Quote Originally Posted by carl View Post
John:

If Taiwan decided to join China no one would care. If Taiwan was forced to decide to join China, then a lot of people would care, because that could only happen if China stared us down. If that happened it would change the calculations of a lot of countries. The countries on the Pacific and Indian oceans rim can only stand against China WITH us; and we can only handle China WITH them. If we didn't stand WITH Taiwan against China in a critical situation they would wonder if we would stand with them when the time came. In those circumstances, they would be well advised not to count on us and make their own arrangements.

When that happened, there goes your access to the area.
Much to ponder here; you may be right. If China flat out attacked tomorrow, you would definitely be right. However, I'm not sure it would happen that way. China seems a bit consumed by it's public image, so that may dictate how they bring about absorbing Taiwan (if they ever do). How they accomplish that might give the US a way out.

That being said I concur that we are a sea power. We rise or fall depending on it.