Taiwan

[Ashtree]

Except that debacle was firmly on the idiot bidens' shoulders, twenty years sacrifice just thrown away............no wonder then that China is taunting him.

Yaw’ll still taken in by yesterday’s man….

 

[Exfarmer]

The truth is China could swamp Taiwan before the Americans could muster a response. The Amercan Taiwan act does not guarantee defense, just the supply of military hardware to repulse an attack. I suspect there is already a very large stock anti missile and aircraft missiles based in Taiwan, but the Chinese mainland is far too close for Taiwan to withstand a very determined attack.
However China is a long game player and unlikely to do anything perfunctorily unless it has an internal crisis which requires a diversion for the civil population. The standard response of dictators since time began.
Is it possible Evergrande is this crisis?

 

[Roger Perry]

Yaw’ll still taken in by yesterday’s man….

The truth is China could swamp Taiwan before the Americans could muster a response. The Amercan Taiwan act does not guarantee defense, just the supply of military hardware to repulse an attack. I suspect there is already a very large stock anti missile and aircraft missiles based in Taiwan, but the Chinese mainland is far too close for Taiwan to withstand a very determined attack.
However China is a long game player and unlikely to do anything perfunctorily unless it has an internal crisis which requires a diversion for the civil population. The standard response of dictators since time began.
Is it possible Evergrande is this crisis?

Without the wests' insatiable appetite for cheap goods China would be in a totally different position, so in a way we only have ourselves to blame. The massive amount of goods produced gives them the power to thumb their nose at the world.
While we we in the west worry about climate change and self imposed restrictions, China carries on polluting..............instead of flexing some collective muscle the west meekly comply.
Our grandchildrens grandechildren will curse us for it.

 

[Exfarmer]

Without the wests' insatiable appetite for cheap goods China would be in a totally different position, so in a way we only have ourselves to blame. The massive amount of goods produced gives them the power to thumb their nose at the world.
While we we in the west worry about climate change and self imposed restrictions, China carries on polluting..............instead of flexing some collective muscle the west meekly comply.
Our grandchildrens grandechildren will curse us for it.

The Chinese have actually gone for Gas big time and this is part of their problem at the moment. But we in the west cannot absolve ourselves for China's pollution since we have just exported all our heavy industry to them
you are totally correct on the last line if we do not resolve this looming crisis

 

[Lazy Sod]

I don't understand why the communist Chinese didn't take Taiwan when they had the revolution in 1946 to 1949.

 

[Easedoff]

I don't understand why the communist Chinese didn't take Taiwan when they had the revolution in 1946 to 1949.

Because the Americans were based and had a heavy presence there after WW2?
Which I think I heard they still do.
And many Japanese (pow's)?
Probably completely wrong.

 

[Exfarmer]

I don't understand why the communist Chinese didn't take Taiwan when they had the revolution in 1946 to 1949.

I think it was most likely the logistical challenge of ferrying an army across the 100 mile straight and then attacking an enemy who were well dug in.Even today a prospect not to be undertaken lightly and probably at very heavy cost in life. Taiwan is much like Switzerland very mountainous and easy to defend.
Much would depend on the determination of the Taiwanese army to defend itself. I hope we never live to see the answer!

 

[ollie989898]

Except that debacle was firmly on the idiot bidens' shoulders, twenty years sacrifice just thrown away............no wonder then that China is taunting him.

Err leaving Afghanistan has been on the cards for decades and the airport bomb was ISIL, not the Taliban. Are you at all surprised some terrorists wanted one last chance to attack Americans?

For Biden being a weakling and the US having no policy on China you might want to have a good long look at the Pacific ocean right now which is currently home to 4 aircraft carriers all around Taiwan. That is a lot of air power for which China has no answer.

 

[ollie989898]

There are apparently two US aircraft carriers and HMS Queen Elizabeth, part of a larger flotilla, along with UK nuclear subs carrying out training operations alongside Japanese subs in the south east pacific. I think there has been a strategic mobilisation of the wests military capacity to this area of the world away from the middle east whilst the Chinese air force are carrying out operations over Taiwan.

I dont pretend to know whats happening, I havent a clue, it just all seems too coincidental to me and a bit unnerving.

4 carriers in the Pacific now, including QE.

The Americans have a LOT of submarines and even their little ones can carry twice the firepower of a UK sub. You can bet good money that the Pacific is crawling with submarines right now, UK, USA, Australian and Japanese. Even though the Australian and Japanese boats are only diesel-electric, if they are able to run in and out of friendly waters (Taiwan, Philippines, Japan, etc) then they can be fudging lethal in and around shallow or coastal areas because any enemy vessel has limited routes into and out of the South China sea.

Where nuclear powered boats score big is in endurance and their speed. They can transit between areas fast and can run down any surface ship afloat with ease. It is no wonder the Australians want US nuclear subs, the Pacific is a big place and much of is their back yard.

 

[ollie989898]

I don't understand why the communist Chinese didn't take Taiwan when they had the revolution in 1946 to 1949.

Because they were pretty militarily inept, their country was broke and they had no way of moving forces in an operation of that kind. Even in Korea, the Chinese army was ill equipped and trained.

 

[Roger Perry]

Err leaving Afghanistan has been on the cards for decades and the airport bomb was ISIL, not the Taliban. Are you at all surprised some terrorists wanted one last chance to attack Americans?

For Biden being a weakling and the US having no policy on China you might want to have a good long look at the Pacific ocean right now which is currently home to 4 aircraft carriers all around Taiwan. That is a lot of air power for which China has no answer.

Yes, its' been on the cards for years but the manner in which it was handled was a slap in the face to all who served, leaving people and equipment behind was disgraceful and will not be forgotten.
having bidens handlers running the show at a time like this is a very scary prospect.

 

[Ashtree]

Yes, its' been on the cards for years but the manner in which it was handled was a slap in the face to all who served, leaving people and equipment behind was disgraceful and will not be forgotten.
having bidens handlers running the show at a time like this is a very scary prospect.

Old draft dodger Bone Spurs, would have done a much better job.

 

[ollie989898]

Yes, its' been on the cards for years but the manner in which it was handled was a slap in the face to all who served, leaving people and equipment behind was disgraceful and will not be forgotten.
having bidens handlers running the show at a time like this is a very scary prospect.

The manner of leaving?

What did you prefer then?

Whatever happened, the Taliban were gonna overrun the ANA and take the country. Or did you want your guys in there for the next 100 years trying to keep the peace? The UN wouldn't do it. It isn't possible to fight for a country when the population don't even want to fight for their own country. Their understanding/interpretation of their world and country is totally opposite to those of Westerners.

The USA achieved it's mission. They went in, caught or destroyed a lot of senior Taliban and AQ personalities and eventually found and caught Bin Laden. They then spent the remainder of their time in a nation-building phase which, though it had obvious humanitarian benefits, wasn't going to work because the country isn't that homogenous- it's spilt along tribal and social boundaries into groups who don't particularly get on at the best of times.

Unfortunately, the Taliban are a regional force of insurgents who want to control the country and run it in a way that meets their religious beliefs. Whilst they may be tactically resourceful and skilled, they aren't known for their political prowess or ability to manage a country. They may well turn out to be very oppressive of the people who live under them, but in that way they are not that different from a whole host of unpleasant personalities who currently designate themselves as a head of state or government. They are a no-news faction in a no-news part of the world. If they persist in committing terror attacks, or aiding or sheltering known terrorists, the USA and it's allies can do what they normally do to governments that do this- drone strikes, airstrikes or sanctions and the like. They can also finance or support opposition groups who oppose the Taliban. Again, this is already happening in plenty of parts of the world and the price in American blood is extremely low.

I just think we should all be glad our personnel are back home and we aren't spending their time, sweat or blood trying to achieve something that if we were honest was probably not a realistic aim anyway.

What happens in Afghanistan from now on is anyone's guess. I would guess some of their population will emigrate- which they have done for decades anyway, even when the Russians were there. Others will stay. Others will join or form opposition groups. They may well fight the Taliban or try to capture and retain their own part of the country under their own control. This is the way it has been in that country for generations anyway.

 

[nivilla1982]

Communist China was in no shape military wise to take over Taiwan after defeating the KMT/ROC forces on mainland China in the Chinese Civil War.
The Red Chinese also had distractions in terms of the Korean War, KMT guerrilla forces in various parts of China and the US 7th Fleet in the vicinity of Taiwan
The Red Chinese "Spymaster" on the island was also apparently "turned" into a double agent limiting communist Chinese operations.

 

[Roger Perry]

The manner of leaving?

What did you prefer then?

Whatever happened, the Taliban were gonna overrun the ANA and take the country. Or did you want your guys in there for the next 100 years trying to keep the peace? The UN wouldn't do it. It isn't possible to fight for a country when the population don't even want to fight for their own country. Their understanding/interpretation of their world and country is totally opposite to those of Westerners.

The USA achieved it's mission. They went in, caught or destroyed a lot of senior Taliban and AQ personalities and eventually found and caught Bin Laden. They then spent the remainder of their time in a nation-building phase which, though it had obvious humanitarian benefits, wasn't going to work because the country isn't that homogenous- it's spilt along tribal and social boundaries into groups who don't particularly get on at the best of times.

Unfortunately, the Taliban are a regional force of insurgents who want to control the country and run it in a way that meets their religious beliefs. Whilst they may be tactically resourceful and skilled, they aren't known for their political prowess or ability to manage a country. They may well turn out to be very oppressive of the people who live under them, but in that way they are not that different from a whole host of unpleasant personalities who currently designate themselves as a head of state or government. They are a no-news faction in a no-news part of the world. If they persist in committing terror attacks, or aiding or sheltering known terrorists, the USA and it's allies can do what they normally do to governments that do this- drone strikes, airstrikes or sanctions and the like. They can also finance or support opposition groups who oppose the Taliban. Again, this is already happening in plenty of parts of the world and the price in American blood is extremely low.

I just think we should all be glad our personnel are back home and we aren't spending their time, sweat or blood trying to achieve something that if we were honest was probably not a realistic aim anyway.

What happens in Afghanistan from now on is anyone's guess. I would guess some of their population will emigrate- which they have done for decades anyway, even when the Russians were there. Others will stay. Others will join or form opposition groups. They may well fight the Taliban or try to capture and retain their own part of the country under their own control. This is the way it has been in that country for generations anyway.

Yes the manner of leaving
biden was in so much hurry he left not only people who had supported us for 20 years but $80 billions' worth of high grade equipment.............he did not even take the time to destroy it
He turned his back on the people some of who will get their throats cut for helping the USA but he turned his back all who served, he is a disgrace to the office.

 

[steveR]

Except that debacle was firmly on the idiot bidens' shoulders, twenty years sacrifice just thrown away............no wonder then that China is taunting him.

Not his finest moment.

He should have chucked Trump's grandiose posturing about a withdrawal from Afghanistan into the long grass. Taken a few months to get a proper appreciation of what wa happening on the ground.

 

[steveR]

4 carriers in the Pacific now, including QE.

Also known as Targets... especially if/when close to Chinese mainland and their ground launched missile batteries!

 

[Easedoff]

Not his finest moment.

He should have chucked Trump's grandiose posturing about a withdrawal from Afghanistan into the long grass. Taken a few months to get a proper appreciation of what wa happening on the ground.

Maybe Trump would have modified/reversed his decision had he been returned as President, but set a path for Biden to go down that he knew he would follow to his detriment?

 

[ollie989898]

Also known as Targets... especially if/when close to Chinese mainland and their ground launched missile batteries!

Nah- you gotta find them first. Same way the US has been hiding carriers for years. The Pacific is a big place.

 

[ollie989898]

Yes the manner of leaving
biden was in so much hurry he left not only people who had supported us for 20 years but $80 billions' worth of high grade equipment.............he did not even take the time to destroy it
He turned his back on the people some of who will get their throats cut for helping the USA but he turned his back all who served, he is a disgrace to the office.

What equipment got left behind, please show us.