US troops for training, not redline, understood exception as resulit of TW relations act. I expect US to continue salami slicing as well, and I anticipate situation will turn hot eventually. There's no need to negotiate with TW, it's ultimately a US/PRC force balance issue.

Re: carriers, I was highlighting to OP that there are constraints to US actions imposed by PRC, both militarily and in other examples, i.e. politically. You insinutate it's not US caution but PRC fear, which makes no sense in context of how careful US is shifting TW policy, because force balance is not disproportionate like during 3rd strait crisis anymore, US repercussions are approaching existential as well. As for who loses more, up for debate, but IMO a reigning hegemon has more to lose.