The strategic importance of Taiwan 

Should China take control of Taiwan it would represent a breach of the Western Pacific strategic line the US holds from South Korea to Japan through Okinawa to the Philippines. Although the US no longer has military forces on Taiwan, it counts Taiwan as a staunch ally and sells military equipment, including F16s, to Taiwan. 

This would enable China to more easily project power, both military and economic, throughout Southwest Asia and the western Pacific. Japan would almost certainly feel more threatened, thus remilitarizing. Japan and China have fought multiple wars over the last centuries. With that history it is likely that we would see greater instability in Asia.

© William L. Enyart 2022

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