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America Errs In Viewing Ukraine As A Template For Taiwan: The situation in Taiwan could not be more different, but there is a simple, bloodless solution if only the parties would be open to it
American Thinker ^ | 02/22/2023 | Molly Slag

Posted on 02/22/2023 9:22:01 AM PST by SeekAndFind

A few days ago, on several internet news sites, a bone-chilling claim appeared: The U.S. is looking to the Ukraine war to shape its planning for the coming conflict with China over Taiwan. This is completely wrong because there is no connection between events in Ukraine and a possible Chinese assault on Taiwan.

The comparison between current events in Ukraine and possible future events in Taiwan has been common practically since the Ukraine conflict began.

On May 19, 2022, Politico wrote that “U.S. officials are pushing their Taiwanese counterparts with new urgency to look to Ukraine’s success in fending off Russian forces as a blueprint for countering a Chinese attack.”

Less than a year later, News published an article entitled, “How Ukraine war has shaped US planning for a China conflict“: “As the war rages on in Ukraine, the United States is doing more than supporting an ally. It’s learning lessons — with an eye toward a possible future clash with China.”

Reading these articles, one must ask whether our military “experts” have a realistic grasp of the coming battle of Taiwan? I doubt it.

Apparently, “US officials” imagine that Chairman Xi is channeling Gen. Robert E. Lee and intends to reenact Pickett’s charge at Gettysburg by charging across the Taiwan Strait, in the same way that Russian President Vladimir Putin reenacted it with his infantry and armor against Kiev.

The simple fact is that Pickett’s charge is as bad an idea in 2023 as it was in 1863. It’s rather amusing to see Americans think that the Chinese will fall for it.

For thousands of years, the only offensive tactic the generals of the world could imagine was the frontal assault.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: china; escalationescalator; mollyslag; russia; taiwan; ukraine
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1 posted on 02/22/2023 9:22:01 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

So, is Taiwan doomed? No, no, no, not at all. Diplomacy can save Taiwan.

What does China want? Two things: wealth and dignity.

Specifically, from Taiwan, China wants trade and acceptance of the “One China” policy. This is cake. Trade will benefit both Taiwan and China. And accepting the “one China” policy is easy for Taiwan to finesse.

In fact, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has previously called upon Beijing to work with Taipei to find a “mutually agreeable arrangement” to uphold cross-strait peace and stability, saying military confrontation is not an option for the two sides.

The key to the solution is to understand the distinction between a nation and a state. A nation is a collection of people with important common characteristics, like race, language, etc., while a state is a polity, a political entity, a collection of people with a governmental structure. So, yes, indeed, there is only one Chinese nation, but that one Chinese nation is implemented in several Chinese states, including Tibet, Outer Mongolia, the PRC, and the ROC. (There may be others of which I am unaware.)

Taiwan can eagerly proclaim: “Yes, there is only one China! And we are proud to be part of it!” Agreeing to this simple formula can avoid a war, assure the PRC that all four states are Chinese, and secure to both the PRC and the ROC the blessings of trade and a lasting peace.


2 posted on 02/22/2023 9:23:13 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Like Hong Kong did?


3 posted on 02/22/2023 9:24:36 AM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: SeekAndFind
What an unfortunate last name the author has. That was the first thing I noticed when the page loaded. I had to look it up the first time I heard the word in a British gangster movie.
4 posted on 02/22/2023 9:29:29 AM PST by Rdct29 (Democrats are the new Nazi's. They think they deserve total control over the people)
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To: SeekAndFind

I don’t know Molly Slag, but she raises some good points

One thing that no one ever mentions - what do the Taiwanese want?

They certainly do not want to be used as an instrument to poke China. Some radicals may - like the Azovs in Ukraine - but most Taiwanese are practical people, want to live in peace, keep their relative independence, but still be connected to China and make $$$ off it.

up to 15% of Taiwanese are living/working/studying in China. Its been Taiwan’s biggest growth market for the past 30 years. it should be noted that in 2022 elections, the KMT made a huge sweep of local elections. This is the party that is more willing to accomodate with China.


5 posted on 02/22/2023 9:30:07 AM PST by PGR88
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To: SeekAndFind
“Yes, there is only one China! And we are proud to be part of it!” Agreeing to this simple formula can avoid a war

Right, surrender. I'm sure China will keep its promises like they did with Hong Kong.

6 posted on 02/22/2023 9:31:55 AM PST by tlozo (Better to Die on Your Feet than Live on Your Knees )
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To: SeekAndFind

” A nation is a collection of people with important common characteristics, like race, language, etc., while a state is a polity, “

WTF? So Canada and the US are one nation? please...


7 posted on 02/22/2023 9:34:07 AM PST by Wayne07
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To: ConservativeMind

Hong Kong shows why Taiwan are right to never trust the Chinese Communist Party.


8 posted on 02/22/2023 9:36:03 AM PST by JSM_Liberty
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To: SeekAndFind

Are we now permitted to post absurdist fiction on freerepublic?


9 posted on 02/22/2023 9:40:14 AM PST by thegagline (Sic semper tyrannis! Goldwater 2024)
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That is the dumbest thing I have ever read. That 'scenario' is PLA onanism. The gap between (1) and (2) alone gives the US enough lead time to countermeasure (2) and (3), and EMPs are not guaranteed outcomes.

The PLA is far more likely to attempt to blockade Taiwan and the Phillipines, where they control all the intra-island transport lines! The Chinese tomorrow could simply stop all the ferry and freight service to all Pinoys and within 2 weeks they would be eating each other.

Then, in the CCP simp mandarin hivemind, it is a simple matter of handing back the Phillipines in exchange for Taiwan, in the classic confucian 'I stole it and not a thing you can do about it' mindset called 'saving face'.

10 posted on 02/22/2023 9:40:15 AM PST by StAnDeliver (Tanned, rested, and ready.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Exactly. They’ve destroyed what was Hong Kong. Puppet govt there.


11 posted on 02/22/2023 9:41:26 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Appeasement days are here again
The stakes of war are clear again
So let’s invite the dictator for a beer again
Appeasement days are here again!


12 posted on 02/22/2023 9:43:55 AM PST by Boogieman
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To: SeekAndFind

Taiwan needs to declare itself independent of the PRC. This is in fact true after seventy years of separation.

The truth of such a declaration is that it would not be a material change to the situation aside from chafing Xinnie the Pooh’s precious ego.

And then China can peacefully accept Taiwan being an independent republic...which it has been for seventy years already.


13 posted on 02/22/2023 9:53:41 AM PST by MeganC (There is nothing feminine about feminism. )
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To: SeekAndFind

Taiwan has been on borrowed time since the Nationalist forces fled to it.

China has nukes and considers Taiwan a rebellious province. Just like Russia does Ukraine. Both have some precedent for claiming so (ironically I think Russia has the stronger case).

So, just like Ukraine, will you sacrifice the world for Taiwan?

Or rather, will you send your son or daughter to die for them?

Answer quickly, because the Neo cons are really, really, pushing for a nuclear fire storm to cover their tracks.


14 posted on 02/22/2023 9:54:42 AM PST by redgolum (If this is civilization, I will be the barbarian. )
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To: tlozo

I wonder how much China paid her for this article. Let’s look at how stupid it is. She claims that China can take Taiwan so quickly that we won’t even know about it before Taiwan has completely surrendered.

And yet she advises us that we can avoid this by simply having Taiwan surrender.

Obviously if China could take Taiwan in a few hours with no possibility of response from us then they do not need us to convince Taiwan to surrender.

If you want the tip off to where this lady is coming from, please note that she lists Tibet as being among the Chinese nation.


15 posted on 02/22/2023 9:55:16 AM PST by Williams (Stop Tolerating The Intolerant)
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To: Boogieman

Great poem!

Myself I am thinking of creating the “Neville Chamberlain Award for Accomplishment in Appeasing Dictators”.


16 posted on 02/22/2023 9:56:25 AM PST by MeganC (There is nothing feminine about feminism. )
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To: SeekAndFind

You can picture the Chinese propagandists foaming and slobbering while they read this ridiculous article.


17 posted on 02/22/2023 9:58:10 AM PST by Williams (Stop Tolerating The Intolerant)
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To: SeekAndFind

Taiwan actually has strategic importance to the U.S., therefore the bought and owned dopey Joe will stand by with his fingers up his ass as the chicoms take it.


18 posted on 02/22/2023 10:02:32 AM PST by Sirius Lee (They intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live and live like you are prepping for eternal life)
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To: redgolum

The list grows of countries we are “sacrificing the world for”.

So far it is Ukraine and Taiwan. Both democracies. Germany, another democracy, is already listed as a country that should turn on NATO and join with Russia.

Soon thereafter it will be France and England in Europe and Australia, Japan and the Philippines in Asia.

Nowhere in the world will be worth fighting for and so it all must be surrendered to the Chinese and Russians. Meanwhile, why we are being so “moral” about all this what are the Chinese and Russia doing? Why is the world at risk of destruction unless we hand countries over to the Chinese and Russians?

This approach of weakness has never worked in the history of the world, and it is not what has kept us safe from the Chinese and Russians for 70 years.

It is national suicide on a grand scale.

Notice that there never is a discussion of the strategic importance of these countries. For example, Taiwan is incredibly important to control of the Pacific. That is why China wants it, not because the people on Taiwan look like them.


19 posted on 02/22/2023 10:02:58 AM PST by Williams (Stop Tolerating The Intolerant)
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To: SeekAndFind
What a lunkhead! Where do we find all these "Appeasement Conservatives"?

First we have the pro-Putin-Invasion Conservatives and now 'ol Molly Slag rolls out the white flag for the democratic Republic of China..

Any real conservative "fight for our country and freedom" types left out there?

20 posted on 02/22/2023 10:03:41 AM PST by Chainmail (Harrassment, to be effective, must be continuous.)
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