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Originally Posted by Oberon
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LOL I'm reading that right now! Soooo.... don't spoil it I'm at the part where the PLA has just started to cross the Russian border and the US is moving the armored troops on the trans-Siberian railway.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oberon
I do ponder when they'll make their final move with Taiwan, they're patient, I'll give them that, and they plan faaaar ahead, but I can't see their patience lasting forever, particularly when they finish their naval plans.
The make or break question is, what does the US do? I don't think there's a lot they can do, although it would be a political disaster to lose Taiwan to the PRC and not have the US attempt to support Taiwan because it would signal to all the little independence movements within China which have been suppressed over the years (Tibet comes to mind) that the ally they bank all their hopes on will not and cannot support them. The myth of American invincibility will be shattered and give great encouragement to all the US's enemies.
If the US does protect though, it's going to be hit hard and it knows it.  |
Well their naval building has not focused on increasing the number of Anphibs much rather on increasing their capability. China has been getting rid of a lot of its older ships lately rather than hanging on to them when they have newer ships in the fleet.
This is an interesting read on the subject of China invading Taiwan:
www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2009/RAND_MG888.pdf
^use direct link and not the linked text.