Does the US have military bases in Taiwan?
Not at the present time. HISTORY: Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895. The United States declared war against the Empire of Japan on Dec. 8, 1941. During the period of the Pacific war, all military attacks against the four main Japanese islands and Taiwan were conducted by US military forces. Hence, the United States will be the principal occupying power of these areas. However, after the Japanese surrender ceremonies, the military occupation of Taiwan was delegated to the Chinese Nationalists (ROC). In the post war San Francisco Peace Treaty, Japan renounced all right, claim, and title to Taiwan, but no receiving country was designated. Under such a situation, Taiwan remains under the jurisdiction of the principal occupying power -- the United States of America. As the truth of Taiwan's international legal status becomes more widely known, it is expected that the ROC government will move to the Kinmen and Mazu island groups, and the United States will institute direct "United States Military Government" jurisdiction over Taiwan. At that point, it would be proper for the US to establish military bases on Taiwan.
How long can Taiwan withstand a military attack from China?
Every year, ROC Taiwan holds military exercises mimicking PRC invasions. There are several PRC military regions across PRC, but the main invasion force will be from Nanjin, together with their navy fleet, air force, and 2nd artillery corp. There will be also PRC PLA special operation forces who would go after Taiwan's president office and defense department. PRC PLA has 1,400 missiles in range of hitting Taiwan. Taiwan has hundreds of mid-range missiles as last ditch measure of retaliation if they are not destroyed during PRC's first wave of missile attack. From past 10 years exercises and computer simulations, for ROC Taiwan military to defend itself without help, the shortest estimate was 2 weeks and longest was 1 month. However, the consequences to PRC will be bad. One online article doesn't tell the full picture. Last time in 1996, while Taiwan was having a presidential election, PRC PLA fired several rounds of missiles that landed at sea near Taiwan's two main ports. They also held large scale military drills just across the strait. Taiwan at the time was ready to fight and the reserve force was about to be called back to duty. At then, US sent two aircraft carrier battle groups to assist Taiwan. It was called the 3rd Taiwan Strait Crisis.
Does Taiwan have a military balance against China? What is Taiwan's strategy militarily?
Many answers here focus on the military hard wares of both sides.I would like to give my answer from another perspective.As Sun Tzu pointed out in his famous book,the Art of War,there are five factors that determine which side should win in a war.The first one is Tao. To illustrate,Tao means that the citizens of a country fully understand why its ruler or government started the war and comprehend the meaning and importance of the war and thus extend their full support for the war,no matter how many lives will be cost. If the government has not the Tao,then it will be finally defeated no matter how great military power it possesses. This should explain the U.S.’s defeat during the Vietnam War.Now let’s take a look at both authorities of the Mainland and Taiwan.The Mainland has achieved great success in every field during the last 30 years and has forklifted millions people out of poverty.Its people witnessed their lives being greatly improved thanks to their government.Now give me a reason why the CCP can’t enjoy great support from the Chinese people if it had to start a war to take back Taiwan,which will make China a more powerful country if they win the war.What about Taiwan? I believe if there were a war,it will surely because some idiots of the Taiwan authority went to the extreme to declare independence.The KMT and DDP has screwed Taiwan’s economy by focusing on screwing each other so that they will get elected. How many Taiwanese young people will make up their mind to fight for KMT or DDP,let alone the fact that they serve in a military which is under the name of Republic of China. I doubt the number would be very large.From the perspective of Taiwanese,there’s no point of dying for a country led by a bunch of stupid guys who can do nothing but cursing their political enemies.
Why hasn't the US put a military base in Taiwan?
A2AThey actually used to use several bases in Taiwan.Back in the old Cold War days of yore, the United States recognized the Republican Chinese government provisionally situated in Taipei to be the rightful government of China, and the US considered the ROC to be a regional ally against communist powers in eastern and southeastern Asia.To help with defense against communist forces based in Mainland China, the ROC and the USA agreed for both countries to have joint use of bases throughout Taiwan:All American forces in Taiwan were lead by the United States Taiwan Defense Command based in Taipei:Badge of the United States Taiwan Defense CommandFormer Headquarters site of the USTDC (Now the Taipei Fine Arts Museum)However, eventually, the communist People’s Republic of China had a falling out with the USSR, and the US Government, under the leadership of US President Richard Nixon, decided that maybe the communist PRC would be a better help against the Soviets.As such, due to the One-China policy practiced by both the republican and communist governments of China, the USA withdrew from all bases in Taiwan, recalled all official diplomatic personnel, and withdrew recognition from the republican government, recognizing the communist government in Beijing as rightful government of China, much to the chagrin of both the republican government and many local Taiwanese.As of why we haven’t placed any more bases on Taiwan, it is because the PRC does not approve of placing bases there without consent, as it considers Taiwan to be PRC land, and the modern ROC to be illegitimate and therefor cannot represent China.Still though, one day, I hope we can restore the USTDC.
Does anyone know how to abandon his Taiwan citizenship?
With all due respect to matt_of_asia, he is inaccurate in several aspects. NEVER, EVER use your American passport to enter Taiwan if you were born in Taiwan (and the birthplace on your U.S. passport indicates so), or have a citizenship number, or are associated with R.O.C. citizenship in any other way. You may be nastily surprised upon your departure from Taiwan, as they may prevent you from doing so on the ground that you have not fulfilled your military service. This is because no matter what passport you use to enter, you are considered an R.O.C. citizen if your name is in the registry, etc. (and the R.O.C. government seems to have some wierd ways of keeping track of your citizenship status). I am a Canadian who also holds an R.O.C. passport, and I travel to Taiwan regularly. When I enter Taiwan, I always have to use my R.O.C. passport. Then, as someone who has not yet fulfilled his military service, when I wish to depart, I apply for a permission to do so with the Immigration Office (really simple and easy--you can do it online, or get a permission stamp at the airport prior to your departure). This way, you will be entering as an "R.O.C. expatriate", and as long as you stay for less than 4 months in Taiwan for any single trip, you are, in a sense, exempt from military service. HOWEVER, before you can do all this, you need to get a "status of R.O.C. expatriate" stamp from the Bureau of Consular Affairs into your R.O.C. passport--if you live in a large city in the U.S., there should be one. This seems like a hassle, but is the safest (and legislatively endorsed) way to go about this problem. Otherwise you risk being drafted--which involves staying for 2+ years at least in Taiwan (for physical checkup + queues + actual service). It is not possible to renounce your R.O.C. citizenship if you are a male who has not fulfilled his military service--sorry (this, at least, is according to a new legislation introduced in 1998). As Matt said, always check with the relevant authorities well before you make your trip.
Will Taiwan and Japan team up with China if one day U.S. using military to interfere or starting a war in Pacific?
Taiwan is going to be really irrelevant by then, economically it is going to excel in agriculture and having lost any industrial capacity it currently has. It is a pawn and yielding either way. Align with US or China. I don't really know what ever happened to Taiwanese mentally, denying history I guess, has become rootles, therefore pretty spineless I am afraid.War has always been about extending economic interests. Japan will join with China once there is greater economic integration between China and Japan. It is inevitable, with China single party, tenacious, ultra efficient government, China will attract Japan as US decline economically as consumers.Some scenarios…The Pacific nations of interest to US is Japan or may be ASEAN countries. You are assuming US interference into Japanese domestic affairs or scenarios such as Vietnam/Cambodia territorial dispute again.Vietnam inferiority complex means it will never be China ally or stop being anti China or hating China. America setting up Vietnam military base and Vietnam starts grabbing lands from Laos and Cambodia, can be a trigger events.The country with the most self confidence is Thailand. Thailand will always be neutral. Thai people doesn't hate anybody. They are very comfortable in their own skin, amazingly at ease with who they, rich or poor.When Vietnam becomes self confident, it will grow faster than China on yearly growth rate, its GDP will surpass Japan one day. They have the ingredients. There have very tough endurance quality, and extremely hard working. If only they stop playing victims with their own minds.Why would America start a war? They have old arsenals and weapons to destroy. F-16 to get rid of. This will help US economic renewal.
Why Is the US military willing to risk a major war with China over Taiwan?
Risking a major war? Not likely but positioning and bluffing, yes, and trying to contain China militarily and economically, definitely. It is a game and a serious game, a game that US likes to play around the world. It is like the schoolyard bully game, and a game of chicken.The big bully flexing his muscles and worried about challengers who have grown and bulked up who could one day rule the yard. Have the little kids kick some sand at the challengers for you. Sure the big bully can still beat the challenger, but getting badly bruised wouldn’t look good.Taiwan is but a pawn for USA, used to prick China once in a while as a reminder. But if China plays for real, USA will back down. The false missile attack on Hawaii is a good reminder to the USA. North Korea may not be able to attack Hawaii but China definitely could, and the Japanese had.
Physical Fitness Test in Israel, Taiwan and South Korea Army?
I do not know about the documented standards for fitness, but I served in South Korea for over 7 years working side by side with ROK soldiers and KATUSA (Korean Augmentation to U.S. Army) soldiers. The ROK soldier is tough as nails, their training borders on brutal. The enlisted soldiers follow orders without hesitation. Their NCOs have absolute power over the junior enlisted. The ROK Army Officers, generally speaking, hold all enlisted personnel in total distain. I met a few exceptions over my several tours. ROK Special Forces are a breed to themselves. During my tour in Vietnam, the VC feared the ROKs more than anyone. Charlie knew the ROKs knew how to fight an Asian war, no quarter given or taken. They now serve by our side in Iraq and Afghanistan. I would be proud to serve with them any where any time.