U.S., China to Hold Major War Exercises

LA Times ^ | 7/19/2004 | John M. Glionna

[BurbankKarl]

BEIJING — China and the United States are hosting separate military exercises this week in displays of might amid tensions between the mainland and Taiwan over the island's sovereignty, military analysts say.

In a highly unusual move, the Chinese have publicized amphibious military operations being held on mainland-controlled islands in the Taiwan Strait. The war games, which simulate an invasion of Taiwan, involve 18,000 Chinese troops in weeklong land, sea and air maneuvers, according to the state-run media.

Beijing's deployment was launched late last week as military chief Jiang Zemin vowed to recover Taiwan by 2020, marking the first time China has set a deadline for reunification. Taiwan has been ruled independently since 1949, when Communist Chinese forces led by Mao Tse-tung defeated Nationalist forces directed by Chiang Kai-shek, who fled to Taiwan. The Chinese consider the island a renegade province.

The U.S. exercise, dubbed Summer Pulse 2004, involves seven aircraft-carrier strike groups, 50 warships, 600 aircraft and 150,000 troops around the globe. It has been described as one of the biggest military exercises ever staged.

[hedgetrimmer]

Rhetoric, military maneuvers reflect growing Chinese angst over Taiwan

1 hour, 11 minutes ago


BEIJING (AFP) - New military manoeuvres simulating an invasion of Taiwan and the ratcheting up of the propaganda war against the island reflect a growing feeling in China that the dispute over Taiwanese sovereignty is coming to a head. ..

..."We're already moving towards war. If this continues, it's absolutely possible matters will spin out of control," said Wu Nengyuan, a Taiwan expert at the Fujian Academy of Social Sciences in southeast China.


"The situation in the Taiwan Straits is not just tense, it's directly dangerous," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040720/wl_asia_afp/china_taiwan_040720031903

[U S Army EOD]

The last major exercises the Chinese held, non other than the French worked with them.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Something is going to happen, sooner or later. So, will we be saying, "You blew it up, damn you!" or "There is no phone ringing!!!"

[Captainpaintball]

They are patient. They will wait to take Taiwan when they are strong enough, when they can take enough of our technology that we give them, (to use against us) and they will wait until they can use their asymetrical warfare advantage against us, like grabbing up US athletes in 2008, or something to that effect. It's a little late to boycott Chinese goods, however. The boulder has already started rolling down the hill. So don't let WWIII prevent you from buying cheap goods!!!

[asmith92008]

Hey, the Indians thought cheap trinkets was a great deal for Manhattan. Now we get cheap imports in exchange for our entire nation's security. Folks never learn.

[vbmoneyspender]

Beijing's deployment was launched late last week as military chief Jiang Zemin vowed to recover Taiwan by 2020,

Jiang Zemin Date of Birth: 08/17/1926

Someone needs to let Jiang know that threats which are accompanied by deadlines usually carry more weight when they are issued by people who are going to be alive and coherent when the deadline comes due.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I wasn't aware of that, but is consistent with the way the French are playing things!

[Matchett-PI]

We're getting ready to blockade Iran, Syria, and North Korea soon.

[Schneppy]

What makes you say that?

[Matchett-PI]

"What makes you say that?"

See here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1173408/posts?page=65#65

[wolficatZ]

All those container ships...headed for Wal-Mart..target rich environment.

[RightWhale]

China is getting French technology. French technology is advanced even if the French don't seem to be able to use it themselves.

[familyop]

Heh, heh. Red Charlie must be feeling like Wile E Coyote in one of his more anxious moments right now. Half of the Pacific Rim is aiming at him and smiling.

[familyop]

The Buchananistas and Kerryites are at it again, ranting about us warmonging "neo-cons."

Into a storm [Barf alert]
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?section=Opinion&OID=55394

Neocons Stir China-Taiwan Conflict [Barf, barf, barf]
http://www.antiwar.com/ips/shorrock.php?articleid=3018

They said we should go after North Korea. We are. ...same thing. Why only go after China's mean little lap dog when we can go straight to its master? China telling us to talk to North Korea was like saying, "Talk to our hand!" And what's so wrong with having defense agreements and allies? IMO, we shouldn't let China finish conquering all of Asia. And it's time to finish business regarding our more than 100,000 soldiers who died fighting China's hands (North Korea and North Viet Nam) already.

[neutrino]

"The situation in the Taiwan Straits is not just tense, it's directly dangerous," he said.

Thanks for the ping, Hedgetrimmer.

People like to say that China won't do anything - but right now, the U.S. is overextended. What better time to take a spoil?

[U S Army EOD]

The Indians actually pulled off a good one at Manhattan. It wasn't their island in the first place. They actually lived further north in New York and would just come there to visit on occassion. They basically sold the Brooklyn Bridge to the white man before it was built.

[asmith92008]

I had a professor who once argued the economic of the trinkets might today be a trillion dollars, if properly invested. So maybe you've got a point. I still think we're getting screwed on trade with China though.