For fun, ask the same question pointed the other way:
1) How much mine-clearing capacity does the ROC /USA have?
2) How much mine-clearing experience do they have?
3) What happens when every US commercial and military port gets mined?
Bonus question:
Where are all us minesweepers homeported, what is there maximum speed, and how loing would it take them to arrive at and clear the port of LA, New York, etc.
I will bet that it plays out like the New Orleans dykes. Everyone wants the money for their own neck of the woods, but doesn’t want to spend it on what is really needed.
If the MSM can blame Republicans for a disaster, look for wall-to-wall coverage of skiffs being blown sky high in the Puget Sound.
If they can’t blame Republicans, look for page 37 when the QE 2 gets holed.
People are forgetting - we’re playing defense here. It’s easier.
If everbody on both sides is paralyzed in port by mines, then Taiwan isn’t getting invaded (not that that’s a realistic scenario anyway, more realistic is a blockade) and both Taiwan and the PRC are in serious economic trouble.
Very few persons consider what mines can potentially do. Consider, smart mines that could distinguish between merchant and Naval vessels. Consider mines which could be laid offshore and “creep” into harbors for preplanned actions. Consider mines that could turn into a guided torpedo when the correct signature was recognized. One’s blood runs cold.