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2022-08-02 China-Japan-Koreas
Pelosi LANDS in Taiwan: Democrat defies Beijing and touches down in Taipei escorted by five F-15s as China sends tanks onto beaches opposite island and 'fighter jets across the strait'
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Posted by Skidmark 2022-08-02 11:42|| || Front Page|| [336141 views ]  Top
 File under: Commies 

#1 All right. I'm never going to be a Pelosi fan. That said, as of right now (which can always change) the Chinese look toothless here. China’s response so far today:
- Cyber attack against Taiwan President’s Office
- Closed air space to civilian aircraft over the straits
- Civil defense sirens now sounding in China
- Chinese fighters heading for the straits
- Massive land force mobilization along the coast

Whoever wrote her remarks (all I have is what's being reported out there, so if the reports are wrong, that's on me for passing it along) is saying stuff that nobody at the White House, NSC, Pentagone or DoS would be caught dead saying:

"Our delegation’s visit to Taiwan honors America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant Democracy.
Our discussions with Taiwan leadership reaffirm our support for our partner & promote our shared interests, including advancing a free & open Indo-Pacific region."
Posted by M. Murcek 2022-08-02 12:06||   2022-08-02 12:06|| Front Page Top

#2 It's called Little Bad Mouth, folks. It's all kabuki. Xi wants Democrats to win the midterms so he lets Nancy get away with this little show of bravado. Nancy looks good. Joe looks good. Democrats might not lose as many House and Senate seats as they feared.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2022-08-02 12:26||   2022-08-02 12:26|| Front Page Top

#3 “Beijing pragmatically accepts some level of public criticism from the elites with whom it is working,” Schweizer observes. “As long as these elites deliver on key policies and actions that benefit the regime, some criticism is acceptable.”
Posted by Abu Uluque 2022-08-02 12:28||   2022-08-02 12:28|| Front Page Top

#4 Knocked Tough Guy Joe's "big triumph" of yesterday below the fold or off the front page altogether. No way Bath House Barry would have ever let that happen to him.
Posted by M. Murcek 2022-08-02 12:31||   2022-08-02 12:31|| Front Page Top

#5 
Posted by ACA JOE 2022-08-02 12:38||   2022-08-02 12:38|| Front Page Top

#6 You don't get it ACA. You never do. China will not shoot. This is all for show.

As for Knothead, he might have been a big deal right after 9/11 but nobody remembers him now. He's just another terrorist who got whacked. You give Baraq too much credit. He was lazy and not terribly bright. He was good at reading from a teleprompter and not much else. When he wandered away from the teleprompter he often times sounded about as dumb as Joe.

But don't worry. Xi is the one who is calling the shots and this time he will not shoot. You really think Nancy would have the nerve to pull this stunt if she thought otherwise?
Posted by Abu Uluque 2022-08-02 12:48||   2022-08-02 12:48|| Front Page Top

#7 Chinese TANKS flood beaches opposite Taiwan as Pelosi lands in Taipei: Beijing warns America will 'pay price for undermining China's sovereign security interests' - as four US warships lie off island's east coast
Posted by Skidmark 2022-08-02 12:57||   2022-08-02 12:57|| Front Page Top

#8 Thank you, Abu.
Posted by Skidmark 2022-08-02 12:58||   2022-08-02 12:58|| Front Page Top

#9 China will not invade as it lacks the transport capability. If it loses major face, it will attempt something but this is not losing face for it.

This is a PR win for China internally as it allows them to keep the population whipped up into nationalistic support while the economy crumbles and the people's wealth gets stolen.

Win for internal China, win for US grandstanding. Only way this fails is if some asshat actually does shoot.
Posted by DarthVader 2022-08-02 13:02||   2022-08-02 13:02|| Front Page Top

#10 China is gonna punish the USA by letting her return.
Posted by BrerRabbit 2022-08-02 13:26||   2022-08-02 13:26|| Front Page Top

#11 I have heard that they are more likely to blockade the island. A barrage would likely damage economic assets. An opposed amphib landing would just be a bloody swim meet. If the response is taking out the Three Gorges Dam, the bloody swim meet will be in a different location.
Posted by Super Hose 2022-08-02 13:32||   2022-08-02 13:32|| Front Page Top

#12 #6 Well said, Abu. Strikes me that Emperor Xi and Princess Stolichnaya have different problems with a common solution. His economy is beginning to appear to unravel, from real estate to steel is not a good look. As for 'I'll have another' she doesn't need any more publicity (Paulicity?) after wrist slapping DUI's and pricey option trades. Plainly a distraction is needed!

Now it's sort of like the Little Rascals, 'Hey everybody why not start another war panic!' What the Hell they already put on a show in Ukraine, and as we all know, Buckwheat is dead.
Posted by Cesare 2022-08-02 13:32||   2022-08-02 13:32|| Front Page Top

#13 I wonder what Milley had to say to Xi this week?
Posted by Glenmore  2022-08-02 13:45||   2022-08-02 13:45|| Front Page Top

#14 China will not invade as it lacks the transport capability. If it loses major face, it will attempt something but this is not losing face for it.
^^^^BS!

China is moving hundreds of civilian’s ferries to locations in the Fujian area.
Posted by ACA JOE 2022-08-02 13:47||   2022-08-02 13:47|| Front Page Top

#15 China is moving hundreds of civilian’s ferries to locations in the Fujian area.

99% of them can't transport tanks or heavy supplies. I doubt much will come from this. 30,000 troops with no supplies or tanks can be landed at one time. Little chance of them surviving until the next wave comes in 6 hours later. And don't bet on your transport ability to stay static every time. Boats will be sinking right and left on the approach and departure.
Posted by DarthVader 2022-08-02 13:56||   2022-08-02 13:56|| Front Page Top

#16 Super, the 3 gorges dam will wipe out “fauceihan” and spread more killing viruses through China and the world. That would be the target that I would choose.
Posted by Lionel Untervehr5049 2022-08-02 14:01||   2022-08-02 14:01|| Front Page Top

#17 China has infiltrated us. I am sure that Taiwan is also infiltrated. I am not sure what the defense would look like. Without that consideration, you have to own the air, sea and beach to make an opposed landing work. Civilian boats could work if you have every other superiority. If the attack is tried and fails, the CCP will be under new management.
Posted by Super Hose 2022-08-02 14:11||   2022-08-02 14:11|| Front Page Top

#18 #13 Glen,
I *snorted*
Posted by Frank G 2022-08-02 14:13||   2022-08-02 14:13|| Front Page Top

#19 China has infiltrated us.

Xi Jinping Calls for Using United Work Front to Weaponize Chinese Abroad

Posted by Skidmark 2022-08-02 14:19||   2022-08-02 14:19|| Front Page Top

#20 If the attack is tried and fails, the CCP will be under new management.

Gee, ya think the Chinese may be looking at another invasion currently going on with a direct overland route that isn't quite going the way the invader intended?
Posted by M. Murcek 2022-08-02 14:21||   2022-08-02 14:21|| Front Page Top

#21 Note - a relative of Xi owns the power generating facility attached to Three Gorges. He is the Big Guy in that consideration. Not sure why Taiwan supposedly plans to missile it as an invasion response but it is likely well defended. The whole structure looks dicey. If it goes, Nike shoes may cost more.
Posted by Super Hose 2022-08-02 14:34||   2022-08-02 14:34|| Front Page Top

#22 Pelosi's arrogance and narcissism are coming out once again.. Pelosi has a history of co-opting Executive Branch policy. She went to Syria in the past and now Taiwan. I don't recall the Constitution assigning such powers to Congressional leaders.
Posted by JohnQC 2022-08-02 17:39||   2022-08-02 17:39|| Front Page Top

#23 China will just bluster. A war with Taiwan atm gains them nothing but trouble. Honestly, I have more concerns about a China-India war vs China Taiwan.
Posted by Silentbrick 2022-08-02 18:03||   2022-08-02 18:03|| Front Page Top

#24 China WILL take Taiwan.
Posted by Phons Omert2327 2022-08-02 19:12||   2022-08-02 19:12|| Front Page Top

#25 "China is moving hundreds of civilian’s ferries to locations in the Fujian area."

Yeah - you need to study a bit more on the whole amphibious invasion thing. Brown water ferry boats mean dick. Will they run a ground and swim for it?? Worked well at Dunkirk but the Brits were going the other way...
Posted by Bangkok Billy 2022-08-02 20:15||   2022-08-02 20:15|| Front Page Top

#26 Billy, exactly. When the Brits evacuated Dunkirk, they left behind all their heavy equipment, tanks, artillery, etc. LANDING those things from ferry boats is an entirely different exercise.
Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2022-08-02 20:26||   2022-08-02 20:26|| Front Page Top

#27 Just spitballing here. The first two Chinese carriers and their support ships are at sea. The third carrier that they launched last month undergoing sea trials. It of course has no aircraft. If you really wanted to roll the dice, that third carrier could haul a lot of material across the straits and be relatively bullet resistant whilst doing so. I think it’s too risky a subterfuge for the Chinese at this point in time. Far better to keep wearing down the Taiwanese fighter pilots and airframes with constant probes. Eventually too many birds will be in check simultaneously and a window of opportunity will have been created for a kinetic strike. Best option is to be patient and co-opt the island peacefully. But sometimes folks get impatient …
Posted by Griter Slash1619 2022-08-02 20:48||   2022-08-02 20:48|| Front Page Top

#28 Plucky Ducky Little Ships, or, Trunk in the Junk

Confucius say, "Ferries on station
Preparing for... er... recreation!
No, not to attack
But to take cadre back
To the future of Zhongguo as nation."
Posted by Hupomosing Trotsky9444 2022-08-02 20:53||   2022-08-02 20:53|| Front Page Top

#29 China WILL take Taiwan.

Only if the US allows it. And man is that energy import supply chain vulnerable.

Posted by DarthVader 2022-08-02 21:07||   2022-08-02 21:07|| Front Page Top

#30 Part of the Chinese strategy has to be to make any US decision to support Taiwan as difficult as possible. Attempting a cross-strait invasion while a senior member of the US gummint (whatever we here may think of her) is actually on the island makes the US decision relatively easy.
Posted by Matt 2022-08-02 21:39||   2022-08-02 21:39|| Front Page Top

23:41 Skidmark
22:56 Frank G
22:40 Bangkok Billy
21:46 Matt
21:43 magpie
21:39 Matt
21:36 Old Patriot
21:34 Old Patriot
21:21 trailing wife
21:20 Frank G
21:14 Chris
21:07 DarthVader
21:02 trailing wife
20:53 Hupomosing Trotsky9444
20:48 Griter Slash1619
20:30 Rambler in Virginia
20:26 Rambler in Virginia
20:15 Bangkok Billy
20:04 NN2N1
19:48 Phons Omert2327
19:39 Anomalous Sources
19:36 Hupomosing Trotsky9444
19:22 Anomalous Sources
19:20 Anomalous Sources









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