[hinckley buzzard]

Taiwan is separated from China by a 110 mile wide strait. It has close up listening posts on Qemoy and Matsu islands, only a few miles from the coast. A surprise attack is out of the question. The artificial “islands” as well as the aircraft carrier complicate the matter but they would be instantly vulnerable to attack in the event of out and out hostilities.

I think Taiwan would be a tough nut to crack.

[elcid1970]

“[Taiwan] has close up listening posts on Quemoy and Matsu islands, only a few miles from the coast.”

Holy smoke! I was in grade school in 1958 when it was all over the news that the ChiComs were about to seize those islands and were bombarding them with artillery. U.S. forces were present & that never happened, but they are still in ROC hands; good to know.

If the PLA imperial dragon cannot swim far enough to conquer Quemoy & Matsu (now Kinmen), then that 110 mile wide gulf between the mainland & Taiwan is likely to remain unbridgeable.

[BBell]

Looked up those Islands. They are close!