elijah_lives
New Member
No, I have never been to China (although I lived in Bangkok -- an amazing economic growth story in itself -- for two years). I base my assessment of China as a threat (especially to Taiwan) on the words and actions of the Chinese government. China is determined to regain control of Taiwan (peacefully if possible, militarily if necessary.) We have a defense alliance with Taiwan, and thus the hostile military posture of China towards Taiwan involves the United States. Being much closer logistically to Taiwan than we are, China has a tremendous advantage in any military confrontation over that island. The Chinese submarine force is the most likely vanguard, second only to missile platforms, and backed by a nuclear missile threat to our West Coast cities, Japan, Australia, and South Korea (our defense partners in that region)
The actual Chinese threat towards the United States is a mixture of economic and cyberspace warfare, in the short-term, and military conflict, in the long-term. Our government recognizes the former, as seen in the persistent questioning of Bernanke this week on our trade balance with China, and our military planners recognize the latter, as evidenced by the most recent NIE and war-fighting doctrine.
A net inflow of nearly $200 billion a year into China is huge -- half the size of our defense budget. We are funding their military buildup, while at the same time losing American jobs to them. While there are factions with the Chinese government that act as a check to their hegemonistic desires, there are also powerful military voices that will not give up their quest to regain Taiwan. We are on a collision force over this objective.
The actual Chinese threat towards the United States is a mixture of economic and cyberspace warfare, in the short-term, and military conflict, in the long-term. Our government recognizes the former, as seen in the persistent questioning of Bernanke this week on our trade balance with China, and our military planners recognize the latter, as evidenced by the most recent NIE and war-fighting doctrine.
A net inflow of nearly $200 billion a year into China is huge -- half the size of our defense budget. We are funding their military buildup, while at the same time losing American jobs to them. While there are factions with the Chinese government that act as a check to their hegemonistic desires, there are also powerful military voices that will not give up their quest to regain Taiwan. We are on a collision force over this objective.