[Gee101]

What is interesting is if the world is not that reliant on Taiwan chips anymore would China really care that much about Taiwan?

[johanyc]

They would. The main reason has always been the location. It’s right at the doorstep of China. It’s the same reason when Russia tried to install missile in Cuba, Americans dont like that. Cuba “crisis” is actually a US centric term. Also on east coast of Taiwan, theres a deep waters, submarines can enter pacific ocean much more stealthily.

Everything else is just bonus to them. Semiconductors, supporting nationalism, you name it.

[IncreasePosts]

South Korea and Japan/Okinawa seem either just as good or better if the US wants to have bases near China. And the US already has 80k troops there

[kulahan]

This seems more correct. It's the same reason they got involved in the Korean war - didn't want anyone to cross the Yan(?) river that wasn't an ally of China. Too close for comfort.

[2muchcoffeeman]

China is not interested in Taiwan for the chips. They want it back since they believe Taiwan is part of China.

[owebmaster]

Taiwan also believes they are (part of) China

[usefulcat]

Wasn't China already pissed about Taiwan long before Taiwan was doing a lot of semiconductor manufacturing?

[kelnos]

China has wanted Taiwan long before they fabbed semiconductors. It's a matter of ego and nationalism, not economics.

It's also political: China hates that there's a Western-style democracy full of "Chinese rebels" on an island 80 miles from their doorstep. They also don't like the cozy relationship between the Taiwanese and US militaries.

[kortilla]

Probably, my understanding is that the primary reason China cares about Taiwan is internal pressure about the separatism. The power Taiwan has is the only reason they haven’t acted.

[Zaiberia]

Yes, they would. However, if Taiwan wasn’t as important to the world because of their chips then the world would probably not care as much about what communist China wants to do to them.