Back in 2020, prominent economist Tyler Cowen wrote an op ed proclaiming America's high number of COVID deaths was a good thing because it demonstrated America's high tolerance for casualties.
This quote by Tyler Cowen:
There is one other factor that people are loathe to discuss (with one
). Yes, the U.S. has botched its response to Covid-19. At the same time, its experience shows that America as a nation can in fact tolerate casualties, too many in fact.
It had long been standard Chinese doctrine that Americans are “soft” and unwilling to take on much risk. If you were a Chinese war game planner, might you now reconsider that assumption?
Yes Tyler, I agree. Gone are they days were losing millions of Americans for no good reason is acceptable for any American government. China had learned in 2020, that the American elites
can accept losing millions of Americans, as long as they think it is 'worth it'. In 2020, there were many Republican-aligned warmongers fantasizing that a nuclear war with China is 'winnable'. Because America can burn China more than the other way round.
Besides. Day by day, China is slowly realizing that Covid-19 is looking more and more like an American bioweapon attack. When Russia uncovered the US biolabs in Ukraine, it further boosts this theory.
Thanks to Trump America. China had realized that 'minimal deterrence' doesn't work anymore. Only MAD works now. China had since then turbocharged their nuclear arsenal buildup. There were the rapid buildup of the Xinjiang missile fields, the testing of a fractional orbital bombardment system, the JL-3 early entrance into service, and the Pentagon recently getting spooked by the rapid Chinese nuclear stockpile buildup. They asked for this.
Nutjobs like Tyler Cowen should be thanked for finally opening China's eyes. From the illusion that any US government ultimately cares about the American people. Now China can build up it's nuclear arsenal without feeling too awkward. Because it's no longer a luxury, but a necessity. China cannot sleep easy until it has the means to properly glass America for good. Only the fear of certain death can keep the American warmongers second guessing their own insane urge to go nuclear with China.
