problems with China can be traced to the strategic failure of this one event. It will define the next 20 years of US-China relations.

Re: Lifting Self-Imposed Restrictions on the U.S.-Taiwan Relationship

#34

Post by csomar »

bigpumpkin wrote: post #4

I'm curious why Pompeo is choosing to do this now, rather than a year ago. Only 11 days until the next administration, or is he still thinking about transitioning to a second Trump term?

I think it's just coincidence. From what I am reading/getting from the news, is that the new administration will be just as harsh with China (but probably with less drama about it).

Re: Lifting Self-Imposed Restrictions on the U.S.-Taiwan Relationship

#37

Post by eloff »

mensetmanusman wrote: post #28
dirtyid wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just Pompeo spiking options for next admin. Taiwan has about 5-10 years of strategic space left due to semiconductor dominance. Think Pompeo hopes to setup enough friction points for hotwar in the 10-15 years, when enough semi divests from Taiwan and before Chinese military fully modernizes. 15-30 years and China will be in a position to take over Taiwan with relatively little US containment options.

Hot war isn’t really an option with nukes. It’s all about trying to get your opponent to own-goal.

I'm not sure that's true in this case. China can't attack America because they'd be nuked into radioactive dust. But if they attacked Taiwan would the USA escalate to nukes? Especially given China is a nuclear power? I kind of doubt it. There's a limit to how much you stick your neck out for an ally.

Re: Lifting Self-Imposed Restrictions on the U.S.-Taiwan Relationship

#40

Post by beerandt »

__sy__ wrote: post #14

I've lived in Taiwan for a short period of time. I absolutely love it there and I encourage everyone here to go check it out. Furthermore, the Taiwanese people deserve the right to self-determination, and our support if they decide to go their own way. That being said, considering the enormously strategic role that Taiwan plays in electronics supply chains (e.g. TSMC, Wistron...etc), it's always been odd to me that t…

Carter's decision to recognize the mainland at the expense of Taiwan seems more and more like it's one of the most consequential unilateral decisions ever made (as in single person, not single nation).

It's hard to know "what could have been," but what aspect of current life/ society/ the world wouldn't be significantly different today?

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