[Kuehn12]

There doesn't seem to be anything new in the article. This article like many others is rehashing what we already known. I guess some think that if you say it enough it becomes more dramatic, and it make the Chinese look tougher than they really are. If they had given specific weapons systems that we didn't already know about, then would be cause for alarm.
I know about the J-10, F-16 knockoff. Type 98/99 MBT tank, which is still not in serial production. Flanker fighters which are good but not comparable with F-22, F-18 SuperHornet, and the JSF. I know that they are increasing their sealift capabilities, but they still lack airlift. Which includes heavy aircraft and helicopters. Despite all this Bill Gertz hasn't proven the case that war is just over the horizon nor that it is inevitable. There are to many variables. I think that Chinese are a nationalist state, but to call them fascist. I need more to hang that label on them. I don't see alot of goose stepping in pictures, but there does seem to be alot cell phones, computers, and fancy cars.

[redgolum]

About the Flanker.

The Indian Air force beat a good number of our guys in a training exercise a while back with the Flanker.

We are flying 30 year old planes with 20 year old avionics in some cases. These are brand new. Don't underestimate them.

[Dat Mon]

You havent mentioned diesel submarines...and state of the art torpedoes that they are outfitted with.

The goose stepping is so 20th century mon. This is the 21st century. People think in that mode even if they don't do it.

There is always a hierarchy of control in a totalitarian society....some of which may not be obvious to a casual observer.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

How many people are aware that France, Russia, Germany, and China were helping Saddam's military? How often do people think about the Warthogs that were being used to shoot us down? Germans passed on stinger information. Bubba provided NK nuclear power with the understanding that it would not be misused, a commie country? In part, NK tells Bubba that China is "helping" them!. What kind of ultimate superpower capabilities should China be permitted?.... Hell yes too few people realize these things and they must be repeated and repeated and repeated........

[spetznaz]

Hi Keuhn12,

We have done this tango before, and I believe I even put up pictures of some of China's military developments (including assymetrical, and for purely offensive purposes, strategies such as putting MLRS missile launchers on cargo ships and training the cargo ship crew on sudden surprise-strike missions). But since that dance was in the past there is no need to delve into it here.

What really makes me smile is the following post you placed:

There are to many variables. I think that Chinese are a nationalist state, but to call them fascist. I need more to hang that label on them. I don't see alot of goose stepping in pictures, but there does seem to be alot cell phones, computers, and fancy cars. ----Kuehn12

I don't know where you got the impression that a marker of fascism is photographic 'goose stepping' evidence. But hey, if it carries so mcuh weight for you then you might very well enjoy the following pics:

I even have a nice pretty one with women in it:

However what is the meat of fascism? It entails the following:

* exalts nation and sometimes race above the individual.

* stresses loyalty to a single leader.

* uses violence and modern techniques of propaganda and censorship to forcibly suppress political opposition.

* engages in severe economic and social regimentation.

* engages in corporatism/capitalism

* implements totalitarianism.

That is China to a T. China is a fascist state, and just because they have 'cellphones, computers and fancy cars' doesn't necessitate an absence of fascist ideals and ideologies. In fact THAT even goes further to show that they are indeed fascist and no longer communist.

Anyways, since you are so focussed on goose stepping photos I thought it would be gentlemanly if I included a couple more: