[Dat Mon]

You said..."The way the Chinese economy is going, Taiwan will be about significant to them as Puerto Rico is the the United States. In other words, why bother?"

There are a couple of reasons...these are from China's perspective IMO..

a) It is a matter of national pride...and would serve as a unifying / nationalistic focal point.
b) Taiwan is significantly more advanced than China in terms of semiconductor technology and circuit board manufacture...their technology takes a leap forward.
c) There is already a growing bond between Taiwan and China in terms of the business and technical people who travel and work between the two countries...this would cement the relationship...permanently.
d) They would like to get their hands on some military technology and equipment we have provided to Taiwan.
e) They would like to rub OUR noses in the fact that we wont or cant do anything about it...because we wont risk our carrier groups in an asymmetrical military engagement. It makes a statement to the world that THEY have arrived.

Hows that for starters?

[jeremiah]

How about the fact that Gen McCarthur said that Taiwan is the linchpin of a defense of the Pacific rim??? The Chinese have footholds in our hemisphere, in the PI and Africa. When they move they will hold hegemony unlike any but the British did. We have been surpassed, it is just that we don't know it yet.

[Savage Beast]

Pretty good.

[FBD]

excellant observations