It sure sounds good to state that we need to repel the spread of communism. Let's be sure we realize exactly what we could be getting into. If Taiwan decides to declare its independence, something we've officially stated we don't want them to do, China has indicated that will be a declaration of war. It seems like China is just aching for a reason to invade tiny Taiwan. If that happens, let's be sure we're fully satisfied and comfortable with the prospect of sending thousands of American troops to Taiwan and inevitably having many of them come home in body bags.
China is no Iraq.
This would not be a Gulf War. This would be a military conflict of Armageddon-like proportions. There's a reason that no American president, including our current president's father, has ever publicly warned China of military intervention in Taiwan. Up to now, the conventional wisdom was that to do so would unnecessarily provoke the sleeping dragon and further jeopardize our already icy relationship. I guess President Bush has decided that now is the time to do so.