this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2024
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[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (66 children)

Archive link here https://archive.is/kJlQW

China has no incentive to invade Taiwan. Geographically there's nowhere but the heavily fortified western side of the island to land an amphibious assault. And even if you get a beach head there, it's not Normandy, there's sheer fucking cliffs, and then MORE mountains. China doesn't have the Navy to setup a blockade or the carriers to setup an air bridge and if they did it'll be Antoniv all over again.

The Taiwan government isn't trying to unify the "two Chinas" anymore as Chiang Kai-shek and Sun Li-Jen have been dead a long while. The PLA or what's left of it does not want control over mainland China and the current ruling Taiwanese government are happy to create 60% of the worlds super conductors. In fact they have Thermite and other destructive charges setup in the fabs in case china invades. There's other fabs in the US or EU they can spin up with engineers and personnel that will likely be swept away by the US or Japan or South Korea.

This is saber rattling from the Pentagon and a distraction from Pooh Bear's own internal problems. Nobody wants war in Taiwan most of all the Chinese.

However it would be very profitable for defense contractors. Hey, I should write an article about that.

Edit: sorry if it wasn't clear in my tone, I do not like China and do not support their foreign policy. People in Taipei and across Taiwan are very very worried. And likely as not it's so Xi can feel big after the Olympics. It's terrible that they're taking advantage of such global strife to pull this again. With Iran and Israel playing brinkmanship, the genocide in Palestine, the ongoing war in Ukraine... A German naval vessel is waiting for the go ahead to cross international waters.

Edit 2: I have sprinkled references to support my points throughout my comment to hopefully form a cogent thought from the word salad I originally wrote. Further reading for those interested:

https://www.cfr.org/article/why-china-would-struggle-invade-taiwan

https://www.newsweek.com/china-taiwan-blockade-invasion-us-navy-pacific-fleet-admiral-samuel-paparo-1749139

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_Defense_Treaty_between_the_United_States_and_the_Republic_of_China

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (18 children)

Nobody is saying invading Taiwan would be a good idea, the CCP has been very consistent in stating that they are willing to do it though.

I personally thought Ukraine wouldn't be invaded by Russia because it would make no sense and go against Russia's interests. Turns out I was half right, but it happened anyway.

So let's hope that it's all sabre rattling and continue planning for the worst.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (4 children)

Russia invaded Ukraine twice before there was a war, Putin took Georgia before that, very little international response happened. It wasn't until Ukraine had the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 before anyone was even concerned about Ukraine and when Zelensky was elected, a comedian, Putin thought he could have his special operation and assassinate Zelensky.

There's none of that in the last 30 years with Taiwan. Unlike Ukraine in 2015; Taiwan has very strong mutual defense treaties with Japan and the US, strong trading partners in the EU. There's a German Naval Vessel standing by to join the fight

The position the US holds about Taiwan and making it rain "hellfire from drones" tells you all you need to know. They just last month let Ukraine use HIMARS in Russia, and Ukraine took Kursk.

Chinese troop numbers are down, their equipment isn't doing well in Ukraine and their pilots are using solid fuel from missiles to cook hot noodle on cold days.

Now if this article was about the Chinese "third navy" I'd understand the rhetoric but it isn't.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yeah that's a good point, the situation is not really all that analogous. I certainly hope you're right. Maybe they can even stop harrassing Taiwan one day too.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

That unfortunately is never likely to stop. I wish Xi would let it go.

He's facing internal struggles of looking weak to the military. https://www.businessinsider.com/china-military-loyal-communist-party-purges-xi-jinping-speech-2024-7?op=1

I mean fuck they just got a command structure. Until the 2000s the generals instructed the soldiers and the soldiers taught the generals.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2018/11/chinas-military-has-no-combat-experience-does-it-matter.html

They can't even project enough power in Africa to keep Chinese nationals safe, look up Central African Republic Chinese Nationals if you like.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I think you're right on this one, I don't hold out much hope for it but I can dream. For now the status quo will have to do.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Keep on dreaming friend and may they be pleasant ones. It's a curse that we live in such interesting times.

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