Chinese threats, they are not idle threats

[billyboy]

China is prepared to use nuclear weapons against the US if it is attacked by Washington during a confrontation over Taiwan, according to a senior Chinese military official. This from the Financial Times. Try to keep this in mind when you go to wal-mart or any other store that is heavily laden with Chinese made products that our country can't seem to get enough of these days.

[techweenie]

Not much risk of that, in reality. We owe them too much money.

[stevepaa]

They probably own a big chunk of our real estate also.

[mikester]

I don't shop at walmart.

[Moses]

Never happen. China is building a newer, better Taiwan. It's called Beijing. The urgency over Taiwan is slowly dissipating.

China's production is booming and we are the best customer. We'll find a way to keep things cordial.

[vash]

moses is right. i dont think china wants to be the bully in this case. all about saving face.

[RoninLB]

China has to play both sides to maintain population control. On the one side is the belief that the gov't will return China to its so called regional supremacy, and on the other is the logic of allowing the population to increase their standard of living through good economics.. The wild card is that it's a dictatorship which can become unstable rather quickly.

[legion]

Where's the international outrage?

Think of what would happen if we made such a statement...

[RallyJon]

Originally posted by legion
Where's the international outrage?

Think of what would happen if we made such a statement...

I don't think it needs to explicitly stated that the U.S. would use nuclear weapons to defend territory that we consider to be part of our country (say, Alaska) if the Chinese tried to "liberate" it. Not the same, you say? To them, it is.

[legion]

I don't see what their big beef is about Taiwan. Why don't they just grant it independence and show it up economically?

[gaijindabe]

The thing we need to worry about is a Falkland Islands type mis-adventure. The Argentines invaded at a time of domestic political unrest. Anti-govenment protests quickly turned to pro-govenment rallys after the invasion. Taiwan might be a tempting target if things became unstable within China.

But things are good for them right now, they are making money and growing.

[legion]

Originally posted by RallyJon
I don't think it needs to explicitly stated that the U.S. would use nuclear weapons to defend territory that we consider to be part of our country (say, Alaska)

I agree, but if we actually stated it, there would be all kinds of outrage.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by legion
I don't see what their big beef is about Taiwan. Why don't they just grant it independence and show it up economically?

You're being logical. A dictatorship has to twist reality to survive.

[legion]

Originally posted by RoninLB
You're being logical.

I often find that is my biggest fault. Especially when arguing with project managers...and my wife.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by gaijindabe
. Anti-govenment protests quickly turned to pro-govenment rallys after the invasion. Taiwan might be a tempting target if things became unstable within China.

That does make sense. I never thought of that one.

[Superman]

China and Taiwan have been performing these same dance steps for eons. Part of the dance is a "chest thump." It's a show, ladies and gentlemen. Get a bag of popcorn and relax.

[legion]

The part of the show that always worries me is when China starts firing missiles with dummy warheads over Taiwan.

[RoninLB]

Totalitarism by its very nature is unstable.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by legion

The part of the show that always worries me is when China starts firing missiles with dummy warheads over Taiwan.

I keep telling myself not to worry about that. That if it was a very big deal Japan, S Korea, etc would become nuclear armed. Kinda like my thinking about Iran's nuclear ambitions. If Iran was a very big problem Israel would take them out.

[Moses]

Originally posted by legion
I don't see what their big beef is about Taiwan. Why don't they just grant it independence and show it up economically?

That's a very practical, and european, concept. The French gave up Florida and the Louisiana "purchase". Spain gave up lots of the west.

The Chinese persistance in their claim to Taiwan is largely due to "face". China can not appear weak in this relationship. It's too bad, because the most sensible approach is exactly what you suggested. If done correctly, both sides would benefit politically and economically.