Why did Russia absolutely have to attack Ukraine? Because it's very existence in peace with the west, eventual economic prosperity (like Poland, Czech Rep. etc), eventual diminishing of corruption as the country implements new laws are an example what Russia could be. Why is Poland the most hated country by ordinary state TV watching Russians? Because it's a medium sized country that achieved success being a part "of the West". The typical part of the Russian imperial (designed to enslave others) narrative is: Every strong partner will exploit a weaker one. Democracy is a lie. All you do by becoming democratic is you hide the corruption and you switch one ruler for another. China uses the same narrative, but internally. That's why these countries will do absolutely everything to poison the society in the US and any democratic country. When they are prevented of doing so (and they will, because people will learn what is the truth) and their regimes inevitably collapse economically (as China is starting right now) war is the only way these people can stay in power. So yes, a war between autocracies and free countries is inevitable unless free countries are strong enough militarily to be able to win it in few months tops. A prolonged war, like what we're seeing in Ukraine is actually a huge benefit for autocracies, because it removes the only thing they fear the most, their own people uprising.
So the next question is how US will respond. If the west chooses to defend Taiwan, they are basically at war.
The West will not be "choosing to defend Taiwan" because the West doesn't actually truly care about Taiwan, Ukraine, gaza or Israel.
The West cares about being the number one power and to this end it will be the US "choosing" to engage in war with china.
I'm Taiwanese, china isn't being coy with words here. They will invade Taiwan to force reunification in the same way the north forced reunification in the US civil war. They truly believe this.
This is entirely different from how the US is hiding behind the "defense of Taiwan". No the Taiwanese know the US doesn't care about Taiwan. They care about staying number one economically and they will may use the "defense of Taiwan" as an excuse to use war to stop Chinas economic advancement.
If it was clear that the US would stay out of it then perhaps China would have already retaken Taiwan. Arguably some of the other conflicts are really part of the same power struggle. Russia's half-failure in Ukraine is maybe causing China to take a pause.
Ukraine and Israel are a little different. Israel has the capability to defend itself. Ukraine is arguably less strategically important. A direct confrontation with Russia has perhaps a higher risk of turning into a nuclear war.
We as civilians have to choose if we want to live in a democracy or serve a dictator. It's clear dictators like to invade democracies, as is the case with both Russia and China.
Economic advancement of a dictatorship is asking for problems.
Both countries would strike the other down in a heart beat if there wasn't a huge economic cost associated with war.
Take this article. It really has nothing to do with war or even china. But propagandists or people influenced by propaganda always insert that narrative. Try it with anything remotely china related. Someone or some bot or something always inserts a war narrative or anti-china narrative in it. It's clearly intentional and not organic. There is a coordinated effort to fearmonger war with china.
Edit: Interesting. Downvote brigaded. Wonder if it was this comment or the comment about ukraine...