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It really depends on who is in charge. I'm reading Kissinger's "On China" at the moment, and Mao, who led the most populous country on Earth for a significant t
by davedx 2y ago
It really depends on who is in charge. I'm reading Kissinger's "On China" at the moment, and Mao, who led the most populous country on Earth for a significant time, was way more motivated by ideology and the notion that "struggle" was the highest priority, than he was by the comparative military strength of who China engaged in wars with.
That being said, he wasn't single minded either (e.g. he also mostly followed Chinese principles of not being overly interventionist, unlike the US), and his views did seem to gradually change over time.
But he also said things like: "We have a very large territory and a big population. Atomic bombs could not kill all of us."
Repeatedly.
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Nazi Germany and Japan weren't deterred at all by military strength either, I don't think? Again ideology overrode every other consideration with WW2? So I'm not sure if "deterrence" really helps prevent major conflicts at all...
- WalterBright 2y ago> Nazi Germany and Japan weren't deterred at all by military strength either Oh, yes they were! Hitler thought the Soviet Army was rotten from top to bottom, thought the British were weak and could be defeated by the Luftwaffe, and thought the US would never fight. He was right on all three counts, but the Soviets, British, and the US turned themselves into powerhouses. The Japanese were afraid of the US, and thought they could get the US to stay on the sidelines by knockout out the carriers in Pearl. How wrong they were.