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"If the United States were 100 percent committed to defending the island democracy, why would it be looking for economic alternatives?" To me, the author seems

"If the United States were 100 percent committed to defending the island democracy, why would it be looking for economic alternatives?" To me, the author seems willing to use "second order effects" to bolster their argument but does not consider such effects that may cut against their argument. So, building American microchips signals to China that we have alternatives to Taiwan and therefore aren't as committed to Taiwan's defense. On the other hand, if America develops a credible alternative to Taiwan then maybe invading Taiwan isn't so attractive because you no longer take a crucial monopoly by the conquest. The author also seems to assume that the US is, or should be, 100% committed to the defense of foreign nations. I don't really understand this. America's first priority should be America itself. We can meet that priority by bringing microchip manufacture onshore, so that if Taiwan is lost to us, we will not be ruined by a lack of microchips. I also don't think it is guaranteed that America could defend Taiwan if push came to shove. We recently lost a two decade war against Afghanistan. Why are we so confident in our chances against China? Much better to have options, and to supply the Taiwanese with weapons, as in Ukraine, than to say we have "100% commitment" to the defense of Taiwan.

_kbh_ 4y ago
> I also don't think it is guaranteed that America could defend Taiwan if push came to shove. We recently lost a two decade war against Afghanistan. Why are we so confident in our chances against China? Much better to have options, and to supply the Taiwanese with weapons, as in Ukraine, than to say we have "100% commitment" to the defense of Taiwan. This doesn’t show how hard it would be for the US to defend Taiwan it shows how hard it would be for China to take Taiwan. If not even the US can handle holding a country against a much less sophisticated adversary what chance does China have against Taiwan and the US You need to remember as well the Chinese army hasn’t fought a war against a sophisticated adversary in a long time. Additionally Taiwan is a island making it much harder to take. The buildup before the war be obvious.
atoav 4y ago
Well and it also is a circle. If Taiwan is invaded, it's chip supply is disrupted. Defending Taiwan is easier without having to defend fabs and your enemy knowing that you will do so. It is also easier if you don't have a shortage of chips at home. Given the role China starts to have in electronics, if they want to start a war with the west they would start it by depriving us of chips that we would need for military equipment.
picsao 4y ago

_kbh_ 4y ago

> I also don't think it is guaranteed that America could defend Taiwan if push came to shove. We recently lost a two decade war against Afghanistan. Why are we so confident in our chances against China? Much better to have options, and to supply the Taiwanese with weapons, as in Ukraine, than to say we have "100% commitment" to the defense of Taiwan. This doesn’t show how hard it would be for the US to defend Taiwan it shows how hard it would be for China to take Taiwan. If not even the US can handle holding a country against a much less sophisticated adversary what chance does China have against Taiwan and the US You need to remember as well the Chinese army hasn’t fought a war against a sophisticated adversary in a long time. Additionally Taiwan is a island making it much harder to take. The buildup before the war be obvious.

atoav 4y ago

Well and it also is a circle. If Taiwan is invaded, it's chip supply is disrupted. Defending Taiwan is easier without having to defend fabs and your enemy knowing that you will do so. It is also easier if you don't have a shortage of chips at home. Given the role China starts to have in electronics, if they want to start a war with the west they would start it by depriving us of chips that we would need for military equipment.

picsao 4y ago