The problem with a military move is that also guarantees their destruction. Because even if the US decided to sit out because a leader that was China-friendly was in charge, the Japanese, Vietnamese, and Indians have already said an attack on Taiwan will see responses from all of them. And while Vietnam is questionable there, the Indians have been winning skirmishes with the Chinese and the Japanese have the better navy in terms of both ship quality and quality of their sailors.

And this is before we get around to the fact that the political class has shown evidence they care more about Taiwan than China and would be more than willing to go to the mat for that fight.

The problem with a military move is that also guarantees their destruction. Because even if the US decided to sit out because a leader that was China-friendly was in charge, the Japanese, Vietnamese, and Indians have already said an attack on Taiwan will see responses from all of them. And while Vietnam is questionable there, the Indians have been winning skirmishes with the Chinese and the Japanese have the better navy in terms of both ship quality and quality of their sailors.