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Rev

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Nobody is talking or thinking war here. China wants a diminished U.S. because frankly the US had a lot of cards and is significantly ahead of China in soft power. The US has no interest in "destroying China" even if it did come to war in Taiwan. As for boycott proof, perhaps. The non aligned countries don't have the economic juice to insulate China from the EU or US concerns. I think once again China is seeking soft power. Alliances they can control to shield them internationally from critics.
– user47010
Commented Aug 10, 2023 at 15:44
2

@JMS, I know that it's wierd, but worldpowers are developing their armies not just in order to combat the Taliban and ISIS, but also in order to be prepared to some future world war (since the war in the Ukraine, this started making more sense). You can hear it constantly from US defence heads, how they are comparing the US navy vs the Chinese navy, etc. - and they are spending billions to become more advanced "against" other world powers.
– Jacob3
Commented Aug 10, 2023 at 20:45
If Taiwan does spark a war it's unlikely to become WWIII. China is not yet able to conduct a global war. China only recently achieved the ability to perhaps successfully project power 70 miles off own their coast to Taiwan. Any conflict is much more likely to be limited, and not involve a homeland invasion or destruction by either side. If war comes it will be one of China's making and I can't believe they want that. Either way that will happen in Taiwan. What's going on in the M.E. is just plain old diplomacy. It's about advantage and is ultimately about averting war whoever wins.
– user47010
Commented Aug 11, 2023 at 12:28
@JMS "Si vis pacem, para bellum". Talking, thinking, and fighting war is the existing nation-states' literal raison d'etre. The tensions aren't high enough (I hope) for a repeat of WWII, but there are a few nations that long to end the geopolitical hyper-dominance of the US. So far the US has been able to play them against each other, but they know it's going on. There's no reason for anyone to invade the actual lower 48, of course.
– Therac
Commented Aug 12, 2023 at 12:01
@Therac, think my points of disagreement come down to, (1) China wants to create a situation such that other countries will fear to destroy it. and (2) if the US destroys China in order to protect Taiwan, and (3) they want to become boycott proof. My thoughts, (1) China's total debt is north of 50 Trillion dollars, and their economy is existentially linked to the global economy. The situation already exists. (2) If the US and China went to war over Taiwan the US goal would not be to destroy china but protect Taiwan which has been the status quo for what 75 years.
– user47010
Commented Aug 14, 2023 at 10:52

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