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would imply significant coasts.

I thoroughly agree with your analysis; both Hong Kong and Formosa (Taiwan) are significantly off the coast of China. I do not believe any one would revert to nukes; this is warfare/haggling for economic resources, not national survival-and nobody's that stupid...yet. The commitment would most certainly be critical against mainland China as our allies: Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Brunei, India and Viet Nam, all major players, would need to know we would stand the distance. They are the principle "frogs around this pond". The situation map> borrowed from the Chinese minisub thread (thanks Harvs) throws considerable light on the situation. With recent Chinese submarine forays into the Indian Ocean...significant coasts indeed!