An odd essay of false comfort that China will come good, collapsing like the USSR due to its own excesses.

Unlike the USSR China has a viable, rapidly growing one party Capitalist economy, in the last 22 years. Though with lower growth since Covid, like all other large economies.

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I also dispute the "About the Author" description that "Dr Chin Jin is a maverick"

He's not, I'm the only one!

The "bias" of China against America and the free world is the one to watch; and, when was Pearl Harbour moved to "mainland" U.S?

I don't see the connection between the rambling about Taiwan and the CCP spy balloon that the U.S should have destroyed the moment it was detected. Montana is pretty much devoid of people. Putting it down in the ocean was a dumb idea; although, perhaps, not so dumb if opinions that the U.S didn't want to face the truth of what the CCP actually stole have any credence.

The General in charge is the same one who had an off the cuff chat with China on another matter recently - but didn't get the sack - and the same one who is keen on rabbiting about gender issues in the military forces.

As for Dr Chin Jin, he is just an "activist, campaigner, essayist, freelancer, researcher and organizer", so this piece is just an opinion, no more valuable than anyone else's opinion.

http://thediplomat.com/2015/08/dont-forget-land-wars-in-asia/

This short piece of historic regurgitation from the “diplomat”, has less hype and more realism.

Chinese spy balloons are pretty obvious, but what about your Chinese made car?

This morning there was a warning not to buy a Chinese car if you value your privacy; particularly if you are a politician, a political activist, and academic or a journalist. The computers in the vehicles can, apparently, track your movements, where you live and, in one proven case, listen to you mobile phone conversations.

Good luck with all those fake MGs. There are also a number of cars that you might think are made by traditional Western makers, but are now built in China, or have parts made in China.

The balloon should have been shot down as soon as it was spotted, and nothing said or reported other than military practise. As for Tawain, the results of the return of Hong Kong and the annexation of Tibet.

Along with the loss of rights and freedom the persecution of religious and political leaders.

Will harden the resolve of the Taiwanese to resist to the last man standing and to the last bullet and cost the Chinese communist empire so much in personal and treasure that it might never ever recover.

Moreover, the sanctions that would be applied with anything more than sabre rattling, will cripple the economic giant and send them back to the nineteenth century economically.
Alan B.

Britain gave the Americans a bit of a belting in 1812, whilst it was otherwise dealing with Napoleon. White House anyone?

I wish I could be as optimistic as the author.

I think we are heading for a bloody war, likely nuclear, over Taiwan.

This war was fortunately delayed due to the heroic resistance of Ukraine, otherwise it would have occurred already, but I don't think it can be delayed forever.

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Dear Ttbn,

Chinese car?

Why you cannot even buy a piece of rope in Australia that was not made in China. I would be much more concerned about spying devices concealed in these arm-waving fortune-cats, not to mention watches and clocks that knowingly contain electronic components.

BALLOON "CRISIS" FOR BIDEN'S BENEFIT

Very true ttbn

Where you say "the CCP spy balloon that the U.S should have destroyed the moment it was detected."

Shooting down a small and light payload balloon involves little danger when it can be done with a very accurate and small 85kg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-9_Sidewinder missile. The USAF could even had fitted a safety parachute for the missile's main propulsion-guidance body to deploy after the warhead's proximity explosion destroyed the balloon.

Alternatively the Gun of an F-22 is accurate enough to fire just five tracer shots with just one "walked" onto, the near static, balloon target. The shot may have caused a small hole, slow leak, in the balloon, allowing the payload to more slowly descend to farmland or national park. http://www.gd-ots.com/armaments/aircraft-guns-gun-systems/f22/#:~:text=The%20F%2D22A%2020mm%20Gun,high%20reliability%20at%20minimum%20weight.

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Overall I think Biden wanted to paint himself as a "Tough on China" president, with a view to the Nov 2024 Presidential Election.

The balloon being permitted to fly over the whole continental US prolonged the confected balloon "crisis" - for Biden's benefit.

Mavs
(Used to work with US and Aus armed forces intelligence.)

Britain gave the Americans a bit of a belting in 1812,
Asplay,
Might have had something to do with the British still being English then !