South China Sea Heats Up

[Sir Slash]

Another possible parallel, China like Japan would find far more support from other Asian nations with a far less aggressive approach and attitude. A possible reunification with Taiwan might become a reality if the CCP wasn't so absolutely committed to outright conquest of the island and destruction of the regime there. Other nearby Asian nations might be open to alliance or cooperation with the CCP if they imagined they could retain their independence and local sovereignty. A more benign Greater Southeast Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere of today might become the dominant world power. Thank God they're so greedy!

[FarAway Sooner]

Another possible parallel, China like Japan would find far more support from other Asian nations with a far less aggressive approach and attitude. A possible reunification with Taiwan might become a reality if the CCP wasn't so absolutely committed to outright conquest of the island and destruction of the regime there. Other nearby Asian nations might be open to alliance or cooperation with the CCP if they imagined they could retain their independence and local sovereignty. A more benign Greater Southeast Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere of today might become the dominant world power. Thank God they're so greedy!

Yeah.  I'm not sure that "greedy" is quite the right word, but I don't know what the right word is.  "Totalitarian"?  "Monolithic"? 

That's also why I think a Chinese blockade of Taiwan is MUCH more likely than an outright invasion.  I'm not sure that the US is prepared to start shooting with China over Chinese interceptions of merchant ships in contested waters.  Nor do I know that the Japanese would allow the use of US air bases in Japan if the US fired the first shots.

I wonder how long before the Japanese start discussing their own nuclear deterrent?