Which Taiwan option would be preferable?

[Sirius_]

I don't support it but I think it shouldn't be hard to determine that US statehood would be the better option. Ideally Taiwan should be fully independent (including the ability to join the UN).

[Sirius_]

My long-term hope is that the U.S. "trades" Taiwan for North Korea. By that I mean that the U.S. announces that it will no longer protect Taiwan (Taiwan would then ideally become a semi-autonomous part of China), and in return, China cuts off all trade with North Korea. Hopefully, the North Korean regime would semi-peacefully collapse, the U.S. could withdraw the ~20,000 soldiers stationed in South Korea, and China and the U.S. would be much less likely to get involved in WW3.

Using 24 million taiwanese people as nothing more than a bargaining chip? That sounds lovely.

[Sirius_]

I think Taiwan should definitely become a state of the US if it becomes necessary to defend them from Chinese imperialism.

So we defend Taiwan from Chinese imperialism with American imperialism? Also, what claim does the U.S. have to Taiwan?

I'd prefer neither option, but if I had to choose, I'd obviously go with the first. At least Taiwan has historically been part of China.

You are quite naive to argue with HillGoose.