Does Taiwan Have the Will to Fight?

If the Taiwanese won't fight for Taiwan if China invades, America won't fight for Taiwan's freedom. Nor should America sell Taiwan advanced weapons if that is the situation. But America would fight to deny Taiwan as an asset for China.

China wants Taiwan:

Chinese President Xi Jinping bluntly told President Joe Biden during their recent summit in San Francisco that Beijing will reunify Taiwan with mainland China but that the timing has not yet been decided, according to three current and former U.S. officials.

There is some pressure from Congress to "arm Taiwan to the teeth". But that will just give China a lot of American weapons and equipment if the Taiwanese will to fight is brittle.

The Chinese want to make sure Taiwan's will to fight is brittle by spreading fear that America won't help and that Taiwanese leaders will save themselves: 

"'From what happened in Afghanistan, [the DPP] should perceive that once a war breaks out in the [Taiwan Strait], the island’s defense will collapse in hours, and the U.S. military won’t come to help,' the article read. 'As a result, the DPP authorities will quickly surrender, while some high-level officials may flee by plane.'"  

I worry that could work more than I worry about rushing weapons to Taiwan. I'm not the only one: 

"Conversations with US-based security analysts and former administration officials, as well as with members of the government in Taipei, cast doubt on Taiwan’s ability to deter, let alone resist China — with some even questioning the will to do so." 

America says it will help Taiwan if China attacks. But if Taiwan collapses under assault, will America fight China over Taiwan? If China is sitting in control, waiting for our fleet?

Xi Jinping may think he has a loophole in our defense pledge. Winning fast and daring America to counter-attack might be enough to deter America. And yes, check the Definitions Section for "winning".

Taiwan should reconsider whether it wants to be an objective to be fought for rather or an ally. Making Taiwan a critical computer chip manufacturer doesn't guarantee that America will fight for Taiwan when Taiwanese won't fight for long. It guarantees America will fight to at least destroy the factories so China can't use them. 

And to destroy the best American weapons that China has captured on Taiwan.

NOTE: The image was made from DALL-E.

NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.

NOTE: I'm adding updates on the Last Hamas War in this post.