All things: China

[Unagi]

China isn't going to invade Taiwan. Good thing Chinese leader isn't that stupid.

Just because you say so? A little reasoning behind your assertion would be nice. Otherwise, you got nothing.

Suddenly VR has put faith in a world leader to make a good choice.

Anyone else notice VR's foot taken off the gas as of late?

[Zarathud]

VR’s propagandists accomplished their goals, so they’re waiting. It’s only a matter of time before VR realizes Biden was so much better than Trump on their issues (Palestine, Taiwan, etc.).

[Unagi]

I was being subtle.

[Zarathud]

What’s that?

[Victoria Raverna]

Okay. Let's wait and see, wait 4 years and you'll see that I'm right.

[Blackhawk]

And if they invade in 5?

[Daehawk]

If China makes a move on Taiwan and the US has their orange potato emperor god in the white house thats a do nothing man then I think and would hope Japan or other allies would step in and save the day. But China has its own problems. They talk a lot and like to puff out their chest and I dont disagree that they want Taiwan to be back in the fold. But I dont think they have the power to do it. Not now not ever.

[Anonymous Bosch]

If China makes a move on Taiwan and the US has their orange potato emperor god in the white house thats a do nothing man then I think and would hope Japan or other allies would step in and save the day. But China has its own problems. They talk a lot and like to puff out their chest and I dont disagree that they want Taiwan to be back in the fold. But I dont think they have the power to do it. Not now not ever.

Daehawk's Sino-Taiwanese proficiency notwithstanding…

China will be ready for potential Taiwan invasion by 2027, US admiral warns

FILE – Adm. John Aquilino, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command commander, speaks at a news conference at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, on June 30, 2022. Adm. Aquilino said Monday, Aug. 1, that he wants to expand and strengthen its ties with New Zealand. His visit to Wellington comes as the U.S. is looking to increase its presence in the region amid deep concerns over China’s growing ambitions in the Pacific. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File)

U.S. Adm. John Aquilino, head of Indo-Pacific Command, said “all indications” point to the Chinese military being ready for a potential invasion of Taiwan by 2027, the date China’s leader Xi Jinping has set for a possible military operation.

Aquilino testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues an “aggressive military buildup” and modernization effort.

“All indications point to the PLA meeting President Xi Jinping’s directive to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027,” the admiral said in a statement released ahead of his testimony. “Furthermore, the PLA’s actions indicate their ability to meet Xi’s preferred timeline to unify Taiwan with mainland China by force if directed.”

China increased its defense budget by 7.2 percent this year, the third year in a row that Beijing has boosted the budget, Aquilino told lawmakers during the Senate hearing.

“My assessment is they are actually spending more on defense than they articulate,” he said, adding later that “we haven’t faced a threat like this since World War II.”

Aquilino said at the hearing that the “trend is going in the wrong direction” for the U.S. and pushed for more resources to counter the Chinese buildup.

While China is pursuing the 2027 objective to prepare for an invasion, a military invasion of the island is not assured.

Aquilino said China will seek to unify with Taiwan through other means by force, but he stressed Beijing has not ruled out military force if those efforts fail.

“Although the PRC claims it prefers to achieve unification through peaceful means, Xi will not renounce the use of force,” he said in the statement.

Still, China has grown increasingly aggressive against Taiwan in recent years, conducting frequent military drills and airspace violations around the island nation, which has self-ruled since 1949 after breaking off from communist rule on the mainland. China has also floated spy balloons around the island.

[Victoria Raverna]

And if they invade in 5?

5 years if you want. Let's wait 6 years, if that is not enough.

[waitingtoconnect]

If China makes a move on Taiwan and the US has their orange potato emperor god in the white house thats a do nothing man then I think and would hope Japan or other allies would step in and save the day. But China has its own problems. They talk a lot and like to puff out their chest and I dont disagree that they want Taiwan to be back in the fold. But I dont think they have the power to do it. Not now not ever.

The challenge isn’t in the taking- they could do that right now. It’s how much damage they are willing to take.

And as Putin has found in Ukraine the further challenge isn’t just on the taking it’s in the keeping.

Taiwan is only worth it if it can be conquered in 3 days or less. And if they can get the tech from the chip foundries. The longer it drags on the more chance the west will feed the Taiwanese with weapons to keep the conflict going (but not enough to start nuclear war).

And Taiwan isn’t like Ukraine. It’s an island over 100miles offshore with very few viable spots to land an attack force. And you can’t take them by surprise. And they’ve had 70 years to prepare.

Frankly even the US military would struggle against an opponent like this.

And even if you do you’ll have a hostile population of tens of millions to reeducate. They saw in Hong Kong how hard it was in an urban setting. An insurgency in the Taiwanese mountains will take years to contain.

And in the event of an invasion there would probably not be a US response except to destroy the chip foundries. We can’t let the Chinese have them.

[Punisher]

If China makes a move on Taiwan and the US has their orange potato emperor god in the white house thats a do nothing man then I think and would hope Japan or other allies would step in and save the day. But China has its own problems. They talk a lot and like to puff out their chest and I dont disagree that they want Taiwan to be back in the fold. But I dont think they have the power to do it. Not now not ever.

The challenge isn’t in the taking- they could do that right now. It’s how much damage they are willing to take.

And as Putin has found in Ukraine the further challenge isn’t just on the taking it’s in the keeping.

Taiwan is only worth it if it can be conquered in 3 days or less. And if they can get the tech from the chip foundries. The longer it drags on the more chance the west will feed the Taiwanese with weapons to keep the conflict going (but not enough to start nuclear war).

And Taiwan isn’t like Ukraine. It’s an island over 100miles offshore with very few viable spots to land an attack force. And you can’t take them by surprise. And they’ve had 70 years to prepare.

Frankly even the US military would struggle against an opponent like this.

And even if you do you’ll have a hostile population of tens of millions to reeducate. They saw in Hong Kong how hard it was in an urban setting. An insurgency in the Taiwanese mountains will take years to contain.

And in the event of an invasion there would probably not be a US response except to destroy the chip foundries. We can’t let the Chinese have them.

Let's not be greedy.
Ruffles are fir everyone!

[Daehawk]

Ruffles hez ridges

[waitingtoconnect]

Can you imagine these in Chinese government hands?



What would we use for snacks during Super Bowl? It’s a huge national security risk.

[raydude]

China isn't going to invade Taiwan. Good thing Chinese leader isn't that stupid.

On what do you base this rationale? Can we agree that Trump approaches every decision as transactional and that his idea of a good solution is one that benefits him personally? If we can agree on that we can see how easy it is for Trump to be manipulated. All it takes is for China to agree to let him build a couple of Trump golf courses in China in exchange for a few days of "uninterrupted peacetime exercises" near Taiwan. China points a couple of mines around the island, prevents any ships from bringing food and supplies in, and now China has a chance of getting Taiwan.

[Victoria Raverna]

My rationale is that there is no urgency for China to take Taiwan in the next few years and Xi Jin Ping isn't going to start a war since it is risky for his hold on China.

Last time China fought in a war was in 1979. Unlke US, China is not a country that use military to get what they want to. China is going to use economy to get what they want. US forced Taiwan to stop selling chips to China? China is going to build their own foundry.

I think most Americans including those on this board because of the western propaganda, can't believe that China doesn't want to use military to take Taiwan. Now I can be wrong, if Taiwan decide to formally declare independence, that can force China to attack. Hopefully Taiwan's leaders are also not stupid.

[El Guapo]

I think most Americans including those on this board because of the western propaganda, can't believe that China doesn't want to use military to take Taiwan. Now I can be wrong, if Taiwan decide to formally declare independence, that can force China to attack. Hopefully Taiwan's leaders are also not stupid.

So China might use its military to get what it wants?

[hepcat]

Now I can be wrong, if Taiwan decide to formally declare independence, that can force China to attack. Hopefully Taiwan's leaders are also not stupid.

For wanting to be their own sovereign nation? Seems like that's the kind of thought process that results in Palestinians still not having a state.

[Max Peck]

And in the event of an invasion there would probably not be a US response except to destroy the chip foundries. We can’t let the Chinese have them.

Of course, whether even that happens would have a lot to do with, say, how generous China is when granting more trademarks to Ivanka. Nothing is off the table so long as Trump gets his cut.

[Alefroth]

My rationale is that there is no urgency for China to take Taiwan in the next few years and Xi Jin Ping isn't going to start a war since it is risky for his hold on China.

When would be a better time and what does he gain by waiting?

[Alefroth]

I think most Americans including those on this board because of the western propaganda, can't believe that China doesn't want to use military to take Taiwan. Now I can be wrong, if Taiwan decide to formally declare independence, that can force China to attack. Hopefully Taiwan's leaders are also not stupid.

So China might use its military to get what it wants?

Dude, put down the propaganda bong.

[Victoria Raverna]

My rationale is that there is no urgency for China to take Taiwan in the next few years and Xi Jin Ping isn't going to start a war since it is risky for his hold on China.

When would be a better time and what does he gain by waiting?

What does he gain by taking Taiwan? Does he need to take Taiwan to secure his position?

[Victoria Raverna]

Now I can be wrong, if Taiwan decide to formally declare independence, that can force China to attack. Hopefully Taiwan's leaders are also not stupid.

For wanting to be their own sovereign nation? Seems like that's the kind of thought process that results in Palestinians still not having a state.

Unlike Palestine, Taiwan is practically independence. There is no need to declare it.

[hepcat]

Got it. So they can live under the shadow of a larger nation that considers them a part of their country, and as long as they don’t say they’re free, they can go about their daily lives?

…wait…you did say this wasn’t anything like Israelis and Palestinians, right?

[Victoria Raverna]

Got it. So they can live under the shadow of a larger nation that considers them a part of their country, and as long as they don’t say they’re free, they can go about their daily lives?

…wait…you did say this wasn’t anything like Israelis and Palestinians, right?

It is not the same. With Palestinians (Gaza), everything has to passthrough Israel to get into Gaza.

Taiwan is not the same. I visited Taiwan without having to ask for China's permission. I had imported goods from Taiwan without having to deal with China.

[hepcat]

It shares SOME aspects nonetheless. So basically saying that they should keep their mouth shut so a larger country doesn’t attack them seems wrong.