Posted on 11/21/2004 11:45:29 AM PST by TapTheSource
They're just a hop, skip, and a jump from San Diego.
The Chinese have had the capability since the early 1980s of putting several fairly massive thermonuclear weapons into cities in the Western US on an ICBM.
However, that would bring massive retaliation that would end the PRC as a functioning society. So that's not going to happen, any more than we had a nuclear war with the Soviets during the Cold War.
Other than that, the answer really is "not much." Unless it's a Tom Clancy scenario where we aid the Russians agains the Chinese in Siberia, we're not going to be fighting a land war against them anywhere.
Despite the frantic hype the PRC Navy and Air Force simply aren't that great.
No ship is absolutely invulnerable, and yes, a Carrier is sinkable, but we've got plenty of those. And destroying one would likely end up with the PRC losing all of their naval and air power-projecting capability in the process.
The PRC is likely to be completely helpless at ASW warfare, and, thus, incapable of projecting power anywhere overseas.
The question is WHETHER they can seize Taiwan, and the answer is an obvious "no."
You assume wrong. There are no easy, glib answers to the mess we're in. Full scale awareness of the problem has to be acheived, and we're no where near that yet. Most people think Wal-Mart is great for America; there's no national outcry demanding alternatives, yet.
It will be highly illuminating to see which way Secretary RICE pushes!
China is doing what any other country would do under the same circumstances.
One would hope that they evolve in their tendencies to run interference against the U.S. for the sake of nationalism, but it is likely that they will not. They will continue to a pain when they can.
As to threats to U.S.security, I believe that is what our nuclear deterrent is for. China is more of a threat to financial security than anything else at this time.
Taiwan is not the trip wire that it once was. I do not see any international support for any confrontation, nor do I see much national support either.
It looks to me like unification is the goal and not just talk anymore. It will be years before that is remotely possible however.
Status quo for now.
The Taiwanese could stop them by themselves pretty well, without us lifting a finger, IMHO.
Response: Hell it will be here. It takes only about 5% of a population to foment severe internal disorder. Five 5% of 40 million Hispanic invaders equals about two million. Lenin overthrew Tsarist Russia with about 250,000. Does not look good.
You mean, the CHINA/EURASIAN/RUSSIAN Alliance.
The Japanese killed 30 million Chinese some 50 + years ago during the expansion of Japans 'Far East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere'. Chinese have a long history and a long memory. Perhaps we're now seeing China's 'Far East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere' taking shape. I hope they don't bomb Pearl Harbor before we figure out this bit of history repeating it's self in the Pacific. Korea has no love for Japan either. Maybe a new 'NATO' type alliance...Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand or si there something in place that could be reasserted or expanded? SEATO?
Yep self-promotion by Chinese wannabees and their supporters. Just the typical totalitarian - Chinese talking point/negotiating strategy.
China is a basket case politically and economically: floaating yuan sinks to the bottom of the tank, it's crap
You know - other nations have not spent time thinking - when their space has been violated - they have acted. I think perhaps Japan should take the same approach - When you are in the right - you're in the right -
I found it odd - that once China was not held to human rights violations - all the voices speaking out on the other actions by China(South China Sea) fell silent. Money buys a lot these days - but might the final price be paid by the U.S. - for prior actions - and failure to act on current matters - in a firm way - It never hurts to stand the ground for freedom -
Not to harp on the years belonging to Clinton (grin) but I do hope we have "changed" everything that was known to be - Considering what was given away in "public" by him and his foul people - one can only imagine what else was supplied to China, Russia, etc. - And considering McCain and others are pro China - it might not hurt to keep them far away from President Bush - especially since McCain is also in love with all the illegals and might be behind the soft approach being taken -
I also hope we have changed "all" people around our tech. - or at least put the controls back on - the ones that became nothing under that last admin. Beware of anyone having anything to do with those still calling themselves democrats - at the very least -
just my thoughts -
Well, I've stated repeatedly that China will collapse in a violent Civil War/episode of Warlordism long before they're an actual military superpower.
We'll find out over the next 40 years.
Speaking of interesting, you might also want to check out post #13. I am not worried about Red China alone, I am much more worried about the growing Eurasian Alliance which includes Red China, Russia, the EU, and a number of Middle Eastern countries to include Iran. Red China's entrance into Latin America isn't comforting either.
Right now, they don't even have the capability to get an invasion force across the Taiwan Strait. The most they could really do is trade bombs..
I don't think Taiwan is worth a drop of American blood. As far as I am concerned they (the Chinese) can have it.
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