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He's a man of war. It's his job to prepare those under his command for non-peaceful scenarios. He would be failing at this if he did not instill discipline and
by whynotminot 4y ago
He's a man of war. It's his job to prepare those under his command for non-peaceful scenarios. He would be failing at this if he did not instill discipline and rigor into the forces he's responsible for. It starts with putting them in the mindset for battle.
It's not his job to make peace. It's his job to put a well-honed weapon into the hands of the Statesman back in Washington. It is their purview to actually preserve the peace through diplomacy.
But make no mistake, the peace starts with China understanding that the weapon in-hand is sharp and ready.
- seanmcdirmid 4y agoThe guy said war was possible, well, duh, it’s always possible. Is it more likely? Ya, if China makes a military play for Taiwan, the USA is most definitely getting involved (but you think Russia’s failure in the Ukraine would have dissuaded them?). It would be dumb for America to assume no war is possible as dumb as it would be for America to instigate that war themselves.
- wheelerof4te 4y agoWhat is the USA's goal in Taiwan? Why should USA risk WWIII because of it? And what is the USA even doing in China's sphere of influence, if not provoke? Do you see Chinese shipps patrolling the Mexican bay?
- whynotminot 4y agoUSA's goal is Taiwan that continues to govern itself freely. This has been stated many times over. China's sphere of influence? Are you also an apologist for Russia's adventures within their claimed "sphere of influence" ?
- wheelerof4te 4y agoI see how the Ukraine is governing itself "freely", ever since the coup in 2014th.
- whynotminot 4y ago> the Ukraine If it wasn't already clear, you've pretty much outed yourself.
- mytailorisrich 4y agoThe Kool Aid is not to be drunk. What you state is the PR for the masses, not what the game is really about. The US's objective is to keep China divided and as weak as possible. Taiwan is at at important strategic location and it suits the US's interests that it does not reunite with mainland China and stays dependent on the US. The type of government in Taiwan is irrelevant (as long as it's not communist) and really it's only desirable that Taiwan be governing itself in that it implies weakness. In any case, it is extremely unlikely that the US would attack China in case of an invasion of Taiwan.
- whynotminot 4y agoTaiwan not being part of China does little or nothing to "weaken" them. It's sort of like arguing that Peurto Rico being independent would destabilize the United States. China chooses to make Taiwan a big deal to them, but it really doesn't have to be. The United States for decades has tried to make Taiwan not a big deal, creating policies of strategic ambiguity, cozying closer to the PRC, while still standing up for Taiwan's right to be independent. If you wanna try to go all real-politik here, sure it's useful to the United States to hold something back from China that they're weirdly fixated on. But these days the real value of Taiwan is mostly about semi-conductor supply chains. China's antagonism and petulance toward Taiwan is an own-goal they choose to continue making. It's not the United State's fault, and it doesn't have to be this way.
- seanmcdirmid 4y agoChina would inevitably get into conflict with the USA in the event of a Taiwan invasion because the USA has focused much of its military resources in asia in the Ryukyus (on purpose).
- mytailorisrich 4y agoThe Ryukyus are not part of Taiwan so can sit comfortably and watch along with the US troops stationed there. China is not going to attack them. The US have no troops stationed in Taiwan equally on purpose: to make sure they will NOT be dragged into a war with China.
- FearlessNebula 4y agoDevil’s advocate: Surely we wouldn’t go to war on Taiwan’s behalf solely to support their independence. It would be to guarantee our access to their microchips. So why not produce those ourselves, and end our dependence on both China and Taiwan.
- trashtester 4y agoObviously that process has already started. So if Xi is smart, he delays the invasion until the US and Europe have enough domestic fabs to be independent of Taiwan/TSMC.
- whynotminot 4y agoThis would be the smart move for Xi. Well, the smartest dumb move, anyway. The Chinese fixation on claiming Taiwan is already a serious waste of their mental energies, but the real cost for making such a move at any time would be massive. Even without Western involvement. Never the less, we've seen men do stupider things for pride. See: Ukraine.
- trashtester 4y ago> The Chinese fixation on claiming Taiwan is already a serious waste of their mental energies, but the real cost for making such a move at any time would be massive. Different people seem to have different value systems. The "costs" involved may not concern Xi all that much, provided he "wins".
- whynotminot 4y agoI sometimes wonder if Xi has realized that Taiwan is more valuable independent. Xi gets to sell his populace on the idea of a united West intent on shaming and restraining China, and can point to Taiwan as a tangible embodiment of this. Hell, we've got genuine believers (...or shills) even in these comments talking about how US support for Taiwan is all just a ploy to weaken China. If Xi makes a move on Taiwan, he turns China into a Russia-like pariah to the West and bears an immense cost in lives and materiel. For what gain exactly? Taiwan is worth more as a bogeyman he can point to for nationalistic rallying than as an actual possession.
- jeremyjh 4y agoThe US goal has been the same for 70 years: to maintain its global hegemony.
- mensetmanusman 4y agoTaiwan has asked the US to be more helpful there. Countries can have preferences outside of supposed spheres of influence.
- wheelerof4te 4y agoHe's a warmonger, the same as 95% of your presidents were warmongers. Except Trump. He was a man of peace and as such, he had to be removed.
- whynotminot 4y agoWhatever you say, comrade.