If China were foolish enough to attack Taiwan, India would be tempted to attack China in the Himilayas where their border is in dispute and there have been military clashes. Pakistan in turn might then attack India to settle the Kashmir issue. Southeastern Asian countries fearful of Chines military might and expansion plans might but not likely be drawn into the fight. Would the US and Australia somehow become engaged? Probably not since it is very doubtful that an American President would commit to defending Taiwan. However nuclear armed countries fighting each other could be catostrophic.
It would be such a bloody inconclusive mess, can only hope war gamers in those countries can convince their political masters that war would be a disaster and should be avoided at all costs.
presumably this was the case for years and decades. the virus’ political and economic impact is a seismic event still unraveling. it is going to be looked back at as a singular event that started the ball rolling on some bad things. I think it will be a comparable trigger event to the assassination that is widely viewed as having pushed the first domino to wwI.