Public sentiment regarding the $500 million US aid to Taiwan reflects significant frustration with government priorities, as many view the funding of foreign military assistance as misplaced given pressing domestic challenges. Commenters express outrage at the focus on international defense while Americans cope with economic hardships, alongside doubts regarding the effectiveness and sincerity of US support for Taiwan.

United States Government

Taiwan

Military-Industrial Complex

Taiwan’s defense strategy once relied on holding off a Chinese invasion just long enough for the U.S. to intervene. But trust in that support is fading, especially with Trump. Taiwan can no longer expect a repeat scenario of the First and Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. In response, Taiwan is now shifting its focus to long-term conflict readiness, preparing for blockades. Lai is unapologetically promoting civilian resilience through stockpiles and public drills. Taiwan will need to resist occupation on its own and learn from Ukraine’s current struggles.

WinterizedLibyan

Why does the Pacific fleet exist doing exercises with Taiwan?

I can say that it would be reasonable for Taiwan to not expect American troops on the ground on the island but support with weaponry (drones, artillery, missiles)

A hypothetical war would mean that the US would use its Navy and Air Force, I thought that was consensus.

WalterWoodiaz

[deleted]

This war will definitely happen and probably in the next few years when Xi is not too old and can still take the credit of "unification".

If Taiwan does not want to be the next Hong Kong, they need to put in more effort to prepare and mentally harden themselves. I watched quite a few street interviews of Taiwanese and they mostly just expect the US to save them. Not likely when Trump is the president to be honest, especially if China proposes some juicy deals in advance.

The Taiwanese government needs to train the people on guerilla warfare and stockpiling ammunition, drones and RPGs.

DaySecure7642

They're being realistic and know they cannot rely on the US. No country can.

voyagerdoge

FelizIntrovertido

How is this the unthinkable? This should be the standard moving forward. I am proud of the United States geopolitical capabilities, but I am strongly against countries having to rely on us from a sovereignty point of view.

bunchalingo

After taking away Taiwan's nuclear weapons program, the US might now consider back out of TW. 

Has Xi Jinping said "thank you" to America?

ApostleofV8

Taiwan has seen how the battlefield has changed to significantly favor the defenders with the new drone warfare paradigm in Ukraine.

They probably reasoned that it's now viable for them to defend against China on their own, or even that China wouldn't even risk an invasion even if they explicitly declare independence.

genshiryoku

It will have to create new partners and be ready for no US support

archjh

The US fought bitterly leading up to UN 2758 to amend the resolution to recognise Taiwan as a seperate member. What followed was a intricate web of dependency, deceit and cooperation between US, China and Taiwan for the next half a century. Strategic ambiguity may have had its use, it is ultimately a duplicitous position that alleys the fears of no one, while implicitly taking on a moral obligation. 

Magicalsandwichpress

With their manufacturing capabilities, they can churn out significantly more low cost drones than Ukraine ever can and give China a bloody nose. Even Ukraine is doing a fantastic job of making low cost and simple to use drones in the middle of a war under constant bombardment. If Taiwan preps for it during peace time, they can have significant deterrence built up should the need arises.

Assuming of course they don't get Nuked by China. God help us all if it ever comes to that.

Mysterious-Coconut24

ChewyNapkin

If Taiwan wins it will almost certainly abandon the one-China policy and officially declare independence. The world should follow suit by recognizing it. The one China thing is a polite fiction that's gotten way out of hand.

Kahing

How is this news now? Hasn't this been the status quo for the last 20 plus years?

ArkassEX

Is the US still the country we want to turn to for military support? I would be worried it would disappear as soon as China donates a Jet.

Ok_BoomerNZ

Meanwhile republicans in congress are attacking a Taiwanese ceo and insisting he is a Chinese CCP member.

Republican voters are so fucking stupid they don’t even know who our allies are

Law-of-Poe

Spokraket

It's a mistake to seek support from someone as noncommittal and treasonous as Trump. You can't trust a single thing that comes out of his mouth. I get that Taiwan has no other good options though at this point.

Xanikk999

Trump will cut a deal with China, you take Taiwan, I take Greenland.

General-Ninja9228

Argented

well guys... I don't know how to put it comfortably for you... if you only count on the actual US administration for help and protection you might be screwed...

doninside

Hope they are willing to pay for it in minerals or labour

Itzchappy

Darth486

GangStalkingTheory

He'd sell out Taiwan for a bad blowjob in a heartbeat

BlackMarketCheese

Good luck with that. Trump would sell his own kids for cash. Trumps a coward and only responds to cash.

Big-March-8915

Same-Boysenberry-433

Taiwan should get nuclear weapons and make as many of its own conventional weapons as possible.  The US and Europe are terrible allies who throw their allies under the bus when they're under attack.  The US and Europe will force Taiwan to fight with its hands tied behind its back, just like they're doing to Ukraine and Israel right now.  The US and Europe will keep trading with China and feeding its military machine because they care more about profits than about helping an ally survive.  Taiwan will not survive unless it becomes more self reliant.

_Machine_Gun

Beginning_Wind9312

SpecterReborn

Gonna have to wait a few years unfortunately

BrewHog

Under this administration, the question isn’t *if* (because they can).  The question is whether they *will*.  Trump is abandoning our allies, intentionally, to side with dictators.  Xi is a dictator.

CalRipkenForCommish

Good luck relying on US; Europe and Ukraine are learning slowly...

  
Anyway, US has absolutely the capacity to build up massive military production capabilities. But that will take time. And money. And the will to do it. 

In the meantime, China doesn't have the industry set up to go into mass production, yet. But, yes, China could build up as well. 

But the main difference is, that the US at this time already has the navy to control the sea while China is still building their navy and need some time and experience to become a major threat. 

But you are correct, the clock is ticking. A while ago I have said, that the Russian disaster in Ukraine will deter China from running into the same situation. But now the situation is changing. Two puppets can change a lot apparently

Erazer81

Trump will make a "deal" with Xi, just like he has with Putin, ,and then Taiwan is murdered.

Trackmaggot

lickem369

I mean it’s far easier to defend an island with a terrain like Taiwan and all but I think the question is what cost China is willing to take.  If they sent a flotilla with a million troops and are willing to tolerate outrageously high casualties I think it would be hard to stop them.

It’s a nightmare scenario for the world with zero winners and all losers.  

It would not be just USA though…Japan, Korea, Philippines, Australia and probably a few others would resist.  China has terrible geography and is surrounded by army’s and navies that could target anywhere in the mainland with conventional weapons.  

Imagine taking out three gorges and other large hydro assets…that would be utter chaos.  Taiwan I think has the third largest missile force and they are supremely technically advanced.  China has zero experience in missile defense and large scale combined arms…..but again eventually they could probably overwhelm them if they tolerate that kind of loss

Mammoth_Professor833

Didn't secdef just tell the pentagon to start cutting 8% annually? So if they are capable now they won't be in 2 years.

TheEarthIsACylinder

Yes, the US military has bases all along the pacific, essentially surrounding China.  I would argue that the US wouldn't even need to use the military to protect Taiwan...  China is a large net food importer, and the chinese economy is much more reliant on the west than vice versa.  Recent analysis estimates that a decoupling of China from the US would cost the Chinese economy over 30% of its GDP, and cost the US less than 5%.  Hundreds of millions of chinese people would starve under sanctions and a naval blockade.

Narrow-Ad-7856

The US has no legal stance to physically defend Taiwan. Taiwan, unfortunately, is Chinese territory and if we were to intervene with US forces, we would be the aggressor in that war.

Chuckobofish123

HotTakesBeyond

https://preview.redd.it/2vrn7f3s3bcf1.jpeg?width=986&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=3bcf214f930d5fc2d62cefff0ce41d164a57b3bc

Fate spins along, as it should.

bigbeak67

If this shit happened under Biden, there’d have been calls to invoke the 25th amendment. For all the talk of Joe being senile and his staff running the show behind the scene, this is what an administration with a cognitively unfit president actually looks like

boardatwork1111

Quick, now seal Trump inside the oval office so the MAGA creatures don't change his mind again.

LivefromPhoenix

Dang, that woman he talked to at the summit really got to him

Kolhammer85

doyouevenIift

Bipolar ass president in the US and you know the EU/UK still won't fix their fuckin procurement

TactileTom

steve09089

Someone block Putin's number on his phone so this continues.

raitaisrandom

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maybe not, but if this happens, the world is fucked for a good while- a  huge amount of the computer stuff you get comes out of taiwan and nowhere else is prepared to take up the slack any time soon.

It's such an issue that they're going to blow the machinery if an invasion actually happens.

If this was any random country without serious consequences, then no, why would we?

If this is really a ukraine-related question- I'd like to know what problems the world actually faces if the ukraine was part of russia-- and of course, no one likes putin, no one wants war, but what, truly, would the consequence be?

dethswatch

Invasion across the Taiwan straight would be near impossible. They could bomb Taiwan but this would be destroying the very resources and infrastructure they want. Likely the plan has and will be a soft takeover through their election process. Chinese are allowed dual citizenship in Taiwan so why would they attack when they can reunify through propaganda and infiltration?

I support aid from the US but it’s futile. Eventually if they don’t change their policies Taiwan will vote itself into reunification unfortunately.

ToRedSRT

Yes. Jimmy Carter’s unilateral withdrawal from the mutual defense treaty with Taiwan was illegal.

WulfTheSaxon

We can't.

As in.....we physically cannot.

You are talking major major war in which the draft gets put in for america. A complete upending of our daily lives. It would most likely lead to nuclear war.

The day we could easily beat china in their own backyard has long sailed.

G0TouchGrass420

No. But I am biased and cannot have a rational opinion here. I have 2 nephews currently in the armed forces.

My family has supplied men in WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Irag, and Afganistan. Some come home in body bags, some come home missing limbs, but all come home with PTSD.

There are 8 billion people in the world. I think the rest of the world could supply bodies in times of war, for the good of all mankind, for those who are warmongers.

I think the "who will make us cheap shit" and "who will pick our crops" people should also consider "who will fight our wars". Pay them, train them. I guarantee you there are people in this world who would accept $35,000 per year versus the $20 per day they are currently making. This should absolutely work great with your "make us cheap shit and pick our crops" philosophy.

whateverisgoodmoney

The US should have never let Taiwan hold a monopoly on chip manufacturing. Until that process can be extracted we have to defend Taiwan.

mrhymer

Nah, I think we let China win that one. 

MakeGardens

 yes, easily. Taiwan is a strategic asset.

diprivanity

No, just destroy the TSCM factories so china does not get them. It’s the ultimate trip-wire. And probably the reason china has not invaded.

Iam_Thundercat

The US has allocated $500 million for Taiwan under the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative as tensions with China escalate, indicating a strong commitment to Taiwan's defense.

US Defense Aid for Taiwan

Why This Matters

Public Sentiment Summary

Highlighted Comments

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What the people want