What happens if China invades Taiwan?

[rurallib]

China views Taiwan as a secessionist state and has been making rumblings that they may 'fix' the situation. I am sure we have some treaty ties with the old Nationalist regime on Taiwan.
So what happens if China invades Taiwan? China is our banker after all. They have us by the balls economically. Plus our army is pretty well engaged elsewhere.
Any thoughts?

[EVDebs]

1. China's US-dependent economy sinks ... and possibly they lose

by not democratizing their economy, knowing full well that a democratized free-market economy requires a fully democratic superstructure of political freedoms to accompany it.

Does Taiwan have Red China's economic interests targetted in some way as a counterpoint ? I hope the Red Chinese don't get 'red-faced' in any encounters with scrappy little Taiwan...

The deal with Great Britain and Hong Kong can be replicated. Simply set a reasonable time period and both sides work towards it.

[Career Prole]

15. I think their economy would be the last one standing

simply because we as a society are inextricably intertwined with our economy and beyond that we are accustomed to living fat, getting what we want, when we want it. If it goes out of style, chuck it, and buy a new one and pay for it later.
The Chinese can handle a shock to their economy.
The government will say "We now have less money. Get used to it."
Their people will say "Okay."

[tinonedown]

2. A mess

We will be reduced to words because as you mentioned our Army is strung out.

[beam me up scottie]

3. Which is another reason why

someone should muzzle the chimp, because he's going to keep up the verbal diarrhea until someone big calls his bluff.

[Silverhair]

19. Navy is available. China has to go across ocean to invade. NT

[Maple]

4. Then Taiwan remains

a part of China. Like it always has been.

US policy even says it's a part of China

So does Taiwans own constitution.

[tritsofme]

11. Isn't it still the officical position of Taiwan

that they are the only legitimate mainland government?

Regardless, China is an oppressive fascist state, and Taiwan is an free and democratic nation.

Taiwan deserves to be protected from Chinese aggression.

[mmonk]

5. They will

have Taiwan.

[RobertSeattle]

6. If we did help Taiwan, it would be Naval and Air Force

No US ground troops. The Chinese have lots of water to cross to get to the island.

[Dave Reynolds]

7. Despite any defense treaty,

I think we may leave China alone to have Taiwan "re-integrated".

We really do not to seem to be in any position to intervene.

However, pResident Boosh might get his pride and panties in a bunch and do something completely stupid.

[Garbo 2004]

8. I suspect we'd encourage China to spread freedom in Taiwan and make other

harmless noises of the sort. Would we really want to piss off our valuable trade partner and major manufacturer of (cough) US goods?

I dunno. I somehow find it difficult to believe this administration would take a strong stand when there are other interest$ involved. Just talking out of my...hat, you understand. ;)

[JohnLocke]

9. China will not invade Taiwan.

If they do they will be crushed.

[NewJeffCT]

10. I don't think they will either

Taiwan's a lot tougher militarily than Iraq and will have the support of both the US & Japan. Heck, most of Taiwan's military firepower comes from us, and it's more modern than the stuff that Iraq got from us in the 80s.

That said, I expect a lot of tough talk between the 2 nations and eventually, Taiwan will peacefully rejoin the mainland in the "one country, two systems" thing, with maybe a little bit stronger guarantee than what Hong Kong got.

[bpilgrim]

14. all your base belong to us

bet you see that alot on the gamming boards

peace

[dave123williams]

12. Worst case scenario?

A nuclear standoff with China, an ancient power with shiny new ICBM's against which we have NO defense.

The bubble in the housing equity in the US outright bursts when the Chinese pull out of our bond market, and we find that defecit financing a multiple front war in the Middle East on a weak dollar puts our balls in a vice.

The Europeans would be just as happy to watch us implode right now rather than make what's looking more and more like a bad investment in the future of the good ol' USA.

Oh, yeah; a lot of dead Taiwanese too.

Bush is so fucking stupid,, it makes me shaking angry just thinking about it.

[Kansas Wyatt]

13. No large oil deposits...

George W. Bush does not care what happens in that part of the world.

How many remember a U.S. spy plane being forced down in that part of the World, and thinking, 'oh shit, now he's going to take us to war?'

Little did we know that he had a war already in the making in another part of the World, and he did not need this little mishap getting in the way of his Imperial War in the Middle East.

[Robbien]

16. But Taiwan is where we have all our defense missiles aimed at China

If we give up Taiwan, we lose our big stick against China. Bush cares, that is why there is all the fuss.

[anonymous44]

17. Who knows

Nothing would probably happen but then again Bush could do something stupid and send nukes over there.

[quinnox]

18. don't know

Whoa, reading DU lately and I see that the U.S. might invade Venezuela and now a new possible conflict with China.

These what if's can get scary.

[artemisia1]

20. Naval battle along the lines of the Battle of Leyte

with massive air support. Ground troops would sit this one out for the most part unless we actually invaded the Chinese mainland itself. While it's always a possibility the party leadership in China could do something that stupid they are years away from fielding the kind of first rate navy and air force necessary to succeed. Then, again, Argentin invaded the Falklands...