Can China Defeat the United States in a Conventional War?

May 20, 2005 | comtedemaistre

[ComtedeMaistre]

Every day, the economic power and political influence of Red China continues to increase. I am, however, interested in knowing how powerful China is militarily. Is China strong enough to defeat the US in a conventional war? The latest I heard is that they have a total of 10 million trained to serve in their military, including reserves. I would especially like to hear from Freeper veterans as well as those serving in the military, on the potential threat that China poses to the United States.

[chudogg]

All the foreign Armed Forces in the world could combine and would still not come close to defeating a single U.S. Navy Aircraft carrier. How the hell do you expect China to even seize Taiwan for your scenario to take place?

[JZelle]

It's not only greed! I think the media run this country more than anybody. Everyone's worried about their image, how they look in the press.

[RinaseaofDs]

We did OK during WWII.

[azhenfud]

"as I told ya .. they gonna buy taiwan."

And they'll buy it with U.S. dollars. I'm not optimistic about the survival of the communist party's remaining in power over China for much longer, though. It will change. To what? I don't know - but it will change.

[SoothingDave]

Depends on what their values are or what their real goals are. We cannot continue to make the mistake of assuming everyone is like us or wants the same things. Market shares may matter to Americans but not necessarily to other people at all, certainly not to the same extent. Democracy may matter a great deal to us, but not matter at all to many other peoples. Power and the ability to force one's religion or ideology upon other people may be far more important to many nations than simply making money.

The Chinese have already signalled that they recognize that communism is a failure. It's purely about power now. They are playing with fire now, thinking they can allow "controlled experiments" with a free market without other sociopolitical effects. Time will tell if they get burned, but we should do all in our power to make sure they do.

SD

[fr_freak]

I doubt that we could effectively liberate Taiwan if China were to seize it.

I'm not an expert on the subject, but if I recall correctly, the Taiwanese military is not insignificant. We've been supplying them. They could never withstand an attack from mainland China on their own, but they sure as heck could slow them down pretty well until the US arrived in full force, should we decide to intervene (it would take a president with huge huevos for that).

[azhenfud]

Apparently we see the same shades of red over China.

[hubbubhubbub]

What the hell is a "conventional" war and who in their right mind would think that if the U.S. and China went to war it would be "conventional"? SHEESH!!

[American_Centurion]

That's right in line with what I said.

Still, I believe that China will be very patient in their designs for Taiwan. If/when they move to take it, they will be pretty darn sure that we will be in no position to do much or anything at all. And if we do anything, the media will certainly work to persuade world opinion to the view that we initiated hostilities.

I don't think China can beat us, I just think we won't fight them.

[PresbyRev]

In a 'real' war for national survival - I don't know that fifth column appeasers marching in the streets would go unengaged by other, more patriotic, Americans.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"How large is China's population...?"

A war with China would put our war fighters in a target rich environment.

Human wave attacks just don't work as well against modern weapons as they did against M-1s, Shermans and F-86s. I read somewhere that Mao admitted losing a million men in Korea.

On the other hand, a couple of armored brigades rolling off of automobile delivery ships at the Toyota docks in San Francisco Bay would do major damage before being destroyed.

If our other enemies took advantage of the distraction, we might be in trouble. A nuclear response would be inevitable then.

Michael Frazier

[blueblazes]

They can call it communism or they can call it applesauce - it's still about a dictatorship that has complete domination over its own people and (I believe) seeks to dominate other countries. So maybe they are moving from Communism to Fascism - I don't think it matters in terms of what's gonna happen to us. The only difference is with Communism they would just end up hanging themselves, with Fascism (limited capitalism) we will sell them the rope they'll use to hang us. They are still our enemies just as they have been for decades - we're just not bright enough or too greedy to recognize it.

[Double_in_a_bight]

they are changing since ten years - more rapidly then every other country - without beeing destabilized.

It's like 'the thing from outer space'.

[ForGod'sSake]

Thanks for the update. Their "toys" are becoming more lethal every day. When, if ever, will they catch up/surpass us?

FGS

[Jonathan]

You cannot be sure of that.

It is possible to build thousands of ICBM's and secret them in a vast country.

It is possible to build thousands of MIRV's and store them.

It is possible the Chinese know something about deception warfare.

They are a nuclear power with a controlled press, a powerless legislature, and a secretive military.

It is not only possible, but PROBABLE that they can destory us in a nuclear exchange.

Our missles are old.

Our warheads are untested.

Our warriors and leaders are complacent.

We could very well be surprised by what they not only can do to us, but what they WANT to do to us.

[BaBaStooey]

This whole "Can ________ beat _________ in a war" mindset is pretty much the mindset that triggered the Great War back in 1914. Most of those nations were monarchies.

However, thinking "Can we beat _______ if they ever try to take over the world?" The answer must be yes. As the world's superpower, our power needs to be used to hold the future Nazi Germanys, Despotical Iraqs, and Soviet Russias in check.

[American_Centurion]

Through patience, misdirection, and distraction.

Unrest in several places at once, which China can certainly encourage. Weakining the US dollar. Us dealing with other terrorist countries, possibly NK. Panama canal sabotage of some sort.

China will encourage events like the above, at a time of their choosing, and will move to take Taiwan, when we will be able to do next to nothing about it.

Of course I'm speaking conventionally, but I don't really think we would escalate to Nukes over Taiwan.

[Nowhere Man]

It's all about kill ratio.

I once heard a story in the Korean War where if you had all the Chinese march by you at 4 abreast, you will die of old age and they will still be marching by. Still, you do have a point, it all boils down to kill ratio which means quality if troops, they have quantity but what is their quality? Then on the other hand, which is better in a fight, a Rottweiller or a Rottweiller's weight in Chiuauas? If I had my money, I think the Chiuauas would win becuase quanitity has an ability of its own. Then again, it depends on where the war is fought and if we have the will to fight it without being PC.

[BaBaStooey]

Don't you think that if that were true, China would have taken Taiwan already?

Right now all they can do is pathetically bust out the Jedi Mind Trick anytime anyone mentions Taiwan.

**waives hand** Taiwan is a part of China.

**waives hand** You do not believe Taiwan is a soverign nation.

**waives hand** Taiwan belongs to China.

[dhs12345]

Puts Taiwan in a precarious position. Doesn't it.

Unfortunately, if I were Taiwan, I wouldn't count on the U.S. for defense. On the other hand, any defensive buildup by Taiwan will be considered provocation by the Chinese.

A tough situation to be in.