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.

[afnamvet]

If China was to seize Taiwan, does the US have the capability, as well as the will, to liberate the territory?

Capability: Yes, adequate resources of air/sea/land forces. Will: No; Taiwan would be sacrificed.

[ForGod'sSake]

If China was to seize Taiwan, does the US have the capability, as well as the will, to liberate the territory?

Question is, how would the Chicoms get to Taiwan? Just based on snippets I pick up here and there, Taiwan appears to be very well defended with some marvelous US toys and would be a tough go for China. Japan would probably be an easier target initially for China. Now THAT would be interesting. Or, what about South Korea???

FGS

[flutters]

FR China Report

[Double_in_a_bight]

All they are afraid of, is to be cut from the US market to sell you stuff.

I think they could count on taking taiwan without taking a mshroom shaped cloud over peking.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/china/df-15.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/china/df-5.htm

[blueblazes]

I think we've got to start thinking differently about China (or at least our "leaders" should). China is the big enemy - has been for a long time and STILL IS. I am sitting right next door to a young woman from Communist China who works on US Federal govt research grants. Now, she is a nice young lady and not doing anything wrong, and I know her papers are in order, etc....however - THIS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. My landlord is also from Communist China. I wonder how many of them we have over here, including the legal ones. When you combine the effects of our outsourcing so many industries to countries like China - incredibly, incredibly short-sighted move for this country, along with giving or selling technology to them, and allowing their nationals apparently fairly unlimited access to living and working in this country - I don't see how we could beat them if it came down to it. Our policies have been incredibly foolish and based on getting money instead of what is best for this country.

[absolootezer0]

i think china would be happy with a conventional war. it would give them a great opportunity to decrease the surplus population and an opportunity to whine about the US being bent on world domination. rather than being like many of the socialist regimes of the last century that killed their own by the millions and be persecuted for it, they could start a war and send undesirables as "cannon fodder" and not look like the bad guy.
also, i've heard a bunch of stories lately that china is attacking the crap out of japan in techno-warfare. internet viruses and bandwidth overload are shutting down websites and servers. this could be practice on an easy target before they strike a larger target (us)

[kerryusama04]

They don't have any way to move their troops like we do (Go Navy, Go Air Force!). They could not invade us in a conventional sense. Of course we would win if we had to fight them over there, but it would take a whole lot of tomahawk missiles. I read that the Chinese are developing computer viruses and satellite killing technology to take away our technological advantage. We would ultimately control the seas and starve them, well, until the Russians stab us in the back and supply them.

[libertyhoundusnr]

Could this be the same folks who claim using space weapons as being "unfair" are the ones bragging they could hit LA with a nuke.

It would seem the best way to deal with the ChiComs would be to place a substantial space weps inventory in stationary orbit over their turf. Let's just see who blinks first....

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

"If China was to seize Taiwan, does the US have the capability, as well as the will, to liberate the territory?"

How would China seize Taiwan in the first place?

[superiorslots]

I agree.

As more and more US companies set up operations and R&D in china the potential financial loss will be a deterrent to the US not to counter any move china does that we do not like. In a nutshell they will have us by the b*lls.

[conservativewasp]

#3 They know they would lose a Nuclear war to us.

[dhs12345]

Question: would the Chinese want to destroy Taiwan and its economy in the process?

Seems like it would be a huge economic gain for them if they could take Taiwan peacefully. Many of the worlds semiconductors are manufactured in Taiwan.

[halfright]

french (used in place of any curse word) the Chinese.

Gimme the Air Force, 5 SEAL Teams, and a bunch of Jarheads without handcuffs from Washington and I'll kick ANYONES french in a conventional war.




Semper Fi
1969

[TIGHTEN]

lol, I heard that was just a joke though:)

[Double_in_a_bight]

naaa Japan has the gear to throw them of. Taiwan has modern weapons - but to less to stand for long. It's obviously equipped to survive until the cavallery arives.

If you guys don't take a risk at that point - it's goodbye taiwan then.

[Double_in_a_bight]

probably right

[Double_in_a_bight]

probably right

[azhenfud]

Military hardware is only as good as the personnel that operates it. China may have millions of "men", but their training leaves a lot to be desired. They, in their attempt to mimic the aerobatic exercises called "the cobra", have effectively turned the Soviets' most superior jet fighters into expensive lawn darts.

[Double_in_a_bight]

wtf is that true ???


I got to goole that - holy cow this old peanut farmer is a nut for real.

[bra]

From a conventional warfare point of view, whatever that means in today's terms, it all boils down to "force projection". Getting the force to the fight, at the right place, and right time. I don't envision a million plus Chinese infantry swimming across the Pacific ocean anytime soon.