Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Is China prepping to invade Taiwan?
Date:	10/4/2021 12:58:47 PM

Lots of ominous happenings lately including 52 ChiCom military aircraft invading Taiwan's defense zone in the last week or so.  Taiwan has informed Austraulia that they are prepping for war with China and are asking for help.  So the question isn't whether they are emboldened due to our current, senile POTUS......that's a given.  It's whether they are willing to accept the short term impact to accomplish a long-desired goal.  They may view this as a historic opportunity given what they have on Dementia Joe and his apparent weaknesses.  It would not surprise me in the least although I am hopeful it is just muscle flexing but don't count on it.  If they do invade Taiwan it will probably take them less than a week to prevail....maybe less.  And since Taiwan does not appear to have nuclear weapons they would have to rely on the U.S. and other western nuclear powers to use that as a deterrent.  I hope they are not counting on us.....because there is no way Biden will use them to protect Taiwan.

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Is China prepping to invade Taiwan?
Date:	10/4/2021 1:06:31 PM

Saw this months ago 

Name:	Rich -	Reply
Subject:	Is China prepping to invade Taiwan?
Date:	10/4/2021 1:39:07 PM

Evergrande Properties is putting quite a strain on CCP and that makes this even more alarming. Wouldn't be the first time a country used a military blowup to bring out nationalism and misdirect the huddled masses.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Is China prepping to invade Taiwan?
Date:	10/4/2021 2:07:45 PM

They may be just trolling.  They were upset that the US had a ship pass through the Taiwan Straits last week, so they may be flexing their muscle a bit.  Given the current situation in China, they may be trying to divert some attention away from their financial problems.

I'm sure Taiwan went to Australia to try to get a commitment to help because the official US policy is still "one China" and that makes them nervous.  After what happened with Afghanistan, they are bound to be nervous about the US.  

Personally, I think China gets more mileage out of the threat to attack Taiwan, than it will the actually doing it.  Taiwan doesn't really pose any threat to the mainland, and the threat keeps the region on its toes, especially now that Biden has decided to "pivot to Asia".  

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Is China prepping to invade Taiwan?
Date:	10/4/2021 2:26:26 PM

I do hope your assessment is right but I do fear them seeing the current administration as a historic opportunity that may not come again for a long time, if ever again.  A weak and mind addled POTUS that is compromised along with the pandemic, domestic issues (inflation, border crisis, high gas prices, Democrat party inflighting, etc.) and the Afghan debacle.  There quite literally may never be a better time for them to do something bold, especially since Xi seems to be channeling his inner Mao and appears to be headed toward a more centralized govt control of industry, etc.  Also saw the news about them experiencing energy shortages which some are worried are being caused by moving those resources toward the military to build up stockpiles for a conflict.  When you put all these pieces of the puzzle together it is a bit scary.  

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Is China prepping to invade Taiwan?
Date:	10/4/2021 3:55:18 PM

Yes, it is hard to say what China is thinking right now.  They have been doing a signficant upgrade of their military capability for about 10 years now.  The thing is, I'm not sure what we could do if they did attack Taiwan.  We have a military capability in Japan and in South Korea, but if the North Koreans decided to engage the South Koreans at the same time, I'm not sure what we would do.  And you are right, Biden will not give pause to China's leadership, and I doubt the Europeans are going to want to engage with China. I read an article this morning that said Europe now has to worry about Germany since their last election.  

As bad as things are here, internationally, they aren't much better.  

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Is China prepping to invade Taiwan?
Date:	10/4/2021 5:07:44 PM

That's what is so scary to me.  If they really wanted to control Taiwan now may be the perfect time to do something bold.  Not to mention the fact that the origin of COVID will be a very low priority.  It is indeed hard to predict what Xi is capable of much like they would never consider doing this with Trump as President because they had no idea what he would do in response.

Name:	lakngulf -	Reply
Subject:	Is China prepping to invade Taiwan?
Date:	10/4/2021 5:21:52 PM

Maybe Milley was talking about Biden when he said we would not bomb China!!