Tension in the Far East

[Centurion40]

Worth a read:

http://nationalinterest.org/feature/great-war-the-east-china-sea-why-china-japan-could-fight-10877

If this is true:

Let's start with China. As I have argued elsewhere, China's primary aim is to strengthen its leadership in Asia and undermine America's. The best way to do that without confronting America too directly is to weaken the alliances and partnerships that underpin U.S. regional leadership. It therefore wants to persuade U.S. allies that Washington is no longer willing to stand up for them against the growing power of China. (Whether Beijing would be right to assume that without U.S. support they would more willingly accept Chinese leadership is a separate question, of course. As far as Japan is concerned, I think they are probably wrong, but that is a separate issue.)

Then would it not be in Chinese interests to provide unlimited financial support to the Libertarian Party in the US?

"We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual." The platform emphasizes individual liberty in personal and economic affairs, avoidance of "foreign entanglements" and military and economic intervention in other nations' affairs, and free trade and migration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_Party_(United_States)

[mirth]

If the Chinese want to bankrupt their economy trying to convince people in the US to vote Libertarian, I welcome it.

[Centurion40]

I don't know what Libertarian party/PAC coffers are like, but any progress that the Chinese can subsidize (if they really are wishing the US to retreat from the Pacific) would be money well invested.

[mirth]

I don't car how much they spend, no one is going to to vote Libertarian. Look at the numbers in that Wikiepdia link you posted. Libertarians are beyond fringe :P

And dont' get me wrong, I have many Libertarian sympathies/leanings. Isolationism is not one of them however.

[endfire79]

For what its worth Japan has a larger military then any NATO country and I think the largest navy besides the US globally.

What are the odds on open conflict between the Chinese and someone by 2025? If the ChiComms are faced with serious internal unrest, I think they will look to an external conflict in an attempt to rally domestic support.

Sounds like the plot of Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising.  I'm pretty sure there's a novel out there that covers similar scenarios.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Flashpoint:_Dragon_Rising

[OJsDad]

For what its worth Japan has a larger military then any NATO country and I think the largest navy besides the US globally.

What are the odds on open conflict between the Chinese and someone by 2025? If the ChiComms are faced with serious internal unrest, I think they will look to an external conflict in an attempt to rally domestic support.

Sounds like the plot of Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising.  I'm pretty sure there's a novel out there that covers similar scenarios.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Flashpoint:_Dragon_Rising

This for a book

http://www.amazon.com/Bear-Dragon-Jack-Ryan-Novel/dp/0425180964/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425947622&sr=8-1&keywords=tom+clancy+bear+and+the+dragon

[BanzaiCat]

I didn't like that book nearly as much as Red Storm Rising. Then again I compare all of his subsequent 'war' books with Red Storm Rising.  O0

[GDS_Starfury]

that was the book that made me stop reading Clancy books.

[LongBlade]

Obviously, there are some in China that don't remember what happened the last time they got into a war with Japan.

Not that there would be a 'Rape of Nanking II' in the cards or anything, but a 'Rape of Chinese air and naval power' would undoubtedly be a close second.

The Great East China Sea Turkey Shoot?

@Banzai Ha!

@Mirth Ha!

[mirth]

Bear and the Dragon was decent. Pretty much the last Clancy book I would say that about. He fell off a cliff after that with mostly 'co-authored' crap.

[jomni]

Glorious Mission Online. Chinese made FPS. http://kotaku.com/chinas-first-person-military-shooter-has-a-terrible-me-1026025398

[airboy]

I don't know what Libertarian party/PAC coffers are like, but any progress that the Chinese can subsidize (if they really are wishing the US to retreat from the Pacific) would be money well invested.

In the USA, it is illegal for people who are not US citizens, non-US companies, and foreign government to make political contributions to candidates or political parties.  This was one of the many Clinton scandals - they had a bunch of contributions from Chinese nationals during his Presidency.  The "Clinton Foundation" has also taken tons of contributions from foreign governments.

So Chinese contributions to the Libertarians would not be allowed under US law.

[W8taminute]

Japanese Prime Minister Abe has been working on getting Japan back to it's normal self fo some time. It's not 1995 anymore. And as long as they lay off the fascism I think everything will be alright.

+1



I think it's very interesting how those clever chinese test japans defenses to the breaking point by launching all those sorties.  You don't do something like sending out harassing sorties every day if you don't intend to go to war at some point. 

[GDS_Starfury]

sure you do.  the Soviets did it for decades.  what I dont get is why the Japanese don't rotate squadrons through on a regular basis.

[Centurion40]

I don't know what Libertarian party/PAC coffers are like, but any progress that the Chinese can subsidize (if they really are wishing the US to retreat from the Pacific) would be money well invested.

In the USA, it is illegal for people who are not US citizens, non-US companies, and foreign government to make political contributions to candidates or political parties.  This was one of the many Clinton scandals - they had a bunch of contributions from Chinese nationals during his Presidency.  The "Clinton Foundation" has also taken tons of contributions from foreign governments.

So Chinese contributions to the Libertarians would not be allowed under US law.

Good to know.

But here's a question: would it be legal for Samsung USA, Toyota USA, Nokia USA, etc. to make contributions?  In other words companies that are fully American subsidiaries of clearly foreign corporations?  Could the Chinese buy Monsanto, then use that to influence the US political landscape?