it's what media does, and there is an undeniable effect, whether negative or positive, from media trying to steer public opinion on matters of war.
PLA Strategy in a Taiwan Contingency
- Thread starter pugachev_diver
- Start date
Yea.
I'm honestly quite skeptical of the US even wanting to go over war over Taiwan, especially as the years go by.
Ok, the reality is, US bases have been hit by Iranian ballistic missiles, US soldiers have been arrested in international waters by Iran, and US diplomats were taken hostage. All are acts of war yet US did nothing and US citizens just seethe for a while then forgot about it. This is despite US threatening to destroy Iran multiple times.
You can bet that if Chinese military bases were hit by foreign ballistic missiles China wouldn't just let it go. Korean War is one example, 1962 against India is another. China has already proved it can and will wage expeditionary war in response to provocation. I don't know why that's even in question.
I wouldn't use American non-respond to Iranian missile strike on its base as an example of US weakness or inaction. After all, US did first kill Qasem Soleimani, IRGC Quds force commander, arguably the second most powerful man in Iran. Trading about 100 soldiers' concussion injuries (due to Iran's missile strike) for someone of political and strategic importance like Soleimani was a big win for US. In fact, US managed to deal a serious blow to IRGC leadership and suffered relatively little in return.
US wouldn't need to trade if they were as powerful as they said they were. They could've used it as a casus belli and an opportunity to destroy Iran as they have threatened multiple times... If they had the power to do so.
Wouldn't they be able to do it though if they actually threw their whole military might at them? (discounting nukes even).
Although it would probably be very costly, and the losses so significant that it would even affect US status as global hegemon/sole super power.
Technically you can punch your boss in the face and there's little physically stopping you... you just can't handle the consequences. Same here.
The simple fact is US won that exchange in both military as well as arguably political terms. Unlike Afghanistan, US chose to quit while it's ahead.
Did it? How much damage did Suleimani inflict?
More examples include when USS Pueblo was captured by North Korea and the crew imprisoned (no US response), 3 axe incident (no US response), and challenging US - South Korea mutual defense pact by torpedoing the Cheonan (no US response).
I think we are getting a bit off topic... starting with that question over why people in Beijing would care about independence. I mean if people have only physiological needs - food, water, shelter and reproduction - just like mere animals, then yes they probably wouldn't care.