Posted on 08/04/2022 3:33:10 PM PDT by Dr. Marten
The U.S. is running out of time to prevent a cataclysmic war in the Western Pacific. While the world has been focused on Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, Xi Jinping appears to be preparing for an even more consequential onslaught against Taiwan. Mr. Xi’s China is fueled by a dangerous mix of strength and weakness: Faced with profound economic, demographic and strategic problems, it will be tempted to use its burgeoning military power to transform the existing order while it still has the opportunity.
This peaking-power syndrome—the tendency for rising states to become more aggressive as they become more fearful of impending decline—has caused some of the bloodiest wars in history. Unless the U.S. and its allies act quickly, it could trigger a conflict that would make the war in Ukraine look minor by comparison.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
I don’t think China is even considered cheap anymore. When I go to a typical retail store in the U.S. I’m seeing more and more things from Vietnam, Malaysia and even the former Yugoslav republics.
Xi wants to have his place in history right next to Mao...the best way to do that is to do something Mao didn’t do...take Taiwan. But it’s an all in poker move...if he loses he’s a dead man. Will he take the gamble? If he wants to, now is the time.
“Nixon was trying to be cleaver. But what he did was foolish. No matter what he intended he threw them a livesaver. He should have let the ChiComs drown too under the weight of socialism.”
But you have to remember, that in 1972 China and Russia — though both communist countries — were not on the best of terms. I think that is what Nixon was trying to take advantage of, and even exploit.
I see a lot of the stuff in auto components that went to China (before that it was US, then Mexico and Korea) going to India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
I think China has moved up the wage/cost scale and is facing the same issue that the US and Mexico did.
Just like the auto parts mfg that progressed
US >> Mexico & Korea >> China >> Indonesia, India, Vietnam
Yes, at the time it did. Once the USSR fell, it was time to switch off. Instead, we kept kicking Russia like a beaten dog, cozied up to China, continued to pour investment into China, granted MFN, allowed them to snag our tech, became dependent on them for essential goods including vital medical supplies, built up their middle class at the expense of our own, etc., etc.
“When I go to a typical retail store in the U.S. I’m seeing more and more things from Vietnam, Malaysia and even the former Yugoslav republics.”
And they are far better products than the cheap crap we get from China.
The Butchers of Beijing know that from now on when a Rat Party hack is living in the White House the US Armed Forces’ main focus will what pronouns to use. What a perfect opportunity to get a little lebensraum.
China is violating Taiwan’s airspace, firing missiles over their mainland, then landing in the ocean. Just waiting for them to fire back. Much like Hitler’s fake provocation for invading Poland. The ‘Sleepy Joe window’ is closing soon. Not looking good.
The only product DC managed to ban from China was Aks, pistols and ammo.
Kinda interesting.
Xi is up for re-election in October so he probably won’t invade until after that. Winnie the Pooh has stated that he wants Taiwan while he is still in office. If he can do it by political or economic means that would be better for him.
However, he also has a lot of domestic issues he needs to deal with first. But a quick victory would make people temporarily forget their own problems.
I have a friend/long-term business associate in Taiwan. His son just finished his mandatory, post-university 4-month military service. He did not fire a rifle one time during that period.
Its representative of how un-serious Taiwan is about their own defense.
I see the warmongers at the WSJ are at it again.
yet, that silly DOOMSDAY CLOCK hasn’t moved one second even with Russia and China advancing the prospect of offensive nuclear exchange
The U.S. is getting ready to start a cataclysmic war in the Western Pacific to distract from its failing war in the Ukraine.
fixed it
“Xi is up for re-election in October so he probably won’t invade until after that.”
Are chi-com elections free and fair, or are they like US elections?
The war for Taiwan is already over. Nanzi made sure China wins.
It really comes down to management.
Good and bad products can be made anywhere.
Malaysia is a considerably richer country than China per capita (by 40% or so, quite a lot, they are in the same ballpark as Greece), and its people have a much higher standard of living. If they undercut China as a manufacturer its not because their labor costs are lower.
I agree that we never should have granted China MFN status; that was one of GWB’s screw-ups; but he thought he’d need China for the War on Terror.
Russia was not granted MFN then because Russia was still a basket case, and had been engaged in wars during the 1990s that were seen as unwarranted.
Interntional politics is a dirty business, and a dirty game. Sometimes we get in bed with an unwashed whore to attack or restrain a diseased one.
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