Is the U.S. Military Ready to Defend Taiwan?

[rangerrebew]

February 6, 2022

Is the U.S. Military Ready to Defend Taiwan?

Any defense of Taiwan planning must fix four barriers to succeed.
by Elaine McCusker Emily Coletta

As the debate intensifies on U.S. policy related to the defense of Taiwan, it is useful to examine when and why the United States would carry out such a mission and the potential obstacles to a successful outcome. Is the United States prioritizing national security in its resourcing and budgeting decisions? Is the U.S. military on a path to success in modernizing its equipment, processes, and capabilities to maintain a competitive edge over China?

We may not have much time to align the answers to these questions.

China regards Taiwan—an island democracy with 23 million citizens—as a renegade province to be folded back under Beijing’s control. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act does not require the United States to defend Taiwan but ambiguously states Washington will maintain the capacity to do so.

It is evident that Taiwan matters to the United States. China’s control of Taiwan would give the People’s Republic of China (PRC) a forward base 150 miles off the mainland, bringing Chinese aircraft and missiles much closer to vital trade routes and important U.S. allies like Japan and Australia.

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/us-military-ready-defend-taiwan-200295

[Fishrrman]

It's not the job of our military to "defend" Taiwan (other than some modest support).
It's not worth getting into a world-level war to defend Taiwan.
Sorry if you don't like that.

If we REALLY want a Taiwan that capable of "defending" ITSELF, we should ship them about 150 nuclear warheads.
And hand them over, with a "here you go, boys -- do what you have to do".

[EdinVA]

There is no such thing as defending Taiwan.  You cannot fight anothers fight without making it your fight.
So if it is to be our fight, then fight it to win, no holes bared, conquer the beast, otherwise forget it and move on.