They then control the Tawian Straits, which is a key naval chokepoint. Also, they already control the Panama Canal and several other key naval chokepoints around the world, as well as a listening station in Cuba.
You have a very loose definition of "control." Welcome to FR.
They cannot defend the Taiwan strait against our navy. They know this. If they attack Taiwan they mean to destroy it.
Don't forget the the Spratleys(?). The PRC has an interest all along the Pacific Rim and into the Indian Ocean. All the geopolitical stuff is important. The point I was making was that ideology trumps everything else in a communist/socialist environment.</p>