In Your Opinion, Why Is the US Committed to Defending Taiwan?

[Debater Slayer]

For all it's faults and realpolitik, there is also an idealistic component to our foreign policy. Our policy toward Taiwan is a combination of great power struggles and idealism for a people's right to self-determination.

To look at only one side is to have less than a full appreciation for the messy complexity of our foreign policy.

I think the US has a complex foreign policy apparatus that is not motivated by a one-dimensional goal. We can have a genuine interest in promoting and defending democratic governments around the world when we feasibly can while also negotiating with non-democratic governments for other reasons. Our relationship with Saudi Arabia is motivated by our need for their oil along with other military interests, e.g. our mutual fight against ISIS.

If, and only if you are correct that the US is not interested in Taiwanese democracy, then a I suggest that the US is defending it for the same reason that Russia assists Syria and colonizing European countries were so desperate to buy land in Ottoman Philistine: They want a foothold in a particular region of the world, because they want to still be considered relevant in international geopolitical terms, as that would further their personal interests. Taiwan gives the US a foothold in the Far East. Now all they need to do is wait until China crumbles and then they can jump in and grab the best part of China for themselves.

I think it is possible that the US is interested in Taiwanese democracy and independence, but my skepticism is toward the idea that the US would go to war with the world's second-largest superpower just for that reason. Let me explain why I think so.

First, the cost would be monumental not just to the US but to basically every country in the world, because global trade and economy would be severely affected. Would the US go through so much trouble just for Taiwanese democracy and independence? I highly doubt it. Which country can even afford to do that, anyway? Imagine if the US directly went to war with major powers every time they practiced military aggression against a smaller country. That would never be feasible, no matter how noble the ideal would be.

Second, both are major nuclear powers. The US has gone to great pains to avoid any sort of direct military confrontation with Russia, a much smaller economic and industrial power than China, because of this as well as the risk of a third world war, and its method of pursuing its stated goal of preserving the democracy and autonomy of Ukraine has instead been provision of aid and military consultation. Would the US rely on Xi Jinping's being more stable than Putin and not ordering the red button pushed? I don't know, but it would seem too risky of a gamble.

Third, the US has demonstrated that it has no problem allying itself with dictatorships for various reasons as well as supporting their regimes. If Taiwan is an exception to this, I think there will be other interests driving that, not merely a desire to preserve democracy and independence. In other words, I could see the US going to war solely or primarily over an existential threat to its economic and military strength, but I couldn't see it doing so solely or primarily over a desire to pursue an idealistic vision of maintaining democracy globally.

I think Taiwan's status as the global mother lode of semiconductors and its strategically significant location both drive the US' commitment much more than preservation of democracy and independence, even if they may also be factors that act as the "icing on the cake," so to speak. And realistically speaking, I'm not sure I blame the US for this commitment, because submitting such a major global hub of the semiconductor industry—a core part of the lifeblood of any modern economy—to China could indeed prove extremely threatening not just to the US but to any country that misaligned with China's interests.

 

[RestlessSoul]

If the US is really concerned with defending democracy, perhaps they should focus on defending their own, from the obvious threat posed by the current incarnation of the Republican Party.

 

[Twilight Hue]

If the US is really concerned with defending democracy, perhaps they should focus on defending their own, from the obvious threat posed by the current incarnation of the Republican Party.

Of course.

Now now. All better you got that off your chest?

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

In your opinion, why is the US committing so heavily to defending Taiwan in case of a Chinese invasion? I personally don't believe that the US cares about democracy or independence of Taiwan as it claims, because it has long supported dictatorships (e.g., in Saudi Arabia) to further its geopolitical interests and didn't bat an eye at a lot of other wars (when it wasn't the country starting them). So I'm interested to read everyone's perspectives about the reasons for its commitment to defending Taiwan.

I think it's good that China has reasons to think twice before bullying Taiwan or invading it, but I also don't think the US is doing this out of the goodness of its heart.

Every time I open up a computer, tablet, pc,...
I see many many many components, (chips, cards, modules, what-have-you) with the imprint "Made in Taiwan".

It plays a crucial role in critical supply chains, particularly in electronic components, which are very important parts of high-tech devices (computers, machines, robots, military equipment,...)

I'm guessing that might have something to do with it. A Taiwan controlled by China would allow China to do with international tech trade / manufacturing what Putin tried to do with energy (gas primarily) in the EU.

The west, and western companies, would - to put it bluntly - become china's *****. Even more then we already are. And that can't be good.

 

[Left Coast]

I think it is possible that the US is interested in Taiwanese democracy and independence, but my skepticism is toward the idea that the US would go to war with the world's second-largest superpower just for that reason. Let me explain why I think so.

First, the cost would be monumental not just to the US but to basically every country in the world, because global trade and economy would be severely affected. Would the US go through so much trouble just for Taiwanese democracy and independence? I highly doubt it. Which country can even afford to do that, anyway? Imagine if the US directly went to war with major powers every time they practiced military aggression against a smaller country. That would never be feasible, no matter how noble the ideal would be.

Second, both are major nuclear powers. The US has gone to great pains to avoid any sort of direct military confrontation with Russia, a much smaller economic and industrial power than China, because of this as well as the risk of a third world war, and its method of pursuing its stated goal of preserving the democracy and autonomy of Ukraine has instead been provision of aid and military consultation. Would the US rely on Xi Jinping's being more stable than Putin and not ordering the red button pushed? I don't know, but it would seem too risky of a gamble.

Third, the US has demonstrated that it has no problem allying itself with dictatorships for various reasons as well as supporting their regimes. If Taiwan is an exception to this, I think there will be other interests driving that, not merely a desire to preserve democracy and independence. In other words, I could see the US going to war solely or primarily over an existential threat to its economic and military strength, but I couldn't see it doing so solely or primarily over a desire to pursue an idealistic vision of maintaining democracy globally.

I think Taiwan's status as the global mother lode of semiconductors and its strategically significant location both drive the US' commitment much more than preservation of democracy and independence, even if they may also be factors that act as the "icing on the cake," so to speak. And realistically speaking, I'm not sure I blame the US for this commitment, because submitting such a major global hub of the semiconductor industry—a core part of the lifeblood of any modern economy—to China could indeed prove extremely threatening not just to the US but to any country that misaligned with China's interests.

I definitely agree that direct military conflict would be the least likely outcome. If things escalate, it'll start with sanctions and then move to indirect military support. Neither China nor the US want a direct military conflict with each other.

 

[Revoltingest]

In your opinion, why is the US committing so heavily to defending Taiwan in case of a Chinese invasion? I personally don't believe that the US cares about democracy or independence of Taiwan as it claims, because it has long supported dictatorships (e.g., in Saudi Arabia) to further its geopolitical interests and didn't bat an eye at a lot of other wars (when it wasn't the country starting them). So I'm interested to read everyone's perspectives about the reasons for its commitment to defending Taiwan.

I think it's good that China has reasons to think twice before bullying Taiwan or invading it, but I also don't think the US is doing this out of the goodness of its heart.

I believe that our politicians really do value Taiwan's
democracy, liberty, & independence from China for
its own sake.
You dismiss this entirely, but that's too glib. Instead,
consider that it's not the only reason we'd defend them.
China is bent on conquest. (Doubt that? Just look at
Tibet & the South China Sea.) Taiwan is a bulwark
against military ambitions in the region.

I favor defending Taiwan to the extent that we help
make it an unattractive target for Chinese invasion.
But I wouldn't go to war with China over it.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I believe that our politicians really do value Taiwan's
democracy, liberty, & independence from China for
its own sake.
You dismiss this entirely, but that's too glib. Instead,
consider that it's not the only reason we'd defend them.
China is bent on conquest. (Doubt that? Just look at
Tibet & the South China Sea.) Taiwan is a bulwark
against military ambitions in the region.

I gave my thoughts in more detail in post #21.

 

[Revoltingest]

I gave my thoughts in more detail in post #21.

OK.

 

[JIMMY12345]

In your opinion, why is the US committing so heavily to defending Taiwan in case of a Chinese invasion? I personally don't believe that the US cares about democracy or independence of Taiwan as it claims, because it has long supported dictatorships (e.g., in Saudi Arabia) to further its geopolitical interests and didn't bat an eye at a lot of other wars (when it wasn't the country starting them). So I'm interested to read everyone's perspectives about the reasons for its commitment to defending Taiwan.

I think it's good that China has reasons to think twice before bullying Taiwan or invading it, but I also don't think the US is doing this out of the goodness of its heart.

Shows that both Republicans and Democrats Obama,Bush Reagan will carry on tradition and carry a big stick.Message to the world - do not mess with USA we have our allies back.Mind you Trump could well come back and this policy could burn.