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Wachman reviews CHINA'S RISE, TAIWAN'S DILEMMAS AND INTERNATIONAL PEACE edited by Edward Friedman.

Taiwan is not a threat to the United States and cannot compel the United States to enter into military conflict with the People's Republic of China (PRC). Hence, there really is no "Taiwan threat". The United States will use military force to defend Taiwand from an attack by the PRC only if Washington determines that such an intervention serves U.S. interests, especially the intention to appear credible. This is principally a matter of national security. By demonstrating the resolve to act in accordance with what the United States has indicated are its preferences, the United States hopes its credibility will "buy" support from allies and deter challenges by adversaries. Washington's predisposition to act in defense of U.S. credibility offers Taipei - and Beijing - leverage over U.S. policy that either may try to exploit. However, there is no assurance that the leverage will be effective in prying out of Washington the policy that is sought. While the United States may be inclined to support Taiwan, whether it does so or not depends on calculations of interest by American policymakers at the instant that U.S. support is needed. The United States might enter the fray to defend its credibility. Or, competing interests may lead the United States to stand down from the role Washington has assumed in support of Taiwan to advance some other, more pressing, objective. (...)(Issues Stud/DÜI)

Taiwan is not a threat to the US & cannot compel the US to enter into military conflict with the People's Republic of China (PRC). Hence, there really is no "Taiwan threat." The US will use military force to defend Taiwan from an attack by the PRC only if Washington determines that such an intervention serves US interests, especially the intention to appear credible. This is principally a matter of national security. By demonstrating the resolve to act in accordance with what the US has indicated are its preferences, the US hopes its credibility will "buy" support from allies & deter challenges by adversaries. Washington's predisposition to act in defense of US credibility offers Taipei -- & Beijing -- leverage over US policy, which either may try to exploit. However, there is no assurance that the leverage will be effective in prying out of Washington the policy that is sought. While the US may be inclined to support Taiwan, whether it does so depends on calculations of interest by American policymakers at the instant that US support is needed. The US might enter the fray to defend its credibility. Or, competing interests may lead the US to stand down from the role that Washington has assumed in support of Taiwan to advance some other, more pressing objective. The point is that US policymakers determine US interests, & nothing Taiwan does or fails to do will lead the US to act in a way that Washington judges to be contrary to those interests. Adapted from the source document.