Hi Paul,

Quite amusing really. children love that sort of thing. Yuk yuk. But back to reality:

Are you suggesting that Trump, as President, would be a Chinese ally ? i.e. in attacking Vietnam ? And that, for all his pseudo-right-wing bluster, he is actually a Chinese agent ? So he wouldn't order any B-52s to bomb some of the shoals that the Chinese are building on ? That would be quite easy from any new Vietnamese or Filipino bases - after all, the Scarborough Shoals that the Chinese are claiming, are only about 120 miles from Manila and 1000 miles from China, Filipino fisherman have been living on those shoals for thousands of years before a Chinese ship passed by in 1420 or so and 'thereby' claimed them ?

Frankly, Paul, I think that China is more likely to nuke Hanoi than the US. Do you want to revise your story to match reality ?

Or, from the news just in, to make room in your story for North Korea to nuke South Korea ?

Joe

Dear Loudmouth,

That is another possible scenario, but one bound in economic determinism. I think I'm correct with my Taiwan hypothesis based on the premise that the war would be driven my nationalistic sentiment, with greater China wanting to incorporate Taiwan into a global Chinese empire.

The question is: Who will Australia support? The US or China? I don't think Australia will have the option of sitting it out because that will leave it vulnerable, with the US ignoring it and China lining it up for annexation.

Hi Mr Opinion,

I think that Australia will support the international law of the seas, like the US. I wish the ABC and SBS would stop referring incorrectly to these shoals, Scarborough, the Paracels and the Spratleys, as 'islands': they are shoals and reefs, underwater at high tide, and thereby - according to international law - not claimable by any country as their national territory.

There are reefs and shoals all over the world: just because one powerful country decides to build a shoal up to support an air-base, doesn't give it the slightest legality.

Joe

China is clearly the bully, and the enemy of all countries including its Asian neighbours. China deems itself far superior to all other civilisations, as did Japan prior to its defeat in WW2. Japan has modified its feelings of superiority by being thrashed and realising that its Emperor is not divine. China needs the same lesson; and, anyone feeling it necessary to ask which 'side' Australia will be on should be fitted for a straitjacket.

Dear ttbn, I take it you think Australia will support the US.

Dear Loudmouth, I take it you think Australia will stay out of a war between the US and China.

@ Loudmouth, Monday, 7 March 2016 12:15:16 PM

Well said.

China is already threatening private mariners and bullying them to go well around its claimed new territory, or else.

There is no justification whatsoever for China's position.