The Question has always been why hasn't China Attacked Taiwan and we all know the answer... Lau Guan Kim...Originally published in the China Daily
asks what is holding the American's Back? He Assumes that American cannot afford a war with China...I don't think so. I think if world atmosphere
was much like pre-chaos Nazi Germany then the U.S. would have no probleming kocking on the commie door. Open it and burn the house down... Do you
think America could do it?
Lau Guan Kim
Singapore
©2004. Updated 2004-11-25. All rights reserved.
Classic Sun Zi’s art of war is to recognise your own weakness. To know your weakness is to strengthen your strategy and not fall into reckless
conflicts.
You will notice I use the term “America’s China War.” America is very much stronger than China militarily, and the likelihood she may be the first to
react to China’s affront to her core values or encroachment of American national interests.
To say China is placid and pacific, and does not wish to have war with the US, is specious and disingenuous. We bear in mind China is militarily much
weaker than the US. It then is prudent for China not to throw down the gauntlet over any issues, even that of Taiwan, to assert its ‘rights’ or
claims.
On the other hand, China lacks the wherewithal to pick a conflict, and by extension of that logic, does not mean she is pacific.
The real test of China’s pacific inclination is when she can match the US militarily.
Some facts struck me while researching on the American Spanish War of 1898. What the US detested was a big bully Spain ruled rampant and repressively
over her possessions in South America. The Monroe’s Doctrine before that war stated specifically that the US would consider any European colonisation
of that part of America to be acting against the interest of the will of the subjugated people as well as against the interest of the US.
In blunt terms, the US told Europe to lay off the Americas!
There is that innate feelings among many Americans that they will fight if American core values are imperilled. There are many, and one that will
prompt the Americans to support America’s China War is democracy and the imposition of a monolithic communist governance that to all intent is both
anathema and repulsive to the ordinary Americans for their repressive and totalitarian nature.
That would harp back to the old Soviet Empire, but though China’s governance is relatively less repulsive, yet it is still a governance where the
conscionable have to tread with caution for their own safety.
Whereas if China brings down its full quantitative strength upon Taiwan and is callous of the type of force it uses, it is likely that the Americans
may perceive that as the behaviour of a bully.
And whereas if China chooses to wipe out pockets of resistance from Taiwan long since considered a democratic bastion to China, it will have struck a
raw nerve of the Americans.
To many sentimental Americans, Taiwan is the gateway to democracy in China.
Let not those China bigots and ultranationalists fool and befuddle themselves that China is strong and can sally untrammelled over the wishes of the
people in Taiwan. Even as what may seem to be a righteous cause of China, it being the concept that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, yet the
way Taiwan is to be reunified with the mainland is very crucial.
If we are to gauge the reaction of bystanders to China’s use of force, we need only to see the disdain and abhorrence of the China bigots and
ultranationalists that hitherto bedevilled the good image of the Chinese.
And if ever Taiwan is lost to China, these China bigots and ultranationalist must share the blame.
There is not doubt the US can defeat China in a conventional and nuclear war. Fighting an adversary the size and population of China means the punch
will not be velvet gloved - it has to be bare fist.
From the air, sea and space, China is no match.
The only strong asset China has is its advantage in a land war, which Douglas MacArthur in his deathbed cautioned Lyndon Johnson never to fight a land
war in Asia.
On that wisdom, American military research has finely honed its aerial and naval war.
But then we are talking of the short term. The long term would be a protracted war with China that may not be politically and economically
advantageous to the US. It may end up a weakened nation as in many European nations after WW2.
What is holding back the Americans?
Perhaps this war may be the precursor of WW3, and WW4 will be a war fought with sticks and stones.
The question is: Can the US afford a war with China?
For China, it would be prudent to know your own weakness.
, do a search and you will allready find dozens of them. 
