←back to thread

437 points adventured | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
xenihn ◴[] No.27161581[source]
I've been thinking about what would happen if there's an actual military crisis between China and Taiwan. I wonder if the United States would allow (and aid with) unlimited immigration from Taiwan for educated specialists, in an attempt to capture/retain as much skills and knowledge as possible.
replies(7): >>27161589 #>>27161597 #>>27161604 #>>27161705 #>>27161732 #>>27161976 #>>27162555 #
greatgoat420 ◴[] No.27161589[source]
It has been done in the past, Taiwan is a special topic for the US, I don't know that they would let it get to that point without intervening either diplomatically or militarily.
replies(1): >>27161653 #
xenihn ◴[] No.27161653[source]
Right, I'm just thinking that long-term military intervention to prevent capture/annexation of Taiwan is completely impossible, but short-term intervention meant to extract as many Taiwanese as possible prior to inevitable capitulation is very much an option.
replies(3): >>27161668 #>>27161740 #>>27161861 #
nradov ◴[] No.27161861[source]
Long term military intervention to prevent capture is completely possible if we're willing to pay the price. Weather and geography alone would make an amphibious invasion quite difficult.

But China could easily wreck Taiwan's infrastructure and industry without invading.

replies(1): >>27161959 #
1. edrxty ◴[] No.27161959{3}[source]
This^

Not only is it entirely possible to prevent Chinese capture but it's arguably possible for Taiwan to achieve this on their own with minimal to no US intervention. This will likely change in the future, but for the next decade their sovereignty is relatively assured.

To say amphibious invasions are difficult is itself a massive understatement. Taiwan is armed to the teeth and and has incredibly hostile terrain all along its coasts effectively making any attempt on the area a guaranteed bloodbath.