[Paul_Denton]

Moreover, China has nuclear weapons, and the temptation to threaten use of nukes if more powerful American forces do not back off. China is playing with fire, and it's uncertain how many Chinese leaders are even aware of how dangerous a game they are involved in.

Dangerous for them. They use even one nuke and its all over for China.

[EagleUSA]

They use even one nuke and its all over for China.
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I would also agree that the Chi-Coms are blind to reality in this regard. Blinded by their hate and fear of the example that Taiwan's democracy poses to their antiquated communist government. My take is that if China makes a grab of Taiwan, all hell will break loose, but beyond that, China's reward will be political and economic isolation from the Western world, the USA for sure, swift and immediate (if we still have a real President in the White House at the time), which will bring about economic chaos in the country, and most likely the rather rapid decay and end to the old-line Commies of China.

I don't think they see that possibility. The fact that the US has a strong President now, could be keeping Taiwan safe for a little time longer...perhaps.