Hi,
I am flying to Thailand this Saturday from Denver, with two separate itineraries (DEN to LAX booked separate from LAX-TPE-BKK.)
My Southwest flight arrives LAX at 1:45pm
and I my China Airlines flight departs at 3:15pm.
I will be bringing checked baggage as well

From then, I arrive at TPE Sunday at 8:20pm and have a 17 hour layover (with a hostel booked in the city), and a departing flight for BKK leaving Monday at 1:20pm.

I know an hour and a half is not much time to allow for a connection with bags. However, isn't the upside that I shouldn't go through too much a hassle flying internationally until I arrive in Taipei??? Customs/immigration is dealt with at the port of entry correct, and not before boarding in LA?

I will have to inquire with the front desk of China Air about weather my baggage has to come with me at Taipei during my 17 hour layover... any experiences in that regard?
Both, the flight to Taiwan, and the connection in Taipei, flying to Bangkok, are China Airlines.

Thanks in advance, I have rapidly come to greatly appreciate this site for the paramount wealth of knowledge you all provide herein