China ready to strike Taiwan, military on alert...

[Skydancer]

Exactly why is China so obsessed with getting Taiwan back? like China isn't big enough already?

The world is populated by some very crazy people!

What the hell is wrong with them leaving things the way they are!

[Nilsen]

Originally posted by Skydancer
Exactly why is China so obsessed with getting Taiwan back? like China isn't big enough already?

The world is populated by some very crazy people!

What the hell is wrong with them leaving things the way they are!

nationalism?
pride?
taiwanese industry and finance?

But yes... full of crazy people.

[oboe]

Originally posted by Airhead
We don't have to threaten China with military force on behalf of Formosa to prevent a war- all we have to do is threaten to close our markets to them.

I would really like to hear from an expert on international economics here, because I think your statement is seriously in error.   But if this situation drags on I expect we'll hear from some of them.

Remember, China is financing the US deficit to the tune of 2 billion a day.   We are a debtor nation to them.    I think you may over estimate our ability to influence them.

You know, maybe they just have a new leader who appreciates the George Bush style of leadership - he's going to do what he thinks is right, and the rest of the world be damned.   That Chinese bill and the discussion around it reminded me an awful lot of our own first resolution against Iraq.   Remember how they said it didn't necessarily mean the use of military force?  How all other avenues would be pursued before resorting to a military option?

I think Taiwan's days are numbered, and have been since the explosion of trade and debt to China.   The fact the our military is currently so stretched makes this a particularly good time for the Chinese to ratchet up the pressure.

I wonder if the Chinese have any territorial disputes with the Japanese left over from WWII?

I wonder if the Chinese are working out a deal with North Korea to 'look the other way' as each nation pursues its territorial goals in the region?   A Chinese-NK military pact would be extremely unsettling.

If all the events in the world today were boiled down into a Diplomacy-style board game, personally I wouldn't want to be the US player.   The EU and China look like the strongest palyers to me.

[DREDIOCK]

Washington is lobbying strongly against European Union plans to lift a 15-year-old arms embargo against China, arguing that high-tech European weapons might be used against Taiwanese or U.S. forces.

Why on earth would the EU want to start selling high tech weapons to China?

Cept maybe for specific purpose of using against the USA. And potentially eventually even them.

Sorry but I see China as the largest single threat to the world today.

They certainly have the cannon fodder. And they havent gone on a campaign of conquest in a very very long time.
Which means they are probably due.

[oboe]

Originally posted by DREDIOCK
Why on earth would the EU want to start selling high tech weapons to China?

In my best impression of OneWordAnswer:  "Money".

[Toad]

Just give the Taiwanese some old, low-tech nukes and stand back. After all, spreading nukes around is no big deal right? I've read right here on this board that we shouldn't be deciding who can or can not have nukes.

Then if China wants Taiwan so bad, they can come for it. The Taiwanese can decide how badly they want their independence.

A family matter to be settled in the family.

I KNOW the UN won't stop China from taking Taiwan and I'm pretty sure the average American has little interest in seeing his son/daughter involved in that conflict.

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by oboe
In my best impression of OneWordAnswer:  "Money".

ahh so they wont let their own people have guns but they are willing to freely sell them to potential future enemies.

That makes sence.
To someone.
Somewhere.

[Nilsen]

Originally posted by DREDIOCK

They certainly have the cannon fodder. And they havent gone on a campaign of conquest in a very very long time.
Which means they are probably due.

With that logic, USA should deffinatly be done with the their campaigning. We should prolly watch out for those Icelandic maniacs too, they havent been on a rampage for some time now...  

[storch]

oboe nailed it.  china bankrolls the US.  it's the international equivalent of "dad may I borrow the car please, oh and your credit card too please " china is so far into our collective bowels from the wrong entrance that it could be considered our conjoined twin.

[Vudak]

Originally posted by NUKE


Poland is a lost cause.

Now, now, Nuke, give them some time! It can't be too easy for them with their best and brightest having been systematically slaughtered for over half a century.

[Suave]

Nuke is just reminding us why everybody hates him.

[Bodhi]

Originally posted by Skydancer
Exactly why is China so obsessed with getting Taiwan back? like China isn't big enough already?

The world is populated by some very crazy people!

What the hell is wrong with them leaving things the way they are!

because if they let Taiwan have independance, then the government will have lost face in the eyes of the people and more importantly the military.  When that happens, the Chinese government will see a succession of numerous other provinces as well.  They can not afford that.

[oboe]

Originally posted by Toad
Just give the Taiwanese some old, low-tech nukes and stand back. After all, spreading nukes around is no big deal right? I've read right here on this board that we shouldn't be deciding who can or can not have nukes.

Then if China wants Taiwan so bad, they can come for it. The Taiwanese can decide how badly they want their independence.

A family matter to be settled in the family.

I KNOW the UN won't stop China from taking Taiwan and I'm pretty sure the average American has little interest in seeing his son/daughter involved in that conflict.

You know, I don't know that the Chinese would be very happy with us if we tried that.   I wonder what their reaction would be?   Threaten to stop buying US govt notes and invest in the Euro instead?    An action like that would pull that bottom out of the US dollar and send interest rates skyrocketing.  

I think the US will probably have to rethink its commitment to defend Taiwan.   I'm not sure if we our signatories to a defense pact or if its more of a general promise to come to their aid, but odds are that it was made before China grew to be so dominant in our economy.

Regarding the EU lifting its ban to arms sales to China, why should the EU give the US position any more consideration than the US gave EU member nations positions' before we invaded Iraq?    Here is where we find out diplomacy is a two-way street.
The EU should do what is in its best interest, and that is clearly to expand trade with China.   The fact that it hurts the US is sauce for the goose.   This is worldwide competition for economic dominance, and I think we've already made it pretty clear to the EU how much we value their opinion.

[Rolex]

If you want to have some fun, go to Washington DC and ask anyone, "What about China?"

I understand they all cover their ears and run away screaming.  

[Toad]

In 1954, the US and Taiwan signed a mutual security pact. AFAIK, it's still in force.

I wouldn't give them nukes openly. I'd slip them to them, sort of like NK uranium is slipping out on subs and going to places unknown.

The Taiwanese have rockets/missiles. You slip them a few old nuke warheads, all cleaned of any US markings and using uranium/plutonium from non-US sources (yeah, I'm sure we have enough). Then let them hose one off into the ocean as a test, like the French did back in 1996. Maybe they could shoot it into the French test area.  

When asked, I'd lie about it like the Iranians and NK's do.