If you've been following the headlines at MilitarySpot.com then you know that China is rapidly expanding its military for a possible showdown over Taiwan. A couple of thoughts:

Economic power = military power: By virtue of its sizzling economy, China will be able to buy a first-class military.

China is hosting the 2008 Olympics, so there won't be a showdown before 2008. But what about after?

The only thing that will be able to stop China is the U.S. Military. But is the U.S. willing to put in harm's way up to six carrier battle groups (or perhaps more, or all)? Our technology and training is state-of-the-art... but six floating airbases against Mainland China? What if the U.S. were to lose carrier battle groups?

Also, the Top Secret sh!t we have in Taiwan is unbelievable. Listening posts etc. could fall to China in a strike.

Or what if one day the Taiwan government just votes to join China. Then we're sh!t out of luck as far as our gear goes, but we could still trade with them the same way. But a takeover of Taiwan by China would mark China as a superpower to rival the U.S.

China is an enigma to most of us.

At first glance it is supposed to be a 'communist' state, but they sure are interested in U.S. investment and allow businesses to thrive. So it must be both.

I think that there may be an opportunity to use economic and not just military influence on China. You're talking about a country with, what, almost 2 billion people? (My guess).

The Taiwanese people seem to want nothing of China but the U.S. has to maintain a very delicate diplomatic relationship with them not to alienate China, but also to support Taiwan as a free (more or less) state.

Hopefully the relationship between the U.S., China and Taiwan can be evoluationary rather than confrontational; it would provide us with more options as we go along and look for more enlightened leadership from the Chinese over time.

But then I'd like to win the Lotto too, so...

China is a mystery and will continue to be one. They love to rattle their sword 24/7 and at the same time supply an unbelievable amount of products to their "enemy."
It seems as if they supply most of the items I am interested in anyway. Especially electric trains!

We need China diplomaticaly in that region to help contain NK. Could we manage a war w/ them? IMO that depends on how wrapped up we are in the MidEast whenever they would decide to invade. Right now though I don't think taking on China would be such a hot idea.

other thanb Taiwan .. i don't think China is interested in land conquest .. even so .. where would they go ..north into Russia ... east into North Korea .. Japan .... south and ewast into the Phillipines .. south into old Indochina .. thailand .. burma ... bangladesh ,, india pakistan .. etc ..
and really folks .. what would we be able to do .. inside of six monrhs they could have a standing army of 100 million !! that's less than 7 pecent of the population of China (1.5 billion)!! if we put that many troops in the field .. it would 33% ..not to mention economically and logistically impossible .. for us ..

China steps up pressure on Taiwain
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4849570,00.html

Hey Fellas,
Perhaps i may enlighten you guys on the subject a little bit.

China consumes more energy than it has and soon is in desperate need of it. Recently a chinese sub invaded Japanese waters where it is known to be a source of gas. Japan has placed China has as the top military threat and is increasing its military capabilities.

The fate of Taiwan shall be decided by the Taiwanese people, and they(or we) are not very fond of China.

The corrupted politcal party KMT or pan-blue holds the legislative and are preventing the independence of Taiwan from happening. Taiwan is not recognized by international community and by declareing its independence formally would it be recognized.

Situation is worsen when the EU is planing on lifting it weapons embargo on china by the end of this summer. The weapons embargo was enacted 15 years ago because of the slaughter of pro-democracy students at Tienman square. THey even built their own little statue of liberty...poor kids...

China isn't doing much with the North Korea situation, why? Because they are using this to their advantage. The US needs them for this and they know it. How do we know if the chinese didn't help the North Koreans with the Nuclear program?

for CENTURYS yes thats right centurys Taiwan had been able to repel almost all chinese invasions. Why not Now? THe only country that had been sucessful of taking Taiwan was Japan in WWII, because there was unrest within the cities (natives and foregniners and mainlanders kiling each other)

World War 3 is unavoidable. The new battlefield will be in Asia.
I am from Taiwan, though I was raised here in the states i been folowing up on events and historys of Taiwan. I myself will join the fight for freedom in Taiwan.

China isn't ready militarily, but economically they can spread their word over many of the poor third world countries in the world. That is what they are doing.

quote:

World War 3 is unavoidable. The new battlefield will be in Asia.
I am from Taiwan, though I was raised here in the states i been folowing up on events and historys of Taiwan. I myself will join the fight for freedom in Taiwan.

Ken; Are you a citizen of Taiwan or America?

Why is WWIII unavoidable? Unless you count this "Global War on Terrorism" which, so far, is kinder and gentler than the other two despite those zaney terrorists.

Duel citizenship, raised in the states

I personally don't think we can ever defeat terrorists in the near future...there would always be crazy people out there recuriting more people to their causes.

Terrorism isn't fueld by politics, but by hate. And boy..do they hate America....hate is a powerful fuel that cannot be broken. I admire for the men and women fighting abroad fighting for freedom and agianst terrorism, because i think its a very honorable thing to be fighting for.
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Notre Damest is wrote his predictions of the future before the big world wars. he predicted 3 Major wars to be known as world wars.
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China has over a million troops and is becoming more desperate for resources since it consumes more than it can produce. Eventually they will have to spread and another good reson for them to expand is because the comunists party is starting to lose power.

With this new "anti-seccession law" war is inevitable.

Analysis are comparing the Normandy invasion to an Chinese invasion.

It would be a very bloody battle

I wonder if the US will help Taiwan if China and Taiwan are to goto war...

Tell you more tings about China~~
Have 1.3 billion people~~
It will drop very quickly sooooooon~~
china alreday get AA bomb, hydrogen bomb~ neutro bomb, its missle can cover America(New 'East wind' missle)
China's army is most powerful in the world~ Have T-99 or T-98
The serious problem in TaiWan is Japan and U.S.A will come together against China~~ if they do that or hurt china very hard~~
2000 nuclear missle will launch(in internet a lot of chinese young people support it if one day china get serious problem~)
I hope TaiWan loooooooooooooooose!!!
This stupit f*ck island bring to much trouble!!!

So Z...are you saying that Taiwan does not have the right to self rule?

A lot of people in U.S.A still don't understand the people republic of china~~~
the government become democracy every year. people's life get improve every year. you can check the Photo in1990~~ a poor country. but now, look at china again~~~ a super power stand in the east~~~
U.S.A don't like china because it is a community world~~ but however~~ it is not. China do not want to against u.s.a~~~
If you say china's communitry is evil. why no people revolution? why young people in china still love their country so much?
And also, In china's history, china never attack the other country~(except yuan dai)
Tai wan have nothing but *****. It is a state of china! It isn't have power!
And do you know how terrible for china if taiwan become a individual country!!!??? china's navy will be located in china's sea~ china's ship will never go outside!china will fall down!
tai wan have nothing! U.S will make a wise choice! I hope one day HongKong TaiWan's people will proud that they are chinese. with nothing infront of their country's name!!!

Z -- it appears that you lack a certain understanding of the American people and their government. Could it be that China misunderstands the U.S. as much as we misunderstand China?

Z it sounds as if you are echoeing the platform that the Soviet Union used on it's people during the Cold War. "Freedom is bad and it wants to destroy Communism which is nothing but good to the people."

It sounds as if you may being spoon fed this type of propaganda in your educational institutions which are controlled by the government. You say things that have no substantial evidence to back up your arguements, and your arguements seem like they are being read right from a script. Prove me wrong!

The CHICOMS are the largest threat to world security. They have developed a capitalist system within a 'Communist' model and have made significant investments in countries throughout the world. Including the Carribean. The computer screen you are reading these words on is likely made in China, so too are the clothes you wear, your CD player, tv set and the like.

Their idea is economic dominance first.

Did you know that most of the cement which is used in the United States (including our Interstate system) comes from China?

They have vast resources, pay almost nothing for labor and work, work, work without respite.

Of all things, I believe President Nixon had it just right by opening a dialogue with China but that has somehow fallen by the wayside.

Our National policy with China should be a paramount issue in Washington and should be at the top of the list.

Taiwan is a thorny issue because the Chinese regard the island as theirs and they aren't going to back off of that. If we recognize Taiwan on an equal footing as other nations, we step into a pothole with the Chinese, yet we need to keep its independence at the same time.

All IBM laptops are now made in China, just as an example; yet at the same time, the government there is not above the most cruel dictatorial crackdowns if they determine that any, read that ANY threat to their authority is perceived.

This is an incredibly complicated political and cultural situation and needs the best of minds to nurture a compatability between the Chinese and the U. S. and that is not going to be easy or fast.

quote:

Originally posted by Z_COMMUNITY:
A lot of people in U.S.A still don't understand the people republic of china~~~
the government become democracy every year. people's life get improve every year. you can check the Photo in1990~~ a poor country. but now, look at china again~~~ a super power stand in the east~~~
U.S.A don't like china because it is a community world~~ but however~~ it is not. China do not want to against u.s.a~~~
If you say china's communitry is evil. why no people revolution? why young people in china still love their country so much?
And also, In china's history, china never attack the other country~(except yuan dai)
Tai wan have nothing but *****. It is a state of china! It isn't have power!
And do you know how terrible for china if taiwan become a individual country!!!??? china's navy will be located in china's sea~ china's ship will never go outside!china will fall down!
tai wan have nothing! U.S will make a wise choice! I hope one day HongKong TaiWan's people will proud that they are chinese. with nothing infront of their country's name!!!

"the government become democracy every year"
Right..you been reading the news bout HK lately?
Starting to lose face there already
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"in1990~~ a poor country. but now, look at china again~~~ a super power stand in the east~~~ "
Depends where you take the picture...the corrupted rich pigs of the government? or the poor working class that's workign for 50 cent an hour?
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"If you say china's communitry is evil. why no people revolution? why young people in china still love their country so much?"
They are all locked up in prisons...most of them die in a week or two right?
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"And do you know how terrible for china if taiwan become a individual country"
How terrible it would be for the government....not for the people. Taiwan will be able to influence democracy across China if it becomes independent.
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"And also, In china's history, china never attack the other country~(except yuan dai)"
That is the msot ridiculous thing I have ever heard of before in my life. If you are a Chinese scholar I will laugh my *** off because it goes to show how ignorant you people are of your own government.
OOO I don't know...what about Tibet?
And the uprising that takes place there?

My my...what powerful army you have there...care to take them across the Taiwan Strait and meet me at the crosshairs of my m60?