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For the same reason the US went into Vietnam - the fear that if it falls it will embolden the opponent and be the first in a domino chain of Asian countries to

For the same reason the US went into Vietnam - the fear that if it falls it will embolden the opponent and be the first in a domino chain of Asian countries to fall to hostile influence. Korea and Japan are largely safe because there's a massive US chip on the table. Ditto the minor Southeast Asian powers. If the US doesn't come to Taiwan's aid in a shooting war, that chip is now off the table and China will have free reign to do whatever along the Pacific Rim with impunity. Now, whether or not domestically it would be a good idea to get into another war (with China at that) is a whole 'nother story. But in terms of regional stability, there are many good arguments for intervention.

a8da6b0c91d 13y ago
> China will have free reign to do whatever along the Pacific Rim with impunity So what? The intermediate term impact would be massive capital flight to the Americas. Asia as a reliable place for manufacturing would be over. Americans would think hard about what's really at stake.
- potatolicious 13y ago
  The same "so what" as Vietnam, and the same "so what" as Japan circa WW2: the US does not want to see a pan-Asian superpower, either officially (see: annexation of territories by Japan in WW2) or unofficially (see: Soviet vassal stating of Vietnam). As a superpower the US's interests are necessarily long-term, strategically. Sure, the immediate reaction of China jack-booting all up and down the Pacific Rim would be economic and political turmoil. It's the long-term possibility: Chinese hegemony over the entirety of the Pacific coastline, that scares the shit out of the US. Bear in mind that the USSR, despite not being an export power (like, ever) was still able to pose an enormous threat to the existence of the USA. China losing its preferred-manufacturer status wouldn't be consequence free, but it also wouldn't de-claw them.

a8da6b0c91d 13y ago

> China will have free reign to do whatever along the Pacific Rim with impunity So what? The intermediate term impact would be massive capital flight to the Americas. Asia as a reliable place for manufacturing would be over. Americans would think hard about what's really at stake.

potatolicious 13y ago
The same "so what" as Vietnam, and the same "so what" as Japan circa WW2: the US does not want to see a pan-Asian superpower, either officially (see: annexation of territories by Japan in WW2) or unofficially (see: Soviet vassal stating of Vietnam). As a superpower the US's interests are necessarily long-term, strategically. Sure, the immediate reaction of China jack-booting all up and down the Pacific Rim would be economic and political turmoil. It's the long-term possibility: Chinese hegemony over the entirety of the Pacific coastline, that scares the shit out of the US. Bear in mind that the USSR, despite not being an export power (like, ever) was still able to pose an enormous threat to the existence of the USA. China losing its preferred-manufacturer status wouldn't be consequence free, but it also wouldn't de-claw them.