Cotton: U.S. Should Make ‘Explicit’
Commitment to Defend Taiwan From China
Washington Free Beacon,
by
Jack Beyrer
Original Article
Posted By: Pluperfect,
10/9/2020 5:07:43 AM
Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) said Wednesday that the United States should announce an "explicit and unambiguous" commitment to defend Taiwan from a potential Chinese invasion.
For decades, Washington has made it unclear as to how it would respond to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, which Beijing views as its sovereign territory. Cotton said Wednesday that a public defense commitment from the United States would send a message to China and limit the likelihood of an invasion.
"The main source of restraint in the minds of Xi Jinping and the Central Military Commission is whether or not an invasion of Taiwan would succeed," the senator said
Reply 1 - Posted by:
IowaDad 10/9/2020 6:47:22 AM (No. 566732)
We can try it. First recognize Taiwan as in independent sovereign nation and open an embassy there. Then sign a defense treaty with it, and build American bases there. Then be prepared to lose a nuclear war with a totalitarian foe that has four times our population fighting to defend its homeland
On second thoughts, it might be better to limp along with Taiwan, and use our efforts to protect America from our destructive left wing idiots in education and the media.
12 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
MattMusson 10/9/2020 7:11:34 AM (No. 566744)
Or, we could provide the Taiwanese with so many smart mines and anti-ship missiles that the invading flotilla is shattered. (And, don't forget the latest torpedoes for Taiwanese submarines.)
6 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
govlawyer 10/9/2020 7:47:22 AM (No. 566780)
NATO has outlived its purpose, especially now with Turkey flexing its Islamofascist muscles--but a northern Pacific Treaty Organization, or a reformation of the old SEATO alliance from the Cold War days might make Winnie the Pooh Xi put the brakes on.
Recognizing Taiwan as a separate and independent nation would then be an essential component of the alliance.
5 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
harleynyc 10/9/2020 8:57:15 AM (No. 566875)
I've witnessed the exodus from Taiwan since the early 80's. Everyone knows the day will come when China drops the hammer. We're way better off with helping the humanitarian effort for the refugees than getting into a war than cannot end well.
5 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
Strike3 10/9/2020 9:27:31 AM (No. 566915)
Fix this country first by removing the enemy within the walls. That should keep us busy enough for the next twenty years. China is going to fall apart on its own.
4 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
HotRod 10/9/2020 9:33:47 AM (No. 566923)
Taiwan is an important ally, located in a strategic place. It is not communist, but is a capitalist nation. There is no comparison between them and mainland, communist, China.
My opinion is that they are a more important ally than some of the European countries, because Communist China is a bigger threat than Russia.
7 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
DVC 10/9/2020 9:58:35 AM (No. 566962)
Better would be to let Taiwan get some nuclear weapons of their own and some good launchers. But, I don't know if Taiwan is interested. But that would be the best deterrent. If Beijing knew that a few nukes would pop over their city if they invaded Taiwan, they'd just leave it alone.
3 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
cor-vet 10/9/2020 10:21:27 AM (No. 566986)
I'm not sure that the made in China items that come from Taiwan are worth a major world war or the loss of one American serviceman.
3 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
swarfer 10/9/2020 10:58:03 AM (No. 567037)
We fought a Cold War with the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war so why are some people so afraid of the Chinese? The Soviet Union was hell bent on world domination of communism. China has no political philosophy to export.
Neither does it have a culture or language embraced by the rest of the world. China's friends are trade and aid recipients only, no one will support China in any conflict. They will always be foreigners in any client state. No one aspires to be like them or immigrate there. Everyone knows they are a monolithic quasi-military dictatorship with a veneer of capitalism who has no interest in the advancement of human rights or adhering to international law if it does not suit their purposes.
China could invade Taiwan and easily overwhelm it. Maybe they will one day, but they will be shut off from the world economy and trade overnight.
All the international debt instruments they hold would be worthless. Their trade surplus would cease to exist. None of their cargo ships would be able to dock or offloaded outside their own markets. All foreign shipments of raw materials, goods and would cease. Their currency would be worthless on the open market. Any trade remaining would have to be done in hard foreign currency and gold. Their credit rating would be zero with no access to any international capital. Property owned by Chinese corporations and foreign nationals would be confiscated without compensation. The trade vacuum created would shift wealth to the rest of the world.
Essentially without any military action to aid Taiwan, the world community could check China. Taiwan is of no consequence to China anyway, it has enough people and real estate. Taiwan is merely a political rallying point for the ruling communist party to maintain authority and monolithic support by imagining enemies. No different that when Mao was in charge except they don't have to resort to cultural revolutions to keep people in line, they just buy the people off. A Chinese communist party member with a smartphone and a suit is still a Chinese communist member.
3 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
Kate318 10/9/2020 11:16:55 AM (No. 567057)
I guess I’m the lone wolf here. I agree with Senator Cotton. Taiwan seems to be the one thing that China wants desperately, well, besides the whole world domination thing. If we rightfully do it for Israel, we should do it for Taiwan.
2 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
cold porridge 10/9/2020 11:35:29 AM (No. 567077)
I think I remember we had a treaty agreeing to protect Taiwan from China. Am I wrong? But we probably won't, the same as allowing China to usurp Hong Kong.
2 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
Starboard_side 10/9/2020 12:37:18 PM (No. 567141)
If there is a serious attempt, I would surmise it will happen during the turmoil of the election in November when the United States could be in political chaos.
1 person likes this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
jollytroll 10/9/2020 2:23:44 PM (No. 567223)
Umm, it's no big secret that TSMC (Taiwan Semi-Conductor Corp) makes just about all the "computer chips" found in today's advanced military equipment. This is not a trivial matter and directly impacts our ability to defend ourselves against any and all potential adversaries around the globe.
0 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
MDConservative 10/9/2020 6:07:05 PM (No. 567473)
All in favor of defending Taiwan with a war threat against China, raise your hands. I'm sure there is a recruiting office in your neighborhood you can visit. Make Hong Kong a two 'fer while we're over there.
0 people like this.
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