I have taken a lot of flak over this in the past but here goes. Normal logic does not work with the Chinese. There was a special called “Fire and Ice” on the History channel with this quote “They are chess players we are poker players” Translation , they don’t bluff and are willing to sacrifice pieces to get what they want. During the Korean war a Times correspondent said "they expend soldiers like we expend Ammunition". How many Chinese died in and around the frozen hell of Chosin, at least 4 army groups in an effort to wipe out the 1st Marine Division and the parts of the 7th infantry division at that location. They didn’t get it done and didn’t look back either. Look at the Boxer rebellion and the Japanese occupation, the simple fact is the Chinese Leadership cares not a wit about losses combat or otherwise.
The Chinese will start a war if they perceive an advantage for them in the end. If they loose 100 soldiers for each one we lose its probably a loss ratio they are willing to take and can take population wise. (After all aren’t they are trying to reduce their population anyway)
Now lets talk help, forget NATO, they cant take care of problems in their own yard, they wont want to travel half way around the world to play in a party on the pacific rim, against a foe that attacks in hordes and doesn’t care about losses. The Japanese might if they would loose their fear of international conflicts but down count on it(unless it affects their wallets). New Zealand or Australia maybe but their armed forces are so small and they have a limited ability to support them outside their borders.
I think the Chines are going to start a war or at least use the prospect to get their way, the facts have been indicating it for several years. They have spent an inordinate amount of time and money stealing technology from the west to improve their military. They have worked hard at getting US and NATO officers to show them how to improve their command and control systems as well as their logistics infrastructure, to support large bodies of men in the field for long periods. (a major Achilles heel in Korea) They have invested heavily in training, new infantry weapons and ballistic missiles. They are trying to build base in the Spratley islands, which would give them control over the straights of Malaka. They have gained control of the Panama canal by default, so they have control of 2 of the 5 choke points for shipping entering or leaving the Pacific ocean. The two major ones at that. They have built a listening station on Tarawa which sits astride the US Pacific Missile test range and along the lines of communication and supply from the US to Australia and New Zealand.
There has been a lot more in the news over the past few years if you want to do some digging.
The simple fact is they have spent too much time and money on their modernization of the military in the last 10 years to be doing much else.
Ok now come back and tell me I am some kind of conspiracy theorist nut and that the Chinese just want to be out friends.
I don’t pretend to know what they are up to but when I see a film clip of a Chinese regiment practicing a amphibious assault with a knock off of a M-14 rifle I get concerned on two levels. One, what are they training for and two, I would not want to face an M-14 if all I had was an M-16 they have got me by both weight of shot and range.
[This message has been edited by Alan B (edited March 10, 2000).]
The Chinese will start a war if they perceive an advantage for them in the end. If they loose 100 soldiers for each one we lose its probably a loss ratio they are willing to take and can take population wise. (After all aren’t they are trying to reduce their population anyway)
Now lets talk help, forget NATO, they cant take care of problems in their own yard, they wont want to travel half way around the world to play in a party on the pacific rim, against a foe that attacks in hordes and doesn’t care about losses. The Japanese might if they would loose their fear of international conflicts but down count on it(unless it affects their wallets). New Zealand or Australia maybe but their armed forces are so small and they have a limited ability to support them outside their borders.
I think the Chines are going to start a war or at least use the prospect to get their way, the facts have been indicating it for several years. They have spent an inordinate amount of time and money stealing technology from the west to improve their military. They have worked hard at getting US and NATO officers to show them how to improve their command and control systems as well as their logistics infrastructure, to support large bodies of men in the field for long periods. (a major Achilles heel in Korea) They have invested heavily in training, new infantry weapons and ballistic missiles. They are trying to build base in the Spratley islands, which would give them control over the straights of Malaka. They have gained control of the Panama canal by default, so they have control of 2 of the 5 choke points for shipping entering or leaving the Pacific ocean. The two major ones at that. They have built a listening station on Tarawa which sits astride the US Pacific Missile test range and along the lines of communication and supply from the US to Australia and New Zealand.
There has been a lot more in the news over the past few years if you want to do some digging.
The simple fact is they have spent too much time and money on their modernization of the military in the last 10 years to be doing much else.
Ok now come back and tell me I am some kind of conspiracy theorist nut and that the Chinese just want to be out friends.
I don’t pretend to know what they are up to but when I see a film clip of a Chinese regiment practicing a amphibious assault with a knock off of a M-14 rifle I get concerned on two levels. One, what are they training for and two, I would not want to face an M-14 if all I had was an M-16 they have got me by both weight of shot and range.
[This message has been edited by Alan B (edited March 10, 2000).]
