If Taiwan itself elects a China-friendly government, it’s game over.
Venezuela elected a China-friendly government and we responded by kidnapping the President.
If China invades Taiwan, I could very much see the US helping Taiwan though.
The US will describe any propaganda campaign or business arbitrage as an “invasion” and respond with lethal force. In US terms, any influence China has over the island’s public is a de facto invasion, because it threatens the US sphere of influence.
Venezuela elected a China-friendly government and we responded by kidnapping the President.
Venezuela didn’t join China though. In Taiwan, an actually China-friendly government would mean Taiwan becoming part of China and thus having Chinese protection from the US military. Short of reuniting the Chinas, there can be no mainland-china-friendly government in Taiwan because mainland China doesn’t want any relations that aren’t direct ownership of Taiwan.
Venezuela elected a China-friendly government and we responded by kidnapping the President.
The US will describe any propaganda campaign or business arbitrage as an “invasion” and respond with lethal force. In US terms, any influence China has over the island’s public is a de facto invasion, because it threatens the US sphere of influence.
Venezuela didn’t join China though. In Taiwan, an actually China-friendly government would mean Taiwan becoming part of China and thus having Chinese protection from the US military. Short of reuniting the Chinas, there can be no mainland-china-friendly government in Taiwan because mainland China doesn’t want any relations that aren’t direct ownership of Taiwan.