Taiwan: If China attacks, it'll be destroyed

Taipei Times | 01.01.03 | Chuck DeVore

[Sparta]

Taiwan=The mouse that roared. Wish them luck though.

[Enemy Of The State]

Ping!

[CometBaby]

If Taiwan thinks we are going to start WWIII to defend them, they better guess again.

[Sparta]

http://www.emeraldesigns.com/matchup/military.shtml

ChiComs vs Taiwanese.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

If Taiwan thinks we are going to start WWIII to defend them, they better guess again.

No young feller.....China would start WW3.

As far as the FREE Chinese on Taiwan........

Do you seriously think that they don't have their own nukes?

After all, the basket cases, India, Pakistan and North Korea have loudly proclaimed their admission to the nuclear club.

Israel and Taiwan are quiet.

Think about it, young feller!

[Enemy Of The State]

That would be the mouse that roared while having the Worlds most powerful military sticking up for him.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

'scuse me.......young lady.

[Sparta]

Of course.

[backhoe]

CIA - The World Factbook 2002 -- Taiwan
Top banner The World Factbook 2002. Select a Country. ...
Description: Information about the country from the CIA reference source.
Category: Regional > Asia > Taiwan > Society and Culture > Politics

FWIW, I've stories for years that Taiwan got some or all of old South Africa's nukes...

[Screaming_Gerbil]

If China invades Taiwan, it'll be them starting WWIII.

My personal feelings on the matter are: Better now than later...

Wonder what they needed that nuclear technology that they got during the Clinton years for? I'd guess that we're going to have to go some rounds with them sooner or later, and like I said, better now than later.

(Such a war might also solve that problem of all those products at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Meijers, etc. made in China, as well as China's permanent Most Favored Nation status, in spite of how they treat their citizens)...

[KneelBeforeZod]

this is a very unpopular thing to say...I wouldn't have said it a year ago...but the Taiwanese businessmen don't seem to care about what is going on, they way they are rushing headlong into china to open businsesses. Of course there are those here on FR that will never believe it no matter what.

[wretchard]

The culmination of any Mainland effort against Taiwan must be an amphibious assault on the island. The preparatory campaign could take several forms; one of the most likely being a phased assault, starting with the reduction of the Makung island group in the Taiwan straits, in conjunction with an air campaign to beat down the defenses, plus a submarine and mine blockade to starve out the Taiwanese.

It will be an amphibious assault, requiring the maximum Chinese naval, ground and air effort, probably directed at:

the coastal region between Tung-Hsiao and San-Wan. Midway between the northern Taipei urban agglomeration and the central populated region around Taichung, this coastal area is free of annoying mud-flats, and offers open terrain suitable for the build-up of a beach-head and subsequent decisive maneuver. http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/ops/taiwan-geo.htm

It cannot be encouraging to the mainland Chinese that the US Navy has reoriented itself away from "Blue Water" or open-ocean warfare, to "combat in the littoral", i.e. warfare right off an enemy coast. The new Zumwalt class destroyers, the Virginia SSNs, and the new CVX are designed not to fight the the Soviet Navy, but another foe in confined waters like the South China Sea. The USN is being optimized to defeat an attack of precisely the sort that the Chinese would have to mount to take Taiwan.

The mere existence of the USN creates an intolerable operational risk for the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (yes, that is the Chinese Navy's name). Unless they can be utterly sure beforehand that the US will not intervene, it would be folly of the highest order to embark on an amphibious assault. They might try it if Hillary were the President, but not otherwise.

[omega4412]

A Chinese attack on Taiwan is a worry -- we attack Iraq, North Korea takes advantage of this to invade South Korea, and China takes advantage of this to invade Taiwan. The problem is that most of our carriers would be in position for Iraq. Our submarines, on the other hand...

[Semper Paratus]

My personal feelings on the matter are: Better now than later...

I agree, if WWIII is inevitable. Better to fight on our terms than others.

[Steel Wolf]

The mouse is actually in a very strong position. An amphibious attack on Taiwan would need to be several times the size of Operation Overlord. The Chinese know that they don't have an effective amount of sealift, airlift or the ability to enforce naval and air superiority.

There are only a few beaches on the eastern side of Taiwan suitable for mass landings, and they are well prepared kill zones covered by artillery, mines, tanks, and other obstacles.

They could pound the island with missiles that may or may not get by the PAC-3s we sold them. They could threaten to or actually use nuclear weapons against Taiwan, but that would destroy the very thing they want: the riches, expertise, and infrastructure of the island.

Plus, they face the very real risk of being badly humiliated by a very tiny opponent. The Chinese Army made it all of 20 miles into Vietnam in '79 before being torn to shreds and sent packing. Many of the chronic weaknesses that were present then are present now.

Does that mean they won't try? Who knows. Miscalculation and overconfidence are the seeds of many a military disaster.

[TexKat]

better now than later.

I don't even want to think about it. I believe our cup already over runneth.

[Nachum]

I have a hard time believing that China will prosecute a war against Taiwan. The good times are rolling in China. Matter of fact, large numbers of Taiwanese are commuting to China for employment.

The Chinese have most everything they want without war anyway. Huge numbers of upscale rich Chinese own huge homes, are buying expensive cars, and are living the Vida Rico. Remember when the American recon plane was downed by their nutso flyboy? Remember where they housed our personnel? Near the red light district of the Chinese party town.

Nope, I don't buy it. They want Taiwan, but they are getting it bit by bit anyway. They aren't going to kill the cash cow by going to war.

[agincourt1415]

If that were to happen, then we would have to strike with missles, ballistic and nuclear and then make sure the 1st strike gets em all. I'm sure the Chinese are smart enough not to put that kind of plan to the test. We can take them out quick. Kill the leadership in China and then what have you got, a lot of happy peasants in the country side that will be giving a parade for Bush, same with NK.

[Free the USA]

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