The remaining shithole countries are still in China's sphere of influence. If the US ever goes full retard like it did with Russia, China will at minimum demand tribute for safe passage, or let totally-not-state-sanctioned pirates take from cargo ships headed for the West.
Thailand and the Philippines are historic US allies, and I read that even Vietnam is starting to get tired of China's shit. One of the surest ways to piss off your neighbors is to claim control over their territorial waters.
With economic ties come military alliances. One of China's boogeymen is being ringed with adversary countries allied with the US. Let's make that happen.
Right now they bully countries like the Philippines because they know they can get away with it. I think the closest analogy to 2024 China is 1930s Germany.
They're testing the waters to see what they can get away with and we need to smack that shit down hard. Yes they have a very large military, but it's completely untested. Their last real war was with Vietnam in 1979 and they didn't do so hot. After watching Russia fumble in Ukraine they're bound to be second-guessing their readiness to take on Western powers
Who said anything about the military? You're seriously going to send the full might of the US Navy just to stop some pirates stealing your Nikes and Funko Pops?
You did when you said that China would simply board other countries vessels or use fake pirates to steal from them if pivoted trade away from them.
Containing China requires exercising all the instruments of power. Western dependence on China for trade is our weakness, but it's also the only thing that prevents them from being treated like a pariah State like North Korea. Increased economic ties come with increased military cooperation and usually security guarantees.
Nikes and Funko Pops?
The South China Sea is one of the world's major fisheries and trade routes. I'm sure you understand that the struggle for dominance in the Pacific isn't about trash toys.
You did when you said that China would simply board other countries vessels or use fake pirates to steal from them if pivoted trade away from them.
Yeah, but it would be on the US to prove it was the People's Liberation Army Navy boarding ships, wouldn't it? Like the totally-not-NATO Ukrainians putting Putin on the back foot.
And again, you can avoid these "pirates" so long as you pay China an "escort fee". But the Big GAE's ego won't allow it.
I know the US has gotten used to being exempt from war crimes, but we're not the only ones who can play that game.
The South China Sea is one of the world's major fisheries and trade routes. I'm sure you understand that the struggle for dominance in the Pacific isn't about trash toys.
And China will keep it safe for itself and its allies. No America needed.
Sure, it'll wreak havoc on our consumption economy and trigger hyperinflation, but that's our problem, not theirs.
The remaining shithole countries are still in China's sphere of influence. If the US ever goes full retard like it did with Russia, China will at minimum demand tribute for safe passage, or let totally-not-state-sanctioned pirates take from cargo ships headed for the West.
Thailand and the Philippines are historic US allies, and I read that even Vietnam is starting to get tired of China's shit. One of the surest ways to piss off your neighbors is to claim control over their territorial waters.
With economic ties come military alliances. One of China's boogeymen is being ringed with adversary countries allied with the US. Let's make that happen.
Right now they bully countries like the Philippines because they know they can get away with it. I think the closest analogy to 2024 China is 1930s Germany.
They're testing the waters to see what they can get away with and we need to smack that shit down hard. Yes they have a very large military, but it's completely untested. Their last real war was with Vietnam in 1979 and they didn't do so hot. After watching Russia fumble in Ukraine they're bound to be second-guessing their readiness to take on Western powers
Who said anything about the military? You're seriously going to send the full might of the US Navy just to stop some pirates stealing your Nikes and Funko Pops?
You did when you said that China would simply board other countries vessels or use fake pirates to steal from them if pivoted trade away from them.
Containing China requires exercising all the instruments of power. Western dependence on China for trade is our weakness, but it's also the only thing that prevents them from being treated like a pariah State like North Korea. Increased economic ties come with increased military cooperation and usually security guarantees.
The South China Sea is one of the world's major fisheries and trade routes. I'm sure you understand that the struggle for dominance in the Pacific isn't about trash toys.
Yeah, but it would be on the US to prove it was the People's Liberation Army Navy boarding ships, wouldn't it? Like the totally-not-NATO Ukrainians putting Putin on the back foot.
And again, you can avoid these "pirates" so long as you pay China an "escort fee". But the Big GAE's ego won't allow it.
I know the US has gotten used to being exempt from war crimes, but we're not the only ones who can play that game.
And China will keep it safe for itself and its allies. No America needed.
Sure, it'll wreak havoc on our consumption economy and trigger hyperinflation, but that's our problem, not theirs.