Why are we "obligated by law to defend Taiwan?

Question

I just read this article http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070930/ap_on_re_as/taiwan_politics
I am confused by the statement that we are obligated by law yet we condemn the constant pushes from Taiwan to declare independence. Why not change our policy and stay the hell out of it? Otherwise risk a conflict with a country with a billion people dedicated to the the idea that they are the future rulers of the world. This is a tough one. I mean, after living on the mainland for quite sometime I get this ever growing feeling that the people are just itching for an excuse to prove their ever growing military. Any thoughts???

Answer 1

You've answered your own question: "A billion people dedicated to the idea that they are the future rulers of the world."

I don't know which mainland you're living on, but this sort of question came up a few years back in 1939 and look what happened then.

Do you really want to sit back and do nothing until the day that they come for you?

I forget who made this statement and it's not word for word but he said, "they came for the gypsies and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a gypsie. They came for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. They came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak up."

Answer 2

Because the U.S signed a treaty that it is obligated to come to the defense of Taiwan. However, since the U.S. regularly abandons its commitments and allies, I would not count on it if China decides to attack Taiwan, which it probably will at some point in the future. China is not really a strong military power yet, in spite of all the propaganda you hear, but it is trying to be. Taiwan regularly tries to shame the U.S. into supporting its drive for independence (which 80% of the Taiwanese people support), because the U.S. claims to be a supporter of freedom and democracy.. U.S. foreign policy is very confusing and changeable, and the reason it has so much trouble in the world and is almost universally despised i is because it really has no principles and does not honor its obligations, everything is ruled by money. And every time the leadership in Washington changes, so does the foreign policy.

Answer 3

Probably because we have treaties with Taiwan where we've promised our aid should they be attacked, so we're bound by international law. Will it hold up? That depends on the situation at the moment it's tested. The US military is kinda stretched at the moment in the Middle East. It would be hard to put a large army in Taiwan right now. However, the Pacific fleet could still do a nice job of making it difficult for the Chinese to invade.

Answer 4

There's no "treaty" between U.S. and Taiwan offering protection. There is a "Taiwan Relation Act" which says U.S. will sell weapons to Taiwan for self-defense purpose and will react to attacks. "React" doesn't necessarily mean "defend". On the surface, the U.S. says it may defend Taiwan because Taiwan is a democracy and an important trading partner. If you go deeper, the U.S. may defend Taiwan for its strategic value to the interests of the U.S. Taiwan is situated in the middle of the "East Asia Chain" from Japan to Singapore. If China overtook Taiwan, the "chain" is broken which means China gains open access to the Pacific Ocean. The ruling party on Taiwan is using this strategy to their advantage and push for independence because they bet that U.S. would not "dump" them.

Answer 5

The US would dump them quick. More money to be made trading with China.