China’s Army posts “Preparing for war!”

There's a certain callousness to Chinese culture regarding the value of life. You can see similar in India, so it's likely due to the massive populations, and the range of historical famines they both suffered through. In any case, I seem to remember Mao saying he wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice half the population if it meant achieving his goals. Xi and the remainder of the upper CCP would be similar, as they're so removed from the way the average poor person in China lives.

As for Chinese people themselves, while on a daily or normal basis, there's little concern over the lives of others.. if a war was to result in large casualties, I suspect we'd see actual outrage over the losses.

TBH I suspect their economic and social woes will restrain them from doing anything. The corruption, the banks closing, the loss of savings for normal people, the property bubble, etc all contribute to a very flimsy stability within Chinese society, and they are a people who love to form mobs.. and with the police/army, typically, drawn from the poor I doubt that the CCP want to test their loyalty, especially after some police districts sided with protestors during covid.

Nah. I don't see China committing to war.. and if they did, their society would implode rather quickly.

The US has repeatedly said that they stand by Taiwanese independence. If your scenario was even remotely true, US military forces would have been completely removed from Taiwan, to prevent any chance that China might "accidently" target them during a conflict.

As for your "more importantly".. how is that more important? In any case, it sound economic sense to move such operations out of Asia, and have their own domestic industry capable of providing what they need. For years now, since covid, people have been talking about the weaknesses of depending on China for necessary industry, but the same applies to Taiwan. You're going to find the US seeking to limit it's reliance on other nations, especially a reliance that affects their own national security.

HK is a completely different scenario, and the US could never have guaranteed their independence. HK was to return to Chinese control due to international legal agreements.

As for the US appetite, defending Taiwan would be the "good fight" that they've been wanting for decades. I have American friends who have served, and wouldn't hesitate to sign up again if it meant fighting for Taiwan's independence. The US has been searching for "a cause" after the dodgy motivations of their past conflicts. In any case, the US wants China humbled and knocked off it's pedestal, and a war with Taiwan would provide the best opportunity to do just that, due to the range of allies they would gain in the Asian region. It's a win win for them.

Pelosi has landed.

China now reminds me of the nursery rhyme, The Grand Old Duke of York 😀

It's why the world needs the US, can imagine EU leaders on the phone to xi pleading to let them visit.

That's the reality of our world, I'll pick the US over russia/china any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

I don't disagree with getting rid of Saddam, but they went in for the wrong reasons under false pretenses and had no plan, so no wonder it all went to sh1t.

As someone said, in that case china should take it's own advice and put down the matches.

Looks fairly on message thus far, wake me when they actually invade somewhere or shoot at something other than seagulls.

Where does this "nobody thought russia would invade" rubbish come from. Anyone paying attention knew putrid was ordering his army to invade.