I seem to remember some trouble in Hawaii a few years back. It did not end well for the attackers.
“wants to upgrade an airstrip in Kiribati..”
Tarawa.
The uniparty enabled this every step of the way.
And that is how they will take over the USA. The water in our pot feels warmer? Putin could have used his gas main to "purchase" the Ukraine.
China believes it’s natural border is Guam.
China will win through economics.
The US used to go into countries nd buy their loyalty. In the past several decades we use the military. And we preach about how they live their lives. A good example was the treatment of women in Arab countries.
Does anyone think for a second that China cares about that stuff as long as they can mine REM in Afghanistan?
We will lose our global economic status without firing a shot. China is within striking distance of HI already. What they will do is control the sea lanes to China. And we won’t lift a finger.
Losing the Solomons
https://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/2022/03/losing-solomons.html
You know the names; Guadalcanal, Savo Island, Cape Esperance, Santa Cruz, Tassafaronga.
There were other less known fights during the Solomon Islands Campaign, but those are the major ones ... some even had USN warships named after them.
During the campaign, the United States suffered over 10,600 killed, 40+ ships sunk, and over 800 aircraft lost.
Imperial Japan suffered over 86,000 dead, 50+ ships sunk, and 1,500 aircraft lost.
These islands are critical to control/protect the sea lines of communication from the Indian Ocean in to the Pacific Ocean - from the United States to Australia.
After WWII, this was generally an Australian sphere of influence, but as always, the USA had purchased in blood an ongoing interest in the status of these islands. Any review of a globe shows you their importance in any war in the Pacific.
The Chinese know this as well.
rest at link
More evidence of Xi’s “antiglobalism”, I guess.
If we don’t want big trouble down the road we need to take steps to keep China from taking possession of the western Pacific. We need to take them seriously as a potential enemy.
If they can buy the US White House and the senate, they can certainly buy Palau and Tonga. And Panama.
Many here say Taiwan is not worth fighting for, not worth a single America life, not our dog etc.
Same will be said about the CCP’s take over of the Solomons, Samoa. And then Hawaii, California, followed by everything west of the Mississippi. Canada? They already have that.
I bet the Marines of Guadalcanal are turning over in their graves.
Guadalcanal, Bougainvile...