The Chinese threat. Real or imagined?

[Delusional]

Thanks for the clarification. I don't think that there will be a war with North Korea; I didn't actually ever think that. But a lot of Americans seem sold on the idea. I guess the reason is that a lot of Americans are dumb. I must seem very unpatriotic right now...

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by plan_D

Any attempt on Taiwan will be met with war instantly. Japan have secured Taiwan's independance, and the U.S has already voiced it's support for Japan. The only thing stopping China really is it's own domestic situation. The Red government is having to give way on some of it's ideals, especially it's militaristic ones. I think the Chinese people have seen what an economic boost has done to the country, it's ten million times better than what war could do for it.

I agree

[marconi]

I've seen some data about different countries' military budgets and troop strength's on http://www.globalsecurity.org . I'm still shocked of Northern Korea.They spend 5 billion dollars per year and yet have the fourth place in the world on the number of troops(after China,USA,India) - over a million.The population of N.Korea is something about 22 millions.They're nuts!
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...tive-force.htm

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

And there people are starving....

[plan_D]

It is easy to have a large military force in numbers. North Korea will have a low age for conscription, that is all. What is important is how would that number fare on the battlefield?

Without reasonable armour and air support, the North Korean numbers would falter under the pressure of the West's technological supremecy.

[marconi]

plan_D there's no need to fight Northern Korea.All that west have to do is to stop sending them food.In a couple of mounths they all die because of famine.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yes but they spend most of there money on there military while there people are starving and that in my opinion is why the North will fall.

[plan_D]

The Western world hardly supplies North Korea with food as it is in terms of trade. I imagine if the West declared war on North Korea, the war would be over in a couple of months. Cutting off any food going into North Korea would be impossible because of charity aid going to the civilians.

It would be much less barbaric and much more efficient to knock out the North Korean military sites with precision bombing, than resorting to the ancient tactic of starving them into submission.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I personally dont think it would last more than 2 months tops.

[plan_D]

The civilian moral would be non-existant so the North Korean government would have no citizen support. The military would probably put up a fight, and even invade South Korea because the vast majority are brain washed. I doubt it would even last two months, as the North Korean military is hopelessly out-classed. And the current state of the country is a shambles, and that's an under-statement.

People just die in the streets because of starvation and the people just step over them and carry on about their business. I hardly expect the North Korean people to defend a government that allows that. After all; "People don't make war, governments do." so the people don't need to fight for the government. And I don't think they generally would.

[marconi]

I don't really understand were are they going to get money to research nuclear weapons?

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Where does the Ukraine get money from? N. Korea has its ways just like every government.

[plan_D]

North Korea still has trade, it's main trading partner is China. Researching nuclear technology isn't even expensive anymore. And a self-sufficient country can make money without trade. Outside investors are one way for a nation to gain money.

You cannot sanction all business transactions, nor can you stop money moving into a country via individuals.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Exactly. Plus N. Korea being a communist country is government funded for everything they are doing.

[marconi]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

Where does the Ukraine get money from? N. Korea has its ways just like every government.

We sell the gas stolen from Russians to the West