What would be your answer?

[SomeStupidName]

I would totally agree we defend Taiwan, we said we would and it would really piss off China which is a bonus for us so they understand who runs Earth town.

[IDELB2006]

But, do we have the raw materials to keep up ?

I think that's why Trump is looking for others sources like Greenland.

 

That's a different question altogether. And still doesn't give America a good reason to defend Taiwan.

It would make more sense to develop our own resources, while trying to undercut any deals China has in place for the raw materials they are importing.

[Harte]

After two minutes of um um I think uh uh um I think um.

She was illustrating the concept of "long standing."

Harte

[DBCowboy]

She was illustrating the concept of "long standing."

Harte

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[Sky727]

Taiwanese are well educated honorable people while the Red Chinese people have been brain washed and stripped from any sense of honor and what is proper conduct between humans even on a contractual basis. Look no further than all the Chinese construction sights failing and manufactured products that are rubbish if not out right poison for humans and animals. 

With all the trade and shipping that moves in that area it will be a sad and eventful day if China is able to truly control the Taiwan strait, Miyako Strait and the Bashi Strait; if you doubt that just look at what China is doing to the Philippines fishing and shipping boats. 

Nixon and Kissinger messed up big time thinking we could change China by opening up trade with them. All we did is show them how to make money to fund their war machine and bribe overseas politicians..

[Maxmars]

In the long history of the people of Formosa, they have always been subjected to a perpetual 'give and take' and thus far have thrived...

Now Taiwan... subjected to the perennial enormous wolf at the door... seems to be incapable of actually repelling the wolf, should it pounce.

Long ago, American presidents offered full support for Taiwan.. the nation created from Formosa.  The United Kingdom also did more than it's share of participation in the region, Taiwan being a central hub for trade and intrigue.

It was popularly portrayed in the West, as a standing bastion of resistance to one of the most brutal episodes of conquest in human history.

But as usual ... these were people just trying to live.

China is maintaining it's presence on the world stage as is required ... make noise... bark... relentlessly.
Just as Russia used to, America does still, and a few countries try to assert the same regional gravitas, but it's not convincing.

Now... we are to question the commitment... that was then, this is now... right?  Too costly, yes?

Horseshit!

Short answer to should we support Taiwan as an independent nation...

HELL YES.

Regional conquest by arms and destruction is soooo last millennium. 
We have economic power to ploy now...

Oh wait... no, not really.

Regardless of the minutiae...
We cannot seriously consider adopting the politician tricks they pull on us....
"Promise and avoid"... that's the politician crow-bar... they do it to us and laugh about it.
We can't let these people turn our nation into "them."
That's how wars start...

Abandoning friends is something they do twice before bedtime...