Should the US increase support for Taiwan?

Elisa (No)

The United States should take an isolationist view when it comes to foreign policy, especially concerning Taiwan. The same foreign policy 'experts' that have brought us disasters like Afghanistan and Iraq, wasting trillions of dollars while our country falls apart, want us now to support Taiwan. At a certain point, one has to stop listening to warmongers who are simply addicted to the military-industrial complex scam of absurd overcharges like toilet seats sold for $640. Regarding Taiwan, we should remain 'unambiguous' to prevent disaster. 

First, we should 'avoid war with China over Taiwan at all costs.' This issue is extremely dangerous and should not be taken lightly. Instead of actively antagonizing China and taking another step towards World War III, we should remain neutral in this fight. 

China has many faults, but we need to recognize its autonomy and right to sovereignty. Like it or not, China does have a history of controlling Taiwan, and their belief in a one-China policy is no different than when the US annexed parts of Mexico.

The main geopolitical benefit of Taiwan is the critically important TSMC microchip facility, which is responsible for the majority of global semiconductor and computer chip production. However, relying on a small island next door to a potential major enemy like China is simply foolish, and we should be concentrating our efforts on bringing that production home.

The American people are done with interfering and acting as a global police force; with isolationism at a 50-year high, it's time to stop sticking our noses where they don't belong. Taiwan only uses us for security and money, and we must recognize that they are, at best, a fickle friend.

Curtice(Yes)

China has a history of flexing its muscles and making veiled threats--'saber rattling,' so to speak--toward Taiwan, and this behavior has only ramped up in recent years. The United States must stand up for any democracy in the region, Taiwan included.

Today's Taiwan grew from the Chinese civil war between Mao's communists and Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang. History tells us that the communists prevailed, forcing Chiang Kai-shek to flee to the island off of China's coast. As many as one million Chinese followed him, and he ruled Taiwan until he died in 1975. Since then, Taiwan has been a thriving democracy.

However, the Chinese communist leadership has always viewed Taiwan as part of China and has tried to isolate it internationally. For example, due to Chinese pressure, Taiwan has no seat in the United Nations. Further, if China intends to dominate the world economically, if not otherwise, it must first dominate Asia.

From a strategic and economic perspective, Taiwan holds a massive position within the semiconductor industry. Should Taiwan eventually fall under mainland China's thumb, a large portion of that industry would be under its control.

It is essential for the United States to clearly state its support of Taiwan by drawing a clear line in the sand about what it will consider Chinese aggression toward Taiwan to be. Doing otherwise will encourage China to become ever more aggressive as it moves toward domination over the island democracy.

The United States must realize that Taiwan is more strategic to its national interests than places like Ukraine and must be willing to act accordingly.