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originally posted by: SpartanStoic
Hi all.
I'm in a unique position. An expat living in Southern China having previously lived in Guam for 7 years.
A couple of things that may have been corrected by some in the thread but TL;DR whole thread
- China has a large army and can muster an army twice the size of the US population
Correct, BUT they have no way to project that power, no air force, no naval force to move the troops they have now. Not to mention they probably couldn't ramp up their military that quickly or arm and train them.
- China is beholden to the US economy.
Correct and I'd add that doing anything to endanger your largest market for goods is very stupid. If the US taxed or trade embargoed China within 120 days the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which runs the government would collapse. Quite simply factories run on 30-60 day order and payment windows here. They also run on very thin profit margins. If their orders fall, payroll won't be made, owners vanish leaving workers unpaid and angry, workers in China riot far MORE often than is reported (censored), they will turn their ire on the government quickly and have done so in the past. The CCP values social stability above all else, they do not want this to happen. Before anyone says Africa or Europe could absorb the goods, think again those are infinitesimal compared to the US market and factories need cash far more quickly than this could be arranged or happen.
- Guam has THAAD systems deployed on island.
Correct, confirmed by friends who live there and are in the military and federal government.
- There aren't enough US forces to mount a pre-emptive strike or counterattack.
Incorrect, do you know where all of our nuclear submarines are? I thought not. Classified.
Some other facts I'd offer for the discussion.
- Guam has nuclear weapons stored on the island, readily known fact.
- Guam has hosted stealth fighters and bombers in the past, probably still has them now.
- China is also forcing a near conflict with India in Bhutan, this would be the first true test of their military since Korea.
- India is also a nuclear power...
originally posted by: gortex
Mr Kim's threat to fire 4 missiles toward Guam is another signal that he's doing this for effect , he's goading the US and sadly Trump and his team are falling for it.
If the situation wasn't so serious the threat would be laughable.
what's the downside to removing this North Korean thorn from our side?
LMFAO. No, they don't. Zero combat experience. Your definitely not American.
originally posted by: khnum
You had better hope for a diplomatic solution,the US coalition lost against rice farmers in Vietnam and goat herders in Afghanistan. North Korea and China both have massive well trained armies and nuclear weapons
originally posted by: pirhanna
The OP is overreacting to china imo. They have a fairly reasonable position on this, though it doesnt make it easy for us.
originally posted by: RoScoLaz5
a reply to: Arnie123
what did you win?
originally posted by: proteus33
a reply to: Snarl
No, he would do well to gather real time intel on the location of Kim and then hit him with a combo of preciscion weapons and bunker busting ordnance ...
originally posted by: seasonal
a reply to: Abysha
Plus if china is gone, where will I get my nikes and computers from?
originally posted by: burdman30ott6
a reply to: scraedtosleep
You're missing the big picture. If we were making those items domestically again, real wages would skyrocket as manufacturing jobs pay more than service jobs do, so America's middle class would experience a revival and would be able to afford Made in the US quality items again.