Taiwan.

[GornikDaze]

There seems an inevitability that this thread will be at similar page numbers to the Ukraine thread before too long. I hope I’m wrong :(

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

Based on that argument we should have let the Argies own the Falklands? Or the French invade the channel Islands?

Probably - the US certainly thought we should leave the Falklands and it was one of the few issues that soiled the Thatcher/Reagan bromance. We have as much right to the Falklands as India, chunks of Africa, Gibraltar and other former colonies I suppose. Channel Islands may be a little different and without knowing their history I gues they have been french and English at various points in history.

 

[west didsblue]

Probably - the US certainly thought we should leave the Falklands and it was one of the few issues that soiled the Thatcher/Reagan bromance. We have as much right to the Falklands as India, chunks of Africa, Gibraltar and other former colonies I suppose. Channel Islands may be a little different and without knowing their history I gues they have been french and English at various points in history.

They were part of the Duchy of Normandy before France took it over.

 

[metalblue]

I think China's take on liberty is different to ours.

And different to Taiwan’s…

 

[grunge]

There seems an inevitability that this thread will be at similar page numbers to the Ukraine thread before too long. I hope I’m wrong :(

To be honest I dont see it in this case. China will make a lot of noise and it will go back to the old stand off in a couple of days/weeks in my ( optimistic ) view.

China will have been paying very close attention to what is going on in Ukraine and will avoid that at all costs.

 

[metalblue]

No, I disagree. Taiwan elected this current government primarily because of its anti reunification stance.
Edit: But back to why this thread started. Couldn't Pelosi just have held back instead of visiting. One thing is for certain, if an invasion happens she won't be the one getting killed.

The direction of travel for Hong Kong was clear by those elections.

 

[west didsblue]

To be honest I dont see it in this case. China will make a lot of noise and it will go back to the old stand off in a couple of days/weeks in my ( optimistic ) view.

China will have been paying very close attention to what is going on in Ukraine and will avoid that at all costs.

That won't be the reason they won't invade. Their armed forces won't be in the same shambolic state as Russia's. They spend 4 times as much on defence as Russia and are second only to the US.

They won't invade because they won't want the consequent hit to their economy which would be fucking enormous. They'll rattle some sabres and settle down and we'll be back to the previous position of deliberate ambiguity once the US and China quietly work out how they can sell the latest round of tension as some sort of victory for both of them.

If I'm wrong we're all fucked economically - even more than we are now.

 

[KS55]

I feel desperately sorry for Ukraine. Their people are fighting a proxy war on behalf of NATO to settle an argument about Russia/NATO spheres of influence that has been brewing since 1989 and I suppose is overdue.

NATO spheres of influence is just an excuse. The war will increase NATO and its borders with Russia. It’s about territory (and its oil and gas) and the recreation of the Russian Empire.

 

[grunge]

That won't be the reason they won't invade. Their armed forces won't be in the same shambolic state as Russia's. They spend 4 times as much on defence as Russia and are second only to the US.

They won't invade because they won't want the consequent hit to their economy which would be fucking enormous. They'll rattle some sabres and settle down and we'll be back to the previous position of deliberate ambiguity once the US and China quietly work out how they can sell the latest round of tension as some sort of victory for both of them.

If I'm wrong we're all fucked economically - even more than we are now.

Thats where I was aiming, the sanctions etc. China is totally money driven, if it will hit there profits they wont do it.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

NATO spheres of influence is just an excuse. The war will increase NATO and its borders with Russia. It’s about territory (and its oil and gas) and the recreation of the Russian Empire.

Indeed it is for all concerned.