Exactly who do you think is going to stop them? The citizens of Western nations may sympathize with Taiwan, but that's very different from them being willing to send their sons and daughters to fight and die for someone else's country.
If China decides to invade Taiwan, I don't see anyone realistically trying to stop them militarily. I imagine a bunch of nations will "strongly condemn" their actions, but I would be shocked if the West is even willing to impose economic sanctions in that scenario.
I don't really have a dog in this fight, other than once having a Taiwanese friend in 3rd grade.
But, I think all this gearing up for war is not good for anyone. I'm pretty sure the world, overall, would be better off to accept that Taiwan will become part of greater China and to negotiate a peaceful plan for cultural, economic and infrastructure integration.
So if it is a foregone conclusion that say, America could take Canada in a war, Canada should just accept the inevitable and pre-surrender? Most powerful country should be allowed to annex everyone weaker than them?
> It's not about what's "right" or what's "allowed". Those are squishy concepts.
This seems to be a very common issue on HN, I've noticed. People are constantly conflating how the world works with how it should work. And, when others point this out, they're immediately accused of endorsing something morally, when really they're just stating a fact about the world, human nature, or geopolitics.
> conflating how the world works with how it should work
This doesn't really seem to be what's going on, though. Obviously, China's "allowed" in some sense to do whatever others can't stop them from doing. But also obviously, Taiwan will defend themselves from Chinese aggression. Given these two seemingly obvious Realpolitik points, it's not Taiwan's defense that causes the loss of life but China's aggression.
China should be stopped invading Taiwan.
They invaded Tibet and East Turkistan. Those people suffer from Han-Chinese oppression.
Like with Russia, if the rest of the world doesn't draw a line, these horrible regimes start looking for the next victim.
> China should be stopped invading Taiwan.
Exactly who do you think is going to stop them? The citizens of Western nations may sympathize with Taiwan, but that's very different from them being willing to send their sons and daughters to fight and die for someone else's country.
If China decides to invade Taiwan, I don't see anyone realistically trying to stop them militarily. I imagine a bunch of nations will "strongly condemn" their actions, but I would be shocked if the West is even willing to impose economic sanctions in that scenario.
> if the rest of the world doesn't draw a line
Whoever draws a line must also be willing to enforce it, if necessary.
I don't really have a dog in this fight, other than once having a Taiwanese friend in 3rd grade.
But, I think all this gearing up for war is not good for anyone. I'm pretty sure the world, overall, would be better off to accept that Taiwan will become part of greater China and to negotiate a peaceful plan for cultural, economic and infrastructure integration.
So if it is a foregone conclusion that say, America could take Canada in a war, Canada should just accept the inevitable and pre-surrender? Most powerful country should be allowed to annex everyone weaker than them?
Well, the US isn't (usually) threatening to take Canada.
China has been wanting Taiwan for decades and now reasonably has the capability to take it.
It's not about what's "right" or what's "allowed". Those are squishy concepts.
China is gearing up to take Taiwan by force. Who is going to stop them? Maybe Taiwan itself. Maybe the US, too. Maybe others.
A war like that would be horrible. On the other side of the coin, I think China may have a lot to offer to a friendlier Taiwan.
There are hard decisions to be made.
You have to consider your choices carefully, even if you don't like any of them.
FWIW, I am not Chinese and have no relationship with anyone there.
> It's not about what's "right" or what's "allowed". Those are squishy concepts.
This seems to be a very common issue on HN, I've noticed. People are constantly conflating how the world works with how it should work. And, when others point this out, they're immediately accused of endorsing something morally, when really they're just stating a fact about the world, human nature, or geopolitics.
> conflating how the world works with how it should work
This doesn't really seem to be what's going on, though. Obviously, China's "allowed" in some sense to do whatever others can't stop them from doing. But also obviously, Taiwan will defend themselves from Chinese aggression. Given these two seemingly obvious Realpolitik points, it's not Taiwan's defense that causes the loss of life but China's aggression.
> really they're just stating a fact about the world, human nature, or geopolitics.
This seems to be a very common issue on HN, I've noticed. People are constantly conflating their perception of something with how it objectively is.
And why can't China accept that Taiwan won't be part of greater China?
Sounds pretty biased.
How about: go suck a Panda's dick.
How many human lives and trillions of dollars in economic value are you willing to sacrifice, in order to stand up to China?
Ask yourself this question in the context of $FOREIGN_NATION invading your country to subjugate you and your neighbors with force.
Perhaps, just perhaps, because Taiwan’s own constitution says there is only one China: them and the mainland?
As recently as the 1992 consensus.