The status quo is better for China than invading and taking Taiwan.
If China invaded Taiwan, we would block Chinese commerce between its Pacific Coast and the Indian Ocean and elsewhere. This would be disastrous for the Chinese economy.
On the other hand, if we started a conflict by blocking Chinese international commerce, China would take Taiwan, leaving the US without semiconductors, which would be disastrous.
So the current standoff works for China.
Correct. Also they still can’t do so.
Amphibious landings are hard. Amphibious landings without complete air and naval superiority are impossible. China is at least a decade away from being able to do so.
In naval warfare, one of the key issues is controlling strategic choke points for trade, such as control of the Malacca Strait off Singapore and the Strait of Hormuz off at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.
It seems to me that Taiwan’s semi-conductors are another vital “choke-point” we cannot let China’s greedy hands control.
I’m sure, President Trump is thinking deeply about this issue and has a plan. The weakness of Bidung hurts us deeply as we think about defending. We’ve already seen how much damage China can do to us with the viruses they manufacture and spread.