[proxy_user]

Well, China's economic growth will come to an abrupt halt if trade is cut off by a war.

That just might make them think twice.

[muawiyah]

Bird Flu is probably going to take care of the problem.

[b4its2late]

Think we'll do anything about it?

[The Electrician]

"There's a growing consensus that at some point in the mid-to-late '90s, there was a fundamental shift in the sophistication, breadth and re-sorting of Chinese defense planning," said Richard Lawless, a senior China-policy maker in the Pentagon. "

I'm certain that it was just a coincidence that the shift occurred during the Clinton administration... (Uh, yeah)

[mainepatsfan]

Before the Olympics?

[devane617]

China does not need a war, because they are already going what it takes to own our country.

[SamAdams76]

The way the Chinese economy is going, Taiwan will be about significant to them as Puerto Rico is the the United States. In other words, why bother?

[Wiz]

ping

[agrarianlady]

Can anyone help me not worry about the following:

1) Everything we buy is made in China.
2) They have gobs of our dollars, with nowhere to invest but in our treasuries.
3) Thus, our mortgages are cheap. Our houses have utterly ballooned in cost. We're in massive, massive amounts of debt. The rates may be low, but the principal balances are high and people aren't using nice low fixed rates, they're getting ARMs.

What if long-term interest rates rise (or another shock) and housing prices go under? Fannie and Freddie really concern me. I read at the OFHEO web site that they had one (stupid) computer problem that skewed some of their figures for 20 years. It seems like a horrible idea to let lenders sell their trashy loans to a Government-supported entitiy.

Does China somehow benefit if/we go under? Or will they be up a creek too?

[jpsb]

Thanks alot free traders and wal-mart shoppers.

[Savage Beast]

"There's a growing consensus that at some point in the mid-to-late '90s, there was a fundamental shift in the sophistication, breadth and re-sorting of Chinese defense planning."

What on earth could have brought about such a shift!?!!

[Kuehn12]

There doesn't seem to be anything new in the article. This article like many others is rehashing what we already known. I guess some think that if you say it enough it becomes more dramatic, and it make the Chinese look tougher than they really are. If they had given specific weapons systems that we didn't already know about, then would be cause for alarm.
I know about the J-10, F-16 knockoff. Type 98/99 MBT tank, which is still not in serial production. Flanker fighters which are good but not comparable with F-22, F-18 SuperHornet, and the JSF. I know that they are increasing their sealift capabilities, but they still lack airlift. Which includes heavy aircraft and helicopters. Despite all this Bill Gertz hasn't proven the case that war is just over the horizon nor that it is inevitable. There are to many variables. I think that Chinese are a nationalist state, but to call them fascist. I need more to hang that label on them. I don't see alot of goose stepping in pictures, but there does seem to be alot cell phones, computers, and fancy cars.

[Caipirabob]

Expect an attack following the next Presidential election if this report is correct.

Fear a Hillary presidency...

[shuckmaster]

China's military buildup includes an array of new high-technology weapons, such as warships, submarines, missiles and a maneuverable warhead designed to defeat U.S. missile defenses.

Who's going to worry about a little thing like this when steel exports are up?

growing military and increasingly fervent nationalism has transformed China into what many defense officials view as a fascist state.

My elementary school teachers were telling me this in 50's, Are defense officials just now figuring it out?

Beijing then will be forced to go to war with the United States,

Forced my butt! China has been planning this war for decades the only thing relatively recent is that they've figured how amazingly eager Americans are to fianance the coming war by buying Chinese trinkets cheap.

[Dallas59]

Chinese Military Pics

Click here For Pics (and more)

Here Also

Here Also

[Dallas59]

Military Pics

Click here For Pics (and more)

[edwin hubble]

This is the first clear thought I've seen describing an accurate model of the modern China: (from the article)

"We may be seeing in China the first true fascist society on the model of Nazi Germany, where you have this incredible resource base in a commercial economy with strong nationalism,.."

[Logical me]

If China thinks starting a war will solve anything, then they better be prepared to rebuild China with what is left. The only problem is every nation on the earth will be faced with the same rebuilding if there is anything left. Future war with superpowers is a absolute suicide. But then suicide is a way of life with the far east and asia.

[A.B.Normal]

Pentagon worried about the potential war in 2 years. No way They will hope Hitlary, or any Degenrat gets elected. Then they will attack as they know the US will not enter. Personally, I think we should modify the treaty, give Taiwan nukes, and bow out. Taiwan isn't worth getting killed over.

[Maigrey]

There's a growing consensus that at some point in the mid-to-late '90s, there was a fundamental shift in the sophistication, breadth and re-sorting of Chinese defense planning,"

Could it be that was when a certain administration sold to the chinese government cruise missile technology? That would seem key to me.....