[Forward the Light Brigade]

This could get nasty real fast—one mistake and people will die. I think the North will back down—but what if this is really China’s game and they want to cook Japan so as to steal these islands and grab Taiwan to boot. A quick war—say 7 days and all of Asia is in their pocket.

[Wiggins]

This could be China's game plan. They will use North Korea as proxy and if you look at it from their position now would be the time to make a military move with four more years of Obama in the White House and total incompetence in his administration. Add to that a lack of will of Americans to fight on top of a bankrupt US economy. If this comes off well in China's favor look for them to move on Taiwan. This is why our debt is a threat to our national security.

[BwanaNdege]

I think China realizes that war would kill their trade with the US, leaving several hundred million workers with no one to sell to.

China & Chinese workers LIKE having US dollars or at least US IOUs to spend.

This is not to say that there are not many Chinese generals & admirals who would love to see a (how do you say, “Blitzkrieg” in Mandarin?) war?

[ponygirl]

What does China need to go to war for? All they need to do is tell the Brown Clown they’re taking those islands and he’d be fine with it.