If taiwan declares independence, will US defend Taiwan?

Question

The taiwan relations act requires US to defend Taiwan. However, ten years from now, China's military will become the 2nd most powerful in the world given its economy and investment in technology.

Answer 1

Taiwan already declared its independence, and they are an independent state. China is just especially reluctant to let go of it.

Answer 2

Taiwan is not independent.  Former Secretary of State Powell clarified this on Oct. 25, 2004.  At the same time, Taiwan is not a part of China (either the ROC or the PRC).

Unfortunately, the Taiwan independence advocates are quite confused about this issue.  They say that they want to declare independence.   But, from which country do they want to declare independence?   Can anyone answer that question???

Answer 3

Taiwan is already independent. China will not attack Taiwan for the very reason you state. Period.  

Answer 4

Unfortunately, I do not believe the US could afford to defend Taiwan.  We are currently billions of dollars in debt to China and in a sense they have us by the short and curlies.

Answer 5

We already have a US warship "protecting" Taiwan.  Taiwan is safe from Chinese aggregation as long a China has limited landing craft to move men and material to Taiwan shores.  China starts building a real navy watch out!

Answer 6

The treaty says we would, but neither China nor the US want the headache.  So both will ensure that Taiwan can act as an independent state without a formal declaration.

Answer 7

No. Case in point..look what just recently happened in Georgia. The US could do little but condemn the Russians actions toward Georgia. Remember..Georgia is an ally of the US. They contributed the third largest deployment of combat troops to Iraq ..for the coalition..just the US and Great Britain. If it means all out war..the answer would still be no. As of right now the US military has it's hands full with Iraq and Afghanistan and it's costing the US billions. The US would have to crank up its war machine...reinstate the draft and consider the use of nuclear weapons to even the odds. Well I hate to say it..but it looks like Taiwan maybe very well be on its own. The Chinese watched with interest with what the Russians did and what the US response would be.