[rlmorel]

On a more serious note, though...while at least a portion of this is for Chinese public consumption, there is no doubt the Chicoms are now throwing their weight around. They have been the beneficiaries of a large trade surplus, and have been using that to build their military up and have begun to think they can have global aspirations, and due to the weakness and shrinkage of US influence over the last nine years globally (intentionally) they have assumed they can not only fill the vacuum, but go on the offensive as a belligerent.

They are provoking Japan. They are poking India. They are trying to spread influence down to the Philippines and out to Africa. They are trying to build a blue water navy.

This is what weakness brings, especially when Communists are involved. American politicians of all stripes have been downplaying the ideological aspect of China for several decades, and focusing on the trade and industrial aspects, but...we should never forget:

They are Chicoms. Chinese. Communists.

[Tallguy]

The really interesting part is that this being mountain warfare there won’t be a lot of hi-tech stuff being used. It’s the old-style PLA going nose-to-nose with the local Indian units with light infantry weapons, mortars & pack-howitzers. Nothing fancy. It will be short, sharp & bloody and India will probably have to decide on whether to escalate.