http://www.sinodefence.com/news/2006/news06-03-04.asp

They don't spend much on it thats for sure. The navy and airforce is right out of the 80's. $35B reported vs $401B for US.

Yawn I'm not impressed. Our new fighters coming on line like the F22 and F35 are so far ahead of these guys. Our new line of subs is the best in the world period. They have yet to launch an aircraft carrier either, what do we have 6?

Maybe I'm to hard to impress...

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Hattersguy:

I hear what you're saying about the techno-spread, but picture the U. S. in a land war with these guys.

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Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

The only issue right now that could bring the US into direct confrontation with the Chinese is Taiwan...I think the latest annoucement concerning China's defense budget follows Taiwanese President Chen Shui-Bien's recent suggestions at changing Taiwan's constitution...US signed an agreement in 1978 after breaking ties with Taiwan saying that as long as the status quo remains (Taiwan does not drop its policy of eventual unification with China), the US will come to Taiwan's aid should China attempt to use military force...I think the budget isn't meant to intimidate the US, but more to intimidate Taiwan and to irritate the US...from what I can gather, the US government is having a hell of a time trying to figure out what the Taiwanese President's intentions are in regards to Mainland China/Taiwan affairs...he seems to be pushing it a bit lately...

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1995 black pearl/black Mercedes-Benz E420 :

We would slaughter them in a land war. We would run over them like road kill.
What do numbers mean when 1 well placed bomb can wipe out 1,000 of them?

We have better tanks, better air support, better weapons, better everything.

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
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Well as the Germans proved back in 1941 you can win over superior numbers for awhile anyway. The Germans invaded with 1.5m men and the Russians had what 3m-4m on the border? Actually the Germans always had fewer tanks, and troops. Look at their sweep through France and North Africa.

The trick is you cannot let the war go on to long. If it drags on the country with the most people can afford to lose more.

I'd venture to say in an all out conflict we would have 1 year to 18 months before greater numbers started to take their toll.

Besides the point I was going at is look at the direction China is heading with its armed forces. The same way we are going smaller standing army but better trained and equiped. This reflects the kind of small scale conflicts like Iraq for example, that will ocure in the 21st century. Large scale wars are far to deadly and costly.

We need to figure out what to do about Taiwan, I'm a hawk but I pick my battles. I don't want to go to war over Taiwan it isn't worth it. I'd almost be willing to hand them over to China for some good will. I look at it as an internal Chiness problem that they should/need to resolve.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

These are my observations (not necessary correct):

1). A direct conflict with China has to be MADD, much like the old days with the U.S.S.R. A prolong war with China, especially if it takes place "over there" is a slaughter house for our troops.

2). They are catching up with technologies. Don't be fooled by our media and Government. I recently saw a small footage of Chinese military on parade. Much to my surprise, they wear pretty much the same uniform as our troops. Gone was the peasant looking garb the Red Army so famous for (that may explain the rise with the military budget - modernization).

3). China will avoid any confrontations with the U.S., at least not in the next 30 or more years. They would rather wait for us to erode from within. A trend we are doing extremely well. Chinese are known for their patience, and that's the secret they survive thousands of years while the Western Empires came and went.

4). Taiwan will be reunited with the Mainland eventually. And there is nothing the U.S. can do about it. Taiwan was a renegade province and the Taiwanese leader was no better than the Communists at the time.

5). Chinese are proud people, as long as the West don't corner them like they did in the 18th and the 19th centuries, they would rather seek a peaceful co-existence. History is a good indicator for that. The main effort for the U.S. is to continue stroke their ego and encourage them in continue taking roles in world peace and politics.

6). The small military budget (yet growing) is an indication of two things: they don't intend to wage an all out war with anybody any time soon, the military budget is inaccurate - businesses are the main financier of the Red Army. They are tied at the hip.

7). Before the Chinese can engage an outside war, they need to stabilize their Western frontiers first, especially the Muslim minorities.

8). There are much infrastructure development to be done outside of the coastal regions. That will divert enough attention for the next two decades, if not longer.

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95 R129
04 Infiniti G35.5 BS
10 X204

It takes large numbers of men to occupy a hostile area; just look at the present state of affairs in Iraq.

It may be true that our troops could march from one side of China to the other, destroying everything in their path with air support, depleted uranium ammunition, and cruise missiles, but what would this accomplish in a long-term strategic sense?

The only way we could win a war with China is if our objectives would not include occupying any large swath of the country. We could hold onto a small area, particularly a place like Hong Kong, but if we had to break the back of the country, so to speak, it would be a stalemate.

I agree with other posters, however, who don't see any serious conflict with China in our future. It's not in our interest and it's not in theirs, either.

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Ralph

1985 300D Turbo, CA model
248,650 miles and counting...

Yes indeed and just think what would happen to Wal-Mart. Their "junk source" would be busy fighting a war with the country the junk was being sold in.

Economics always wins. In the end, that's what all modern wars have been about.

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Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

Under what circumstances could you (anybody) imagine us getting into a land war with China?

Bot

I don't think a land war is likely...if any conflict occurs, it will be across the Taiwan Strait...it will be more or less sea and air...

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1995 black pearl/black Mercedes-Benz E420 :

I agree.

At this time China is unable to successfully challenge the USA at sea or in the air.

Bot