Add Taiwan and South Korea? Just a thought.
“Add Taiwan and South Korea? Just a thought.”
I had a similar thought, but doing so may limit what the alliance can do as it would have its figurative testicles, Taiwan and South Korea, in kicking range anytime the larger partners wanted to do something. Also, Taiwan in particular, has nothing they can bring to the party. Any potential bases they offer are in easy striking range by a huge number of existing weapons and they would have no decision making distance from a potential strike in any altercation, creating a launch on warning scenario. Also, China has an unbelievable amount of “face” involved in Taiwan, which might force them into a war whether they could win or not. This would devastate Taiwan, win or lose.
The objective of an alliance in today’s world is not only to win a war, but to create a deterrent so large you don’t have to fight a war. Who thinks the losing side will not use nukes rather than lose? If the American side loses politicians are looking at instant retirement back to their home town and normal fortunes. If China loses their leaders are looking at short, painful deaths. Xi...”Does anybody remember where I laid those launch codes?”
South Korea is a whole different set of problems in that it creates a vulnerability but brings little to the party.
Add Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand the Philippines an even Indonesia if they want in.