Linear distance between Taipeh and mainland China: 300 km
Linear distance between Taipeh and Tokyo: 2100 km


Okinawa is only 640 km away though, so that might help with the logistics.

Youd go to war for that? You send your son to fight and die for it?

Yes, easily. I'd quit my job and join the military too.

It wouldn't be a race, since American subs would already be on station. It's just tenders that would go back and forth to resupply. I will say though, that this is one reason I wish we still had our base in Subic Bay, Philippines. Much closer to that area.

If you won't defend democracy elsewhere, expect your own democracy to not exist for very long.

A legitimate protection of a democratic state is something that could easily unite both sides of the aisle.

unfortunately too much of our society is compromised and would put pressure even on a united government to stand aside even if such an event would present itself

I disagree. I think we should have a vocal opposition. Having an opposition should help keep people honest by calling their bullshit. I don't see it as being compromised, or being cowardly, or whatever.

Unless they're libertarians. Internet libertarians are usually chicken shit little girls

We won't do anything if China invades, especially not with Trump as president. Did you all forget that Trump took Hong Kong off the table in his pathetic trade war negotiations? Taiwan is an even more difficult situation. He would fold like paper. Clinton would have been your best bet for military action against China and in defense of Taiwan, because she's an imperialist and neoconservative/hard power advocate when it comes to intervention and maintaining western influence in the region. Both are terrible options, of course, but true independence is hardly possible at this point. Even Clinton would most likely prefer to work with the KMT and ensure their power in Taiwan because status quo "one China with multiple interpretations" is preferable to real independence and liberal democracy.

isnt the american public reaaaaaally tired of wars, of sacrificing lives and resources to play sheriff of the world? I'm not so sure that there would really be broad, bipartisan consensus about the necessity of engaging in yet another war on foreign soil, to protect/promote democracy in a country that two thirds of the US population couldnt find on a map...

Depends how it's positioned.

We are definitely tired of being the world police, but protecting an allied democracy isn't really that.