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Re:China Moon Mission: Aiming for 2030 Lunar Landing by Animats on Tuesday February 03, 2026 @05:01PM (#46877945)
> If China gets bogged down in Taiwan...

Look at the geography. Taiwan is a long, narrow island. All the important parts are in a narrow plain on the west side, facing China. There's only about 20km of depth from the sea.

The war in Ukraine is like fighting over Iowa, one farm at a time. Taiwan is not like that.

Re:China Moon Mission: Aiming for 2030 Lunar Landing by JumpCrisscross on Tuesday February 03, 2026 @07:00PM (#46879298)
> There's only about 20km of depth from the sea

Don’t underestimate the stopping power of water. Taiwan will be China’s first combined-arms assault with a critical amphibious component.

> war in Ukraine is like fighting over Iowa, one farm at a time. Taiwan is not like that

Wide-open plains are traditionally easier for large armies to conquer than mountains.

Re:China Moon Mission: Aiming for 2030 Lunar Landing by 827a on Wednesday February 04, 2026 @12:31AM (#46881846)
Bro: China literally has not fought a war in over 50 years. Taiwan is rich; lots of urban combat; lots of jungle & mountains; a resistant population; motivated & rich allies; China doesn’t remotely have the naval capability to fully blockade the island; Xi’s favorite pastime is disappearing experienced generals. A full-on China/Taiwan war will never happen, and if it did, it would kill 30 years of industrial and geopolitical progress.
Re:China Moon Mission: Aiming for 2030 Lunar Landing by boojums on Wednesday February 04, 2026 @03:38PM (#46891357)
If China has not fought a war in 50 years, how do they have experienced generals? There is no evidence Xi is an incompetent madman.