How about drawing the line where we already have clear defense treaties in place (Japan, South Korea, etc).
or, ya know, we don't let terrorists dictate our foreign policy
And if anything, the US is more likely to initiate a nuclear exchange.
maybe, or maybe we don't
We would likely have a single carrier group on the region when China invaded Taiwan.
maybe
That carrier group will certainly punch above it's weight, but should still be overwhelmed by sheer numbers of jets and sas missiles.
maybe
US force projection is going to be a bigger issue than most commentators realize.
we are the best the world has ever seen at it (and it's not close), but maybe you're right
Judging from all the recent rhetoric from DC cretins about the utility of tactical nukes
cite?
and how a nuclear exchange "wouldn't actually cause an apocalyptic nuclear winter,"
a nuclear exchange with the PRC certainly wouldn't, if Russia decided they wanted to play too (and why would they?) it might be a different story
I could absolutely see the Pentagon signing off on "limited nuclear strikes" to soften the Chinese invasion while additional carrier groups are scrambled across the Pacific. Which would be insane, because of course china would retaliate in kind. But that seems to be where we are headed, as far as I can tell.
That is possible, but only if the PLA is competent, and there is zero evidence they will be.