Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis

[Biscuits]

Kinmen and Matsu are a good trade off for Pelosi's visit. Taking over the whole of Taiwan is just crazy at this point, special military operation or whatever

China should reserve that for when US actually provides open support to the rebels. Which US doesn't dare to do yet.

I do have to agree with @siegecrossbow that not even an attempted interception is weird. Seriously, it’s not like they were hiding Pelosi plane from public radar either. We all know the PLAAF is more then capable of intercepting warplanes.

It means that the goals changed from stopping her from landing to extracting something of equal or greater value than the upset made by Washington.

If anything, separatists should be more worried. The weakest response China could give was to just send 30 planes, crowd out the US planes, drop flares and "declare Chinese sovereignity" while flying around her, then she lands safely anyways and nothing more happens.

 

[SampanViking]

Well she was able to fly in
Will she find it quite as easy to fly out?

There is something about the notion of a series of Cyber attacks and security warnings that grounds all aircraft on the Island for the foreseeable future that I find not only appealing, but in line with my experience of the Chinese mindset.

Its a fine line from guest from pest.

 

[Topazchen]

Imperial Japan thought Americans were weak with their Hollywood and hedonism. And Japan arguably had the best equipment and best trained naval pilots during WWII, certainly better than America during the initial stages of the war.

America’s strength lies in its vast resources. It has the best piece of real estate on the planet with only 350 million people. The Native Americans took good care of this land. People here get to live in 3000 - 4000 sqf houses, drive 2-3 cars per family. You don't see that in Europe or anywhere else.

Lmaoo this is stupid. Where was that so-called strength during the Korean and Vietnam wars? Or does it go into hibernation ?
Again ,the war against Japan was in a different era, and now there are hypersonic missiles and nuclear bombs .The ultimate equalizers .
If Japan had nuclear bombs and the means to deliver them ,I'm sure you would not be taking about America's strengths.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

I do have to agree with @siegecrossbow that not even an attempted interception is weird. Seriously, it’s not like they were hiding Pelosi plane from public radar either. We all know the PLAAF is more then capable of intercepting warplanes.

Can the increased number and activity of US warplanes and warships in the Western Pacific be considered a contributing factor?

Also hoorah, reached #2000 post!

 

[Michaelsinodef]

In 10 years? Prob still better than most other countries, while getting other countries to produce products for it on the cheap. World is not being deglobalized, just more bifurcated.

Lmao, where the hell have you been? Or what kind of shell or privilleged life do you live?

Have you not seen how things have been going to shit in the US over the last decade?

More drug deaths than ever, more gun violence, more crime, more poverty etc. etc.

 

[horse]

This whole thing seems really weird.

Pelosi comes to Taiwan, and is accompanied by the US military.

China starts massive exercises at Taiwan, and the US military has already left with Pelosi.

Like, wtf, you know.

 

[Fedupwithlies]

The issue is that tangible and substantive matters is far less important on the global stage than perception is. Pelosi's visit changes nothing substantively, but it will make it seem like the PRC is unwilling to act on the public state. This will embolden the likes of the US, the UK, Australia, and India to push issues with China more confrontationally in the future. This will give ammunition and legitimacy to the pro-secessionist parties in Taiwan, since the perception of a threat from the PLA is significantly less than it had been before this crisis.

Tomorrow, China will still be the same China. They'll have the same airplanes, warships, submarines, missile forces, and carriers and they'll be building more. The appearance of China in popular perception, on the other hand, will suffer a massive blow from this fiasco. If the PRC does nothing drastic then they will inevitably pay a price for this in their unification efforts. It doesn't matter how strong China is. If the PLA looks weak or looks unwilling to start a conflict, then that makes peaceful reunification less likely and a violent one a much greater risk.

Look weak when you are strong, hm?

@SampanViking dude, I like the way you think

 

[Equation]

I just want to say... WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Finally coming out of your turtle shell!

 

[Petrolicious88]

It's also not true that every family has huge house and 2-3 cars. That's seriously the most insidious US propaganda I've ever heard. It wasn't too long ago that it was kinda true, but since 2008 fewer and fewer get to enjoy that standard of living.

Even if a family has a house and 2-3 cars, that's generational wealth... A house purchased 20+ years ago and cars 10+ years old.

Of course you can point to upper class people or politicians who live lavish, wealthy lives but so can the elite live like that in almost every country.

The war ain't over, we don't even know how covid's affected the economy for everyday Americans. Nevermind the Ukraine war recession.

No most people have 2 cars. Kids working side jobs often able to buy their own cars too. Average houses in the US is around 2500 sqf, with many people with much larger houses, and we are not talking about the super wealthy. Average house in Europe is prob half that.

 

[texx1]

what is the point of interception if you are not going to stop Pelosi from visiting TW

It plays better media wise domestically. It would show people that PLA did something relevant instead of just sitting on the sidelines. Chinese people need to know that PLA airforce at least tried to hinder Pelosi's public visit.