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2005-02-18 China-Japan-Koreas

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Posted by tipper 2005-02-18 09:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Counting down the next two to three days, while China debates furiously what kind of sh*t-fit to have.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-02-18 11:18:36 AM|| 2005-02-18 11:18:36 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Methinks the Korean troop withdrawal concentrated Japanese minds. They're finally starting to figure out that if they don't step up to the plate, Uncle Sam might just walk away from it all. I, for one, am tired of these East Asian dirtbags trying to portray this as a dispute between Uncle Sam and China. If they don't start showing that they're on our side (in terms of trying to contain China's territorial acquisitiveness), maybe Uncle Sam should stand aside when China starts making its land grabs at their expense. Until the East Asian countries show us that they're going to help us out in a conflict with China over Taiwan - as far as I'm concerned, they can go f*** themselves.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2005-02-18 12:32:57 PM|| [http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-02-18 12:32:57 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 well theres Japan sharing our commitment to Taiwan. Taiwan is presumably commited to Taiwan. South Korea doesnt have much force to spare - in the event of a straights war theyd keep their military at home, in case the Nkors took advantage. That doesnt leave any other east asians, unless youre talking about the Southeast Asians, somewhat farther away and with different political and strategic issues.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2005-02-18 1:07:38 PM|| 2005-02-18 1:07:38 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 LH: That doesnt leave any other east asians, unless youre talking about the Southeast Asians, somewhat farther away and with different political and strategic issues.

Correctomundo. Southeast Asia is actually the weak link in the equation. Ex-China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan are the strongest (and the wealthiest) powers in East Asia. Southeast Asia is a totally different story.

Going back to Northeast Asia, Japan just said something. We need to hear much more specific language about assistance to the US. As to Korea, it's not a question of them being tied up - it's a question of allowing US forces based in Korea to be redeployed for the defense of Taiwan - something that they've indicated they're not inclined to do. As to Taiwan being committed to Taiwan, it's not exactly clear that this is the case, Taiwan's tardiness in buying the latest weapons seems to indicate that they are counting on Uncle Sam to do all the fighting in any Chinese invasion. Thanks, but no thanks.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2005-02-18 1:24:26 PM|| [http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-02-18 1:24:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 SE asians - I dont think the Indons,Malaysians or Singaporeans feel directly threatened by the PRC, and the latter two have been on their asian model kick for a while, while the former is wrestling with Salafists and seperatists at home. PI, they are the closest, have their own war with linked Salafists-seperatists, and are too weak to matter to Taiwan, and have for historical reasons a huge allergy to US bases. VN has no love for PRC, but I dont see what help they could be. I have no idea Thailands view on this.

How about Australia? Whats Howard said?

Posted by Liberalhawk 2005-02-18 1:30:26 PM|| 2005-02-18 1:30:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Taiwan's tardiness in buying the latest weapons seems to indicate that they are counting on Uncle Sam to do all the fighting in any Chinese invasion
ZF, Taiwan would love to buy the latest weapons from the US. The problem has always been State and the US Congress not permitting the sale of the best equipment. If the US were to offer Taiwan an Aegis destroyer or two, the response would be "Is cash OK or do you want gold?" The restrictions on weapons and weapons technology sales to Taiwan date back to the 60s.

Posted by RWV 2005-02-18 1:57:05 PM|| 2005-02-18 1:57:05 PM|| Front Page Top

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