In full honesty as well, in every possible way that would affect the average Taiwanese person, Taiwan is already independent.
Why would they want to “declare independence”? How would they impact the average person in any way at all?
In full honesty as well, in every possible way that would affect the average Taiwanese person, Taiwan is already independent.
Why would they want to “declare independence”? How would they impact the average person in any way at all?
It’s conservative/fascist propaganda…
They’ve had approachable relations with the US for a while now. If the US pushed hard and dangled a bunch of trinkets in front of the neolib parties and members of vietnams government, I could see them partnering with the US if the US convinces them that China is a greater threat.
The government has done a good job of squashing those factions though. However, they still do exist.
Doesn’t that distinction go more to Japan? Australia is very disconnected from Asia, and Japan or the Philippines would make a much better staging area.
Ukrainians are acceptable losses. Korea being able to irradiate the mainland US, and it’s Pacific holdings are unacceptable.
The loss of Japan is also unacceptable. The US would lose its only primary ally in the region and only dragon ground. South Korea would be cut off, Taiwan would be encircled, and the US would have to rely on India, Australia, Vietnam, or the Philippines as a primary ally which would be an immense step down.
Yes, they would.
Are you implying that China would rather let North Korea fall then become involved? Is that really a realistic scenario?
Do you think China will be timid if the US can station land troops, missiles, and ships 100km away from Beijing?
That is not true at all. Missiles are intercepted at their terminal peak or in high altitude transit but anti-ballistic missiles. It just isn’t possible to intercept during launch unless the interceptor is somehow launched before the nuke.
Further, is Korea fires the nukes over the pole to hit the US, or East towards Japan, there is nothing Korea can do to help.
But at what point is it way to much, paranoid, and actively detrimental to the lives of Koreans? If China somehow collapses, there aren’t enough T-72’s in the world to save Korea from the US.
But by the looks of it, China is going strong and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
China would absolutely step in.
Even in a selfish and self serving view of the situation, having a U.S. presence along the current northern North Korean border would be a security disaster of catastrophic proportions. The US would be able to station land based troops a stones throw away from Beijing itself and threaten cutting off the entirety of Manchuria in the event of a conflict. Further, the US could solidify an unshakable grasp on the Yellow Sea with land based aircraft, and safe harbors along the coast.
In a more nuanced look, China would never let North Korea fall for the massive historical and cultural tie between the nations.
You quite literally answer almost all of your statements in your last paragraph. Do you think China would allow the US to toe Korea’s red line? Would relying on the PLA for the conventional deterrent not be the better strategy?
Also I didn’t say that Korea should demilitarize, I’m just saying that isn’t the army big enough? How many more howitzers, tanks, and planes can really help? Korea has more then enough to prevent line toeing, and do they really need more military investment?
Isn't an increased military arsenal exactly what the US wants North Korea to do? The entire strategy seemed to be forcing Korea to starve themselves by investing increasing larger amounts in the armed forces to the detriment of the country.
Wouldn't a focus on nuclear weapons and a divestment from such a large military help North Korea more? What's the US going to do then? I doubt they'd be to keen on turning Japan, Guam, Hawaii, and potentially the West Coast into an irradiated wasteland.
American cultural imperialism has melted the minds of billions worldwide.
Some of my Belarusian family living in deep woods 100km from the nearest population center, isolated from most of humanity, have MAGA hats and try to talk to me about trump “draining the swamp” and “fighting the immigrants”. Fml