[Poohbah]

I am somewhat skeptical, however, having talked to a number of people on Taiwan involved in such matters . . . how really trained and prepared how many of their military are. The main hope there is that the Mainland troops seem to be worse in training and preparedness.

Exactly. Martial skill and ability is a relative thing.

The other issue is--what happens IF Beijing decides to use a neutron or other atomic set of weapons against Taiwan. They are not exactly above that in 'morality.'

They might.

The real question in that situation is "what happens next?"

I don't believe that Taiwan would go quietly into that good night...

...and they've worked with the Israeli and South African nuclear weapons programs.

Faced with national destruction, the Taiwanese leadership will probably decide that, as long as they're going to Hell, they might as well send some ChiComs ahead of them as sideboys.

[Quix]

Yes, I think your assessment is apt.

But, I think first, Taiwan will have to disabuse itself that Beijing will never do anything significant militarily. Toooooo many are passive to blind to dismissive to wallowing in rank denial that there is any serious issue involved at all. Such mentalities only aid Beijing, IMHO.