It's the waters around Taiwan and maritime rights. If Taiwan is independent, then the US could set up a naval base there, and Taiwan is only 110 mi away from th

It's the waters around Taiwan and maritime rights. If Taiwan is independent, then the US could set up a naval base there, and Taiwan is only 110 mi away from the U.S. Proximity is the reason why the US embargoed Cuba, and why the Cuban missile crisis was a crisis.