Dead Serious Stuff

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The Stars and Stripes Forever
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100...+race#project=ARMASIA0111&articleTabs=article

Asia's New Arms Race
As China grows wealthier and builds up its military, other nations in the region are taking note—and amassing weapons of their own.

At Mazagon Dock near the southern tip of Mumbai, hidden behind high concrete walls, hundreds of Indian workers are putting the finishing touches on the hulls of two 217-foot Scorpène-class attack submarines, the first of six slated to be built over the next few years.

"It goes without saying that India must be seriously concerned with the rise of China's strategic power, including its military and economic power," says Ashwani Kumar, member of parliament from India's ruling Congress party. "India has consistently opposed an arms race—but India will not be found wanting in taking all measures necessary for the effective safeguarding of its territorial integrity and national interests."

From the Arabian Sea to the Pacific Ocean, countries fearful of China's growing economic and military might—and worried that the U.S. will be less likely to intervene in the region—are hurtling into a new arms race.

In December, Japan overhauled its defense guidelines, laying plans to purchase five submarines, three destroyers, 12 fighters jets, 10 patrol planes and 39 helicopters. South Korea and Vietnam are adding subs. Arms imports are on the rise in Malaysia. The tiny city-state of Singapore, which plans to add two subs, is now among the world's top 10 arms importers. Australia plans to spend as much as $279 billion over the next 20 years on new subs, destroyers and fighter planes.

Together, these efforts amount to a simultaneous buildup of advanced weaponry in the Asia-Pacific region on a scale and at a speed not seen since the Cold War arms race between America and the Soviet Union.

The buildup is unfolding as the world's military balance appears to be shifting in tandem with its economic balance. China is beginning to build a military to match its powerful economy. This is happening as the U.S. and its staunchest allies, including Britain, are looking at flat or falling military spending—and as Russia is struggling to revive its armed forces in the post-Soviet era.

China is still far from challenging the U.S. for global military supremacy. But its recent actions have countries in the region planning for a much different future.

In Australia, a report published Monday by an influential defense think tank concludes that the China threat has sparked an "urgent need to refocus" military development "to offset and deter the rapidly expanding People's Liberation Army." The report by the Kokoda Foundation, prepared with input from senior defense officials, says Australia "cannot overlook the way that the scale, pattern and speed of the PLA's development is altering security in the Western Pacific."

Soldiers in India
"This is potentially the most demanding security situation faced since the Second World War," says Ross Babbage, author of the report. "This is not Mickey Mouse. This is dead serious stuff."

From WSJ...interesting stuff! Makes me wonder if we could fight three or four wars simultaneously...is our central focus on the Middle East the right thing to be doing right now? also been wondering about the nature of the training our troops undergo. Will we be prepared for a conventional war after a decade of transitioning almost entirely to counterinsurgency?


I kind of laughed at this statement:

China has said that its military modernization is not directed at any other country, and that its military spending is much lower than that of the U.S. "We do not engage in an arms race. We are not a military threat to any country," said President Hu Jintao during a visit to the U.S. last month. "China will never seek to dominate or pursue an expansionist policy."
 
I kind of laughed at this statement:

Hopefully, Congress will take note as it takes aim at the proposed DoD budget.

I thought the statement you quoted was amusing as well. It must be that the People's Repubic of China is spending sleepless nights worrying about an all-out invasion from the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal that could enslave all of the Chinese people and burn their cities.
 
Will the US intervene if China starts getting imperialistic and invades, for example, India? From my limited knowledge, I don't think we have any kind of alliance with India, or most of the countries in that region except for S Korea and Austrailia.
 
Will the US intervene if China starts getting imperialistic and invades, for example, India? From my limited knowledge, I don't think we have any kind of alliance with India, or most of the countries in that region except for S Korea and Austrailia.

My guess is that this is all REALLY about Taiwan, not India or other neighboring countries. PRC wants to position itself to make the US blink if PRC decides to flex its muscle in Taiwan.
 
Will the US intervene if China starts getting imperialistic and invades, for example, India? From my limited knowledge, I don't think we have any kind of alliance with India, or most of the countries in that region except for S Korea and Austrailia.

India has a lot of people...and nuclear weapons. It's about Taiwan.

With the number of times we've thrown our friends under the bus recently, diplomatically, I fear for Taiwan.
 
India has a lot of people...and nuclear weapons. It's about Taiwan.

With the number of times we've thrown our friends under the bus recently, diplomatically, I fear for Taiwan.

We had a great Taiwanese officer in my CCC class two years ago. They know they're screwed if China wants them back. They know we won't start a real war over it, nor cut off our economic nose to spite our face.
 
Three or four wars simulataneously? Short answer : No. Long answer : Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
A two front war is in itself a bad idea. Opening another two fronts just seems like lunacy to me. As a country, we may be powerful militarily, but nothing is invulnerable.
 
India has a lot of people...and nuclear weapons. It's about Taiwan.

With the number of times we've thrown our friends under the bus recently, diplomatically, I fear for Taiwan.

China taking Taiwan would be like Nazi Germany annexing Austria. Would we be smart enough to realize it's the same thing? Or would we do the same thing that was done back then?
 
China taking Taiwan would be like Nazi Germany annexing Austria. Would we be smart enough to realize it's the same thing? Or would we do the same thing that was done back then?
How do you figure that?
I don't see many similarities, at all.
 
China has put economic growth as its top national priority and I think there's some comfort in knowing that they won't do anything that will jeopardize that, foreign investments, and their standing in the international community (as if it has been positive!) So no, I dont think China would invade Taiwan or any of its East Asian neighbors. They would be internationally condemned if they really did. Anyway, how exactly does Taiwan pose a threat to China? I also don't see the similarities between Taiwan and Austria - would invading Taiwan help precipitate a world war? Who would come to Taiwan's defense?
 
I think Japan very well might intervene. And an aggressive action by China might stir up the North Koreans
 
I think Japan very well might intervene. And an aggressive action by China might stir up the North Koreans

No, Japan wouldn't. Japan still has a great deal of animosity with it's neighbors in the region.
 
China has put economic growth as its top national priority and I think there's some comfort in knowing that they won't do anything that will jeopardize that, foreign investments, and their standing in the international community (as if it has been positive!) So no, I dont think China would invade Taiwan or any of its East Asian neighbors. They would be internationally condemned if they really did. Anyway, how exactly does Taiwan pose a threat to China? I also don't see the similarities between Taiwan and Austria - would invading Taiwan help precipitate a world war? Who would come to Taiwan's defense?

Sorry, I'm confused about a point here. You're saying that the two are different because the annexation of Austria by Germany helped cause World War 2, right? How? I know it was before the start of WW2, but I didn't think that it in anyway provoked the German invasion of Poland.
 
Sorry, I'm confused about a point here. You're saying that the two are different because the annexation of Austria by Germany helped cause World War 2, right? How? I know it was before the start of WW2, but I didn't think that it in anyway provoked the German invasion of Poland.

I think he was just using the annexation of Austria as an example of appeasement prior to the invasion of Poland
 
I think he was just using the annexation of Austria as an example of appeasement prior to the invasion of Poland

Not exactly appeasement - just the fact that no one is obligated to defend Taiwan militarily just as no one was bound to the defense of Austria. So how would any conflict between China and Taiwan draw involvement of other countries?
 
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