Posted on 06/26/2005 12:29:08 PM PDT by Halgr
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China is building its military forces faster than U.S. intelligence and military analysts expected, prompting fears that Beijing will attack Taiwan in the next two years, according to Pentagon officials. U.S. defense and intelligence officials say all the signs point in one troubling direction: Beijing then will be forced to go to war with the United States, which has vowed to defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack. 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. Recent intelligence reports also show that China has stepped up military exercises involving amphibious assaults, viewed as another sign that it is preparing for an attack on Taiwan. "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. "And what we're seeing now is a manifestation of that change in the number of new systems that are being deployed, the sophistication of those systems and the interoperability of the systems." China's economy has been growing at a rate of at least 10 percent for each of the past 10 years, providing the country's military with the needed funds for modernization. The combination of a vibrant centralized economy, growing military and increasingly fervent nationalism has transformed China into what many defense officials view as a fascist state.
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Energy supply a factor For China, Taiwan is not the only issue behind the buildup of military forces. Beijing also is facing a major energy shortage that, according to one Pentagon study, could lead it to use military force to seize territory with oil and gas resources.
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(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
In fact this past Spring, China & Iran signed a HUGE OIL DEAL. I bet you China ASSURED Iran as part of the oil deal that if President Bush tries to take out their Nuke capacity, along with Russia they will come to the Mullahs aid. Iran feels like their ten feet tall for two main reasons: 1. US internal enemies (MSM,Liberals, DEMS, RINOS) 2. Their Axis partners which include Russia and China makes them almost immune to massive US attack.
We must not forget this. I say we strap Ms. Lewinski's boyfriend to the first bomb we'll have to drop to correct his extraordinary malfeasance.
A primary objective of the strategy here is to achieve a partnership with the fundamentalists in Iran and Algeria and to replace the present American-Oriented rulers of Saudi Arabia with fundamentalists. The opening in Saudi Arabia of a Russian Embassy and the probable opening of Embassies by Muslim states of the CIS (read: Russian puppet governments) should be seen, not only as an attempt to extract a few extra Saudi Billions, but as part of an offensive to bring about a political reorientation in that country.
That SOB will go down in history of one of the WORST presidents of all time.
In fact, as this situation mounts, the more we connect BILL Clinton with it...the less chance HILLARY has of becoming POTUS.
I would like to ask the free-traders on this forum: How can a country, theoretically, have any military leverage over a second country that is beginning to control the first country's industry?
"If the Chinese attack Taiwan during a democratic presidency, look for this country to go crying to the U.N. like a child running to its Momma after getting stung by a bee."
And expect Bush to sell out Taiwan to Communism in fear of losing support of the corporations that have plants in China.
Question: (Anyone here with some "expertise" on military strategy as well as our current capacity to wage war with China, please opine along with all others of course).
Realistically, what are we looking at in terms of confrontation with China over an invasion of Taiwan? What will be the scope of such a conflict? Will most of the fighting be limited to a small area in the Pacific? Would it expand to their mainland or ours? Does China have or will they have the nuclear capacity to deliver a crushing blow to the U.S. mainland? Should we expect Russia to declare war on us should we attack China?
I am mainly curious as to whether or not this will be a large scale "global" war or is China a paper tiger as of now?
The Chinese are now lightyears ahead of the United States with regards to influence in the region.
Did you mean to say China? As much as I dislike McCain, I don't think he would be shy about going to war; in fact, he might be too eager.
That's the common sentiment on college campuses in Beijing. In fact, they seem rather worried that Taiwan will use that as a great excuse to declare independence just beforehand. Personally, I doubt they would, or that it would work, in any event.
I have talked to many college students at "English Corner" (every Friday at Renmin University, a chance to mix with a few Westerners and a few hundred kids). What is fascinating to me is that two young, soft-spoken, gentle-looking college girls state very simply and openly that if Taiwan refuses to reunify, it must be destroyed.
"Why is it so important?", I ask.
"It is a strategic base for the military, in case Japan ever attacks China again, and it is part of China."
I'm just not used to little girls innocently chatting about military tactics or widespread destruction, I guess.
FYI: Reunification is written into China's Constitution as a personal moral duty for every citizen, including those in Taiwan.
(I've been in Beijing for a month, and will be here for one more week.)
Any naval invasion is incredibly difficult, especially against a prepared, scared, and motivated location.
I agree with the girls that China should be re-united. So when can the Republic of China invade the mainland?
And the answer is for us to ship even more technology and manufacturing infrastructure to the Chicoms than is already there.
Incredible.
Why Southeast Asia? With the exception of Vietnam, most of the countries there are on very friendly terms with China. Chinese practically own most of Thailand already.
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050627-010217-7779r.htm
"Beijing devoted to weakening 'enemy' U.S., defector says"
By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
June 27, 2005
"The 2008 Olympics are scheduled to be in China. There is no way the commies are going to do anything to upset the Olympics games going to Beijing in 08."
Like Russia in 1980 with Afghanistan?
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