Re:What happens when a Pacific island upsets China
by Retric on Sunday August 19, 2018 @08:17PM
(#17796958)
China has nuclear weapons, so in terms of total war the direct outcome is not in question.
The issue is Taiwan is capable of putting up enough of a fight to make it loud internationally and painful domestically. The population does not want to join a poorly run country with 1/4th it’s per capita GDP. It would be able to retaliate and hit major Chinease cities making it an extremely expensive war etc etc. And after they won they would not have an prosperous nation just a huge and angry mess.
PS: Most interestingly the people on the ground in Taiwan with the most information are scaling back military spending. So, presumably they believe the threat of war is minimal.
Re:What happens when a Pacific island upsets China
by jonathankoren on Sunday August 19, 2018 @09:27PM
(#17797182)
Honestly. I don’t know where you’re getting your information. Given your out of date information, and a cavalier toss about using nuclear weapons, I don’t think you’re nearly as well informed as you think you are.
FYI: China has a no-first use policy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_and_weapons_of_mass_dest...
Being an island, Taiwan always had to rely on holding off an invading force for as long as possible. This historically meant until the US Navy could reinforce its defenses. Now with China’s anti access area denial strategy, this is becoming a less certain strategy.[1]
[0] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/world/asia/china-taiwan-m...
[1] https://thediplomat.com/2017/05/chinas-a2ad-challenge-in-the...