>>64007864
I am not from Taiwan but looking at the terrain, and what China would have to overcome to conquer it, is really gnarly. It would be the largest amphibious op in history. Now if there's any country that would do that, it might be China. But most of the island is comprised of the tallest mountains in East Asia. Also look at Taipei on Google Earth in 3D view. It's a giant bowl surrounded by mountains (it's an ancient lake bed) with narrow ways to get in and out.

Then zooming out, how does China stage forces in a landing zone? Nothing about this is easy. It makes me think it's unlikely that they'll invade, because they really don't want to, and would prefer doing everything else they can to reclaim it short of war. But that doesn't mean being like "oh okay so we don't have to prepare for a Chinese invasion" or whatever some of the budget-cutting restrainers want (because that would not deter them).

>>64013708
China makes a lot of buckets and bolts, and has gotten better at making more advanced technology. But I remember getting a tour of one of their hospital ships (one of the few ships they let Westerners on board, or at least did at the time), and noticing how little of the medical equipment was Chinese. It was mostly foreign gear, European, Dutch. There was *one* device that was Chinese and the PLAN guide was very insistent we marvel at it.