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There's a weird moral element to these discussions though. Lots of people think this is "wrong," or that the CIA is accusing the Chinese intelligence services o
by ellius 7y ago
There's a weird moral element to these discussions though. Lots of people think this is "wrong," or that the CIA is accusing the Chinese intelligence services of doing something wrong, whereas other people admit that all countries play the game and simply are showing this as a legitimate threat. That confusion between morality and cold threat analysis confounds a lot of national security discussions.
- CyanBird 7y ago> simply are showing this as a legitimate threat The issue is with the perspective, China is certainty a "legitimate threat" to the US, at least from a technological perspective, the problem is that China IS NOT a threat to the rest of the world or at least not in the same degree it is to the hegemonic power of the US, meanwhile the US indeed IS a technological and military threat to countries around the globe, so wherever the US and its agencies gaslight about China being a threat, it is always too funny, when you remember that the US has all sorts of military bases, drones subs and spy satellites deployed, not to mention it is already spying digitally on the entire planet (this conversation included ofc)
- dba7dba 7y agoChina had not set up military bases around the world in the past because they "did NOT have" the ability to do so. Now that the nation has the fund, they are certainly starting to do so. The Chinese army set up a major base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa just a few years ago. It is the PLAN's first overseas military base and was built at a cost of US$590 million. I'm sure it won't be the last. If China can do what US can, they will do it. To think otherwise would just be naive.
- everybodyknows 7y agoChina is doing what the US could do but doesn't: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/05/03/two-us-airmen-injured-by-chinese-lasers-in-djibouti/ https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/05/03/two-us-airmen-inj...
- zaro 7y ago> If China can do what US can, they will do it. To think otherwise would just be naive. Thats a bit of overstatement don't you think. Its very different culture after all, and you are speculating based only from the American exceptionalasim viewpoint which I think is very very outdated.
- Teever 7y agoIt's not a statement on culture but human nature. Every country in the world would be an empire like the US if they only could. Its a matter of opportunity not motivation. The bigger issue is what would China do with all that power? We know what the US does with it and I don't think a world lead by China would be as nice a place as a world run by America. It depends on what you want. Me, I want a world with democracy and due process. I don't see anything like that eminating from China and I doubt I ever will.
- caprese 7y ago> Every country in the world would be an empire like the US if they only could. Not every country has an expansionist policy Surprise.
- Teever 7y agoAnd I don't have a policy regarding dating super models. do you know why? Because I don't have the opportunity to do that thing so I don't plan for it. Rest assured if that was a thing I could do the. I would certainly have a policy regarding it. Its the same for countries and expansionism. Those that can, do. Those that can't, dream.
- Leary 7y agoNo. China does not even see the US's world wide system of military bases as something worthy to be mimicked.