China already has us over a barrel with pharmaceuticals.  When you consider what Taiwan is to microchips, they would have a stranglehold on technology in the West. Our chip industry is still several years at least from being functional enough to just fill in the gaps.  China's economy is crumbling.  I'm thinking that Xi is beginning to get desperate.

Putin has got oil and is still selling it keeping his coffers lined in spite of all the blowback.  He has what everyone still needs.  Putin's biggest risk is from the inside, not from us, the West in general.  Same with Xi.  Xi could take Taiwan without much fuss by using a simple naval blockade and starving them into submission.  How would the West deal with a naval blockade without open warfare ?

I'm not going to fret over this much, but I'll be watching it.

I can't see China pulling a stunt like this.
They need us to keep floating their economy with all their exports.
And for now, we need those stupid imports to keep us going.
Without our money... their economy would collapse.

I saw that.  It was presented that Xi would most likely move on Taiwan right after the 2024 presidential elections in Taiwan and the USA when things are most vulnerable due to the usual chaos that comes with these kinds of elections.  This general is in charge of an airlift division IIRC and has some strategic insight based on that.  The DOD also was quick to say that it does not share his conclusions.

This while we deplete are materiel in Ukraine and our strategic oil reserves.  In addition, our military is more concerned about being woke than combat ready.  We are probably now the least prepared for a major war since the end of Nam.

Sounds too reasonable to ignore to me.  I'm not saying it will happen but to pretend it can't or won't would be foolish.

from an individual point of view, i find it pretty consistent that given a choice the vast majority of people would choose to live in a liberal democracy

Looks like you will have your coercive work cut out for you (when you're not turning a blind eye that is), Mr. World Police.

liberal democracies versus authoritarianism/dictators?

I've always felt that the long term solution to the immigration issue is to get to the root of why folks are uprooting themselves and their families and heading to somewhere else (US, Europe wherever). I imagine the majority of these people would rather stay where they are if conditions were more favorable.  How you go about changing the conditions is the challenge. 

what do you think the people fleeing/escaping are saying?
are they blaming sanctions or extreme government brutality/control?
given a choice it looks like people are choosing to live where they have more personal freedom/basic human rights
liberal democracies versus authoritarianism/dictators?
ask yourself where would you choose to live?

Bolton brands Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua a ‘troika of tyranny’ in sanctions rollout (2018)

Too near/close to bomb them for regime change?

What Do Think Tanks Think? Proximity to Power and Foreign Policy Preferences