[Jim Noble]

The Japanese didn't have to worry about ICBMs

Neither does China if they attack military targets in the open ocean.

[mmichaels1970]

Neither does China if they attack military targets in the open ocean.

If China hits us with a "Pearl Harbor-style surprise attack", say, by sinking a carrier or three, they most certainly have to worry about ICBMs. Or at the very least, quite a few sub-launched.

Could they do a bit of proxy fighting, maybe an "accidental" incident? Perhaps. Might they splash a few rounds around our assets? They might. But they're not going to launch a surprise attack to the scale of Pearl.

If they do, they may as well launch their nukes first.

[ought-six]

“Neither does China if they attack military targets in the open ocean.”

And, you think that’s it? It all stops right there?

Son, you are naïve.