What effect might a Taiwanese counterstrike have during a cross-strait war?
Short answerIt is inherently uncertain: striking back could help survival but might lose international support and complicate ending the conflict.
NotesThe effects of a counterstrike cannot be known in advance. Offensive action might improve Taiwan's immediate military prospects or disrupt an assault. It could also erode foreign support by changing how other states interpret the conflict. A counterstrike might broaden the war and make a negotiated ending more difficult. Taiwan would therefore have to balance battlefield survival against diplomatic legitimacy and escalation control.