[ponder life]

I really have my doubts that China's carriers should be of concern. After all, they are a country that will soon see more shipping traffic than any country in the world (if not already). And it will likely increase in the coming years. Also, they already import more raw materials from around the world than America. And once again, likely to increase in the coming years. It is not unreasonable for them to be nervous about being choked off. So they are building a defense force able to protect the shipping lanes that come in and out of China.

[Jeff Head]

If they were a free, democratic/republic society that recognized unalienable rights ...I would not argue with you. The same arguements you are making could have been made with equal passion about Nazi Germany and IMperial Japan before WWII.

We've been there and done that and we don't want to do it again if it can be helped. Now is the time to keep it fromhappening.

[Paul Ross]

So they are building a defense force able to protect the shipping lanes that come in and out of China.

FROM PRECISELY WHOM are they protecting this commerce from????

And meanwhile China also is deploying bases all around the U.S., in Cuba, and Xlinton lets them grab both ends of our Panama Canal, building the Bahamas Super-Port, and another in Jamaica, and let's not forget Venezuela and Brazil...and planning on a super-canal through Thailand to avoid the Malacca Strait...

Why do I get the sense you are one of these Xlinton-apologists? "Move along, nothing to see here..."

[nomorelurker]

I have read this whole tread up to now and you have come close to my own theory. The Chinese may be trying to get a carrier in service but not for use against the U.S. They may want it to scare Vietnam or other local littoral competitors. This theory precludes trying to attack Taiwan for the foreseeable future or any other place the U.S. might deem it in interests to intervene. But what if they went after Burma for practice/prestige who would stop them and why.