Can China Defeat the United States in a Conventional War?

May 20, 2005 | comtedemaistre

[xrp]

The latest I heard is that they have a total of 10 million trained to serve in their military, including reserves.

Trautman: You bring that many men, just remember one thing.

Trautman: A good supply of body bags.

[Blood of Tyrants]

With our involvement in Iraq, no way do we have the manpower and material to eject the Chicoms from Taiwan. However, the strategy will be to prevent them from ever gaining a substantial foothold. The battle will be in the air and in the waters around Taiwan. If you control those, then any invasion will fail. This battle will be won or lost by our Navy and Air Force, not the Army and Marine Corps.

[Brilliant]

I don't think there could be a conventional war between us. It would quickly go nuclear.

[reagan_fanatic]

Can China Defeat the United States in a Conventional War?

No.

They could, however, inflict heavy casualties on us before it was over, which would send the appeasers on the left into a tizzy and lead to street demonstrations designed to demoralize the populace and weaken support for the war effort. In other words, the left would be doing exactly what they are doing now in the WOT.

[Jim Noble]

Can China defeat the US in a conventional war?

That depends on two things:

1) Can we use panties?

2) Which side will Newsweek be on?

[Double_in_a_bight]

Newsflash

chineese crap was yesterday - they copy american and german crap very precisely today. (To the typeplate)

[Icthus]

If China thought they could take Taiwan without US intervention, they would have already done so. The mere fact that they threaten to take it rather than just doing it infers: (#1)they're not sure if a confrontation will occur so they are testing the waters regarding a military response and (#2)they are not sure if they could win such a confrontation (conventionally). China had the perfect opportunity when we invaded Iraq. had they moved on Taiwan, I'm not sure we could have effectively spread our resources throughout the Middle East AND Taiwan. The stability of the ME is far more important than Taiwan.

[Double_in_a_bight]

Nr. 1 as a bioweapon ? No ! (conventions of geneva)

[Joe Boucher]

AT this point they don't have the heavy lift capabilities to move enough man and material half way around the world to kick our butts here.

[JZelle]

Yet.


Exactly. France and Germany are working on that while we post. As soon as they get that pesky arms embargo lifted.

[Kaisersrsic]

In response to your first question, the short answer is location, location, location.

With respect to Taiwan, you start with the assumption that the PRC has "siezed" Taiwan. The same issues of combined air/sea lift that make it difficult for China to cross the straight, would make it difficult for the U.S. to liberate Taiwan if the PRC were to secure possession of the island. Repelling an invaision by the PRC would be much more logical than assuming two successful invaisions could be launched against the island. This is a fun site for PRC/Taiwan military information: http://www.emeraldesigns.com/matchup/military.shtml

[Blood of Tyrants]

Which side do you think Newsweak will be on? The Chicoms, of course.

[etlib]

The Chinese are biding their time until they are able to defeat us. When they are ready they will attack Taiwan and then proceed to exert hegemony over the entirety of east Asia and to whatever extent possible the rest of Asia and the Pacific.

Their current ploy is to obtain US and western technology through trade agreements and providing cheap labor for the design and production of goods. Once they are ready they will declare all the factories and technology properties of the Chinese government. We will likely have the choice of going to war or losing all access to Asia. If we choose not to go to war it will likely come to us.

[Icthus]

I agree.

[JZelle]

I don't think there could be a conventional war between us. It would quickly go nuclear.


Naw, I think India and Pakistan would step in and get us to negotiate with one another. ;)

[need_a_screen_name]

I have often wondered what the real motives were behind Bush's turning a blind eye towards illegal immigration, and why he and others are for some sort of amnesty plan.

Could it be that, sometime down the road, they think that we will need all the extra bodies to build a military large enough to engage China in a conventional war, if need be?

[JZelle]

Their current ploy is to obtain US and western technology through trade agreements and providing cheap labor for the design and production of goods. Once they are ready they will declare all the factories and technology properties of the Chinese government. We will likely have the choice of going to war or losing all access to Asia. If we choose not to go to war it will likely come to us.

Man! Can you imagine if Hillary were pres. for all of this!

[television is just wrong]

What I find interesting, is that Carter gave away the Panama canal to Panama. They in turn turned it over to China to manage since they are unable. Now, we have Chinese military in Mexico??? Wow, all I have to say, is Thank you Mr. Carter. The WORST president or at least the second worst in recent history.

[Obadiah]

Which side will Newsweek [the MSM] be on?

That's a rhetorical question, right?

[tgusa]

Bingo. How many torpedos do we have, and how many submarines do (or will) the Chinese have?

IMHO we'll never go to war over Taiwan. What's the point?