Posted on 08/04/2022 3:11:53 AM PDT by Cathi
Arguments in the foothills of war are always the same. Those for war shout loudest and beat their chests, eager for tanks to rumble and jets to roar.
The visit to Taiwan of the US congressional speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has been so blatantly provocative it seems little more than a midterm election stunt.
A similar ambiguity infuses the west’s attitude towards Russia over Ukraine. The US and Britain reiterate that Russia “must fail and be seen to fail”. But can Russia really be relied on to tolerate ever greater destruction of its armaments without escalation?
The west is blighted by weakened and failing leaders, striving to boost their ratings by promoting conflicts abroad.
Never in my lifetime has the Ministry of Defence had to defend my country against a remotely plausible overseas threat, least of all from Russia or China. Instead, in the cause of “interests and values” it has killed untold thousands of foreigners in my name and to virtually no gain.
Russia and China are both experiencing border disputes of the sort that occur in most corners of the world. The days when western powers could ordain the spheres of interest of states such as China and Russia are rightly over, as was acknowledged during the cold war. Since that conflict ended, the west’s global interventions have become parodies of imperial outreach, notably across the Muslim world. With few exceptions, neither China nor Russia has shown a comparable desire to possess the world. They have merely desired, however callously, to repossess ancestral neighbours.
But it is one thing to declare yourself “rather dead than red”, quite another to inflict that decision on others.
Both sides are now flirting with disaster. The west should be ready to back off – and not call it defeat.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Maybe not on Taiwan, ... there are no foreign countries that I know of who are naturally incline to invade China to get closer to China, nor is there any version of NATO-Asia that the US is trying to get Taiwan to join. Rather Chang Kai-Shek fled the mainland and the commies did not have an opportunity to kill him and their political opposition, which they do not want to infect the mainland. In addition, a lot of semionductor manufacturer is run through China ... talk about bringing the West to its little woke knees.
bump
>> “Putin and Xi are the warmongers. The West is just done with appeasement.” <<
I appreciate and understand the patriotism of those who think we can still push Russia and China around like it’s 1982 (the Reagan era) or even 1997 (Newt’s visit to Taiwan) but it’s just no longer reality. Our woke PC military is half of what it was then, while Russia, China and Iran are vastly more powerful. For example, Russia and China have fielded hypersonic missiles, and we have not.
The patriotism and freedom-loving motives of these Cold-War-minded Americans are being used by our internal enemies to bait us into simultaneous wars (against Russia, China, and Iran) that will result in our overseas military being destroyed and our homeland gravely endangered.
Even the best poker player, who is used to winning almost all the time, can’t just keep bluffing the pot bigger and bigger when he’s holding 2 deuces. Especially when the other poker players know it ... even if the long-time former poker champ’s loyal friends don’t know it. In effect, his fans are prodding him toward disaster.
Russia, China and Iran are not Panama and Grenada, or Serbia, Libya, Iraq or Afghanistan.
And how did Iraq and Afghanistan work out for us?
The guy flat out nails the China Russia situation. Incredibly, then he shows his foolishness about “global heating”. Huh? Where in NATO’s charter is this type military intervention authorized? No one attacked any member of NATO.
China tried invading Taiwan and got their asses kicked both times.
The West will go to war over Taiwan. We’d have to. 90% of the high end chips that make modern life in America possible are produced there. Not even Biden can allow the CCP to gain control of that.
Would the CCP lose that war? Maybe, maybe not. But if they thought they were losing the consequences for the world would be catastrophic. They claim a “mandate from Heaven” for ruling China. They’d nuke us before they lose power.
They know their people would tear them to pieces in the streets if they lost. There won’t be any version of Romanian Term Limits in China.
L
How many American casualties is Taiwan worth? Seems like the current Taiwan policy has been working until now.
Chinese FM makes remarks on U.S. violation of China’s sovereignty
2022-08-03 08:50
In disregard of China’s solemn representations, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brazenly went ahead with her visit to China’s Taiwan region, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.
This move seriously violates the one-China principle, maliciously infringes on China’s sovereignty and blatantly engages in political provocations, which has aroused strong indignation among the Chinese people and widespread opposition from the international community.
It proves once again that some U.S. politicians have become “troublemakers” of China-U.S. relations, and that the United States has become the “biggest destroyer” of peace across the Taiwan Strait and for regional stability.
The United States should not dream of obstructing China’s reunification. Taiwan is a part of China. The complete reunification of China is the trend of the times and an inevitability of history. We will leave no room for the “Taiwan independence” forces and external interference.
No matter how the United States supports or connives at the “Taiwan independence” forces, it will be all in vain. The United States will only leave more ugly records of gross meddling in other countries’ internal affairs in history. The Taiwan question arose when the country was weak and chaotic at the time, and will surely end with national rejuvenation.
The United States should not fantasize about undermining China’s development and revitalization. China has found a correct development path in line with its own national conditions. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, 1.4 billion Chinese people are striding towards the Chinese-style modernization.
We put the development of our country and nation on the basis of our own strength, and are willing to coexist peacefully and develop together with other countries. But we will never allow any country to undermine China’s stability and development.
Provoking trouble on the Taiwan question in an attempt to delay China’s development and undermine China’s peaceful rise will be totally futile and will surely lead to total failure.
The United States should not fantasize about manipulating geopolitical games. Seeking peace, stability, development and win-win cooperation are the common aspirations of regional countries.
The introduction of the Taiwan question into the regional strategy by the United States, which inflates tensions and stokes confrontation, is against the trend of regional development and goes against the expectations of the people in the Asia-Pacific. This is very dangerous and stupid.
The one-China principle has become a basic norm governing international relations and an integral part of the post-Second World War international order.
What the United States should do is to immediately stop violating the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and stop playing the “Taiwan card” to disrupt the Asia-Pacific region.
The United States should not fantasize about distorting facts at will. The U.S. side claimed that China is escalating the situation, but the basic facts are that the United States first provoked China on the Taiwan question and blatantly violated China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The U.S. side claimed that there was a precedent of the U.S. House speaker visiting Taiwan. Yet the basic truth is that past mistakes cannot be used as an excuse to repeat them today.
The U.S. side claimed that it cannot restrain the Congress due to the separation of powers. But the basic norm of international law is that the United States must fulfill its international obligations, and key politicians should not misbehave.
It also claimed that China’s pursuit of reunification is a “threat” to Taiwan, but the basic logic is that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and the Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China. It is lawful and justified that China upholds territorial integrity and opposes secession.
I want to stress that the one-China principle is the key stabilizing force for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and the three China-U.S. joint communiques are the real “guardrails” for peaceful coexistence between China and the United States.
Clinging to the United States to seek “independence” is a dead end, and attempts to use the Taiwan question to contain China are doomed to failure.
In the face of the great cause of national unification, the Chinese people have the gut not to be misled by fallacies or scared by evils, the ambition to never be intimidated or crushed, the determination to unite as one, and the ability to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and national dignity.
Well here we are, as many predicted. The Ukies are now toast, the US military divided, China in the west, Russia in the east, with our supply lines easily severed.
Nice job, all self inflicted. Why is the West so intent on committing suicide? Sure looks like our inept military leadership was checkmated again, first by Vlad, now Xi.
China is NOT going to kinetically invade Taiwan.
They are going to gradually ratchet up a sea and air blockade.
How did EU sanctions against Russia work out for the EU? All it showed was that Europe is going freeze, and industries will shut down, without Russian natural gas.
A CCP air/sea blockade of Taiwan will cut off more than 50% of the semi-conductors and chips we rely upon. We can’t even build a toaster-oven, much less a car, without those chips.
Pelosi’s visit was a GIFT to the CCP. It handed them a fresh excuse to ratchet up their blockade.
Also: See 23. It’s directed at you as well. 100%.
(Bloomberg) — Before Nancy Pelosi landed in Taipei for a controversial meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, the White House was careful not to weigh in on the trip, stressing that the speaker of the House makes her own decisions.
But behind the scenes, officials in President Joe Biden’s administration were fuming at her insistence on using the trip as a capstone for her career at a moment of highly delicate relations with Beijing.
In an effort to quietly persuade Pelosi to delay the visit, the White House dispatched senior members of the National Security Council, as well as State Department officials, to brief the speaker and her team on the geopolitical risks, people familiar with the conversations said.
The inability to persuade Pelosi to postpone adds another complication for an administration that is still figuring out its approach to China. And it left Biden officials in the uncomfortable position of being upstaged by one of the most powerful House speakers in modern times, who has never shied away from poking China and isn’t afraid of upsetting anyone that gets in her way.
There will not be a blockade as long as the US Navy is in the area. The US Navy may allow the PLA navy some extra leeway for a while to vent, but after that it’s business as usual. Meaning full freedom of navigation through the Taiwan Strait and the South Sea.
You are dreaming. See 23.
Then read this:
The Navy wants to extend how far the F-18 can fly to counter China’s anti-ship missile advantage
https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-f-18-extend-flight-china-2018-2?op=1
[Excerpt, much more at link. I could post articles like this all day long. 90% of Americans are, sadly, clueless.]
The DF-21D has an approximate range of 1,100 miles, whereas the F/A-18 Super Hornet only has a range of 500 miles. The DF-21D has been referred to as the “carrier killer.”
China is also developing other missiles that are just as intimidating, such as the DF-26, which reportedly has a maximum range of 2,500 miles. China is also testing hypersonic glide vehicles that can go as fast as mach 10, making them almost impossible to intercept.
Carrier strike groups are extremely important to the US method of waging war. They have often been the first units sent to conduct strikes in places like Syria and Iraq.
So my question is simple: who the h*ll is running the country and who the h*ll is doing our foreign policy?
***************
Obama
Agreed. We’re in no position to be going about poking tigers and bears.
Curious what you think of this article, it you have the time:
https://asiatimes.com/2022/07/two-kinds-of-detente/
Don’t be fooled by the way it starts out. It doesn’t end on that note.
I’ve been wishing for a Reagan 2.0 for some time. Too bad there’s only one Reagan :(
Marshall Tucker right?
I think I had this album on vinyl.
Molly Hatchet
That is an EXCELLENT article, thanks!!
I’ve got to run now, but I will try to share it around.
The Russians gave us a viable solution:
“If, God forbid, these weapons are used against Russian territory then our armed forces will have no other choice but to strike decision-making centers,” Medvedev warned in the new statements.
Bkmrk.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.