[bamboleo]

It appears to me that we’re back into imperialism before the end of the century. Who will stop China if they want to expand? Nobody stopped Russia a few years ago. Hong Kong got fucked this year and nobody did anything.

China could expand into Kashmir and definitively “own” the South China Sea, including Taiwan.

Who will go to war with China? No one.

[andromeduck]

If the US doesn't defend Taiwan then its defense treaties with Japan and Korea become all but worthless and we'd likely see a major build up if nothing else.

The real danger is if the east and South and South East Asian countries can't put their historical differences behind them and China is allowed to divide and conquer or blitz their way through South East Asia such as via naval blockades of the SCS/Malaca or environmental terrorism via Mekong dam.

[sudosysgen]

I'm not sure. There is no treaty that binds the US to defend Taiwan.

[esarbe]

It has always been that way. Just have a look at the U.S. imperialism in the 20th century.

The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must. Thus it has always been.