Because China wants to literally annex Taiwan. They don't think Taiwan is it's own country. They consider it an island that is conducting an insurrection against China.
They're a layer of protection against China for the US.
On top of that, if they take Taiwan, they're not going to stop there. They're going to take Japan next, then Korea. Then they'd own the east pacific.
The Chinese HATE the Japanese (arguably for good reason. The Japanese did some pretty horrific things to China in WW2) and since the Japanese isn't playing to the Chinese tune, the only way to get them to comply is to invade.
Then South Korea is fucked since China will cut them off and North Korea will move in.
And if they invade Taiwan all your microprocessors will be under their control, smartphones, modern automobiles, defense industry and everything else that requires a mini microchip. China takes control of Taiwan and can't effectively hold the world hostage.
Because China wants to literally annex Taiwan. They don't think Taiwan is it's own country. They consider it an island that is conducting an insurrection against China.
They're a layer of protection against China for the US.
On top of that, if they take Taiwan, they're not going to stop there. They're going to take Japan next, then Korea. Then they'd own the east pacific.
The Chinese HATE the Japanese (arguably for good reason. The Japanese did some pretty horrific things to China in WW2) and since the Japanese isn't playing to the Chinese tune, the only way to get them to comply is to invade.
Then South Korea is fucked since China will cut them off and North Korea will move in.
Because Chyna is bad bad bad evil evil evil - horribly evil person in charge
And if they invade Taiwan all your microprocessors will be under their control, smartphones, modern automobiles, defense industry and everything else that requires a mini microchip. China takes control of Taiwan and can't effectively hold the world hostage.
And we have a new Administration to undo all of that.