Announcement

Collapse

Civics 101 Guidelines

Want to argue about politics? Healthcare reform? Taxes? Governments? You've come to the right place!

Try to keep it civil though. The rules still apply here.
See more
See less

Should We Defend Taiwan...

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Should We Defend Taiwan...

    With our military? Any thoughts? What do Australians or New Zealanders think?
    Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

  • #2
    Is there doubt that expansionist ambitions will not be satisfied with one acquisition?
    1Cor 15:34 Come to your senses as you ought and stop sinning; for I say to your shame, there are some who know not God.
    .
    ⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛
    Scripture before Tradition:
    but that won't prevent others from
    taking it upon themselves to deprive you
    of the right to call yourself Christian.

    ⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛

    Comment


    • #3
      Being that Taiwan actually produces things we need and thus would have a direct affect on us and our economy, if the question is: Is it in our interest to defend Taiwan, the answer would be yes.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by seanD View Post
        Being that Taiwan actually produces things we need and thus would have a direct affect on us and our economy, if the question is: Is it in our interest to defend Taiwan, the answer would be yes.
        That there is. If I were in charge here, I'd be looking to find ways to provide incentives for Taiwan to take an interest in producing some of the high-tech stuff here. As things stand, Taiwan is producing critical goods that no-one else does.
        1Cor 15:34 Come to your senses as you ought and stop sinning; for I say to your shame, there are some who know not God.
        .
        ⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛
        Scripture before Tradition:
        but that won't prevent others from
        taking it upon themselves to deprive you
        of the right to call yourself Christian.

        ⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛

        Comment


        • #5
          Question 1: Should we defend Taiwan? It depends on the level of "defense." Should we send troops? No. Should we fire nukes? No. Since China is so intrinsically linked to the US and the west financially, the best way to control China is economically. I think a carrots-and-sticks approach through trade is the best avenue.
          Question 2" Should Biden be spouting off about it? Absolutely not! He's stoking a fire and drawing lines in the sand. He needs to shut his big, fat, demented mouth - otherwise the obstinate Chinese commies are going to raise the ante. What a bumbling idiot.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by seanD View Post
            Being that Taiwan actually produces things we need and thus would have a direct affect on us and our economy, if the question is: Is it in our interest to defend Taiwan, the answer would be yes.
            But so does Ukraine. As I recall, they are big exporters of wheat and lithium. Under your standard, we should intervene in Ukraine.
            "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6

            "Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Ronson View Post
              Question 1: Should we defend Taiwan? It depends on the level of "defense." Should we send troops? No. Should we fire nukes? No. Since China is so intrinsically linked to the US and the west financially, the best way to control China is economically. I think a carrots-and-sticks approach through trade is the best avenue.
              Question 2" Should Biden be spouting off about it? Absolutely not! He's stoking a fire and drawing lines in the sand. He needs to shut his big, fat, demented mouth - otherwise the obstinate Chinese commies are going to raise the ante. What a bumbling idiot.
              Sorry but China controls the West economically. Look at how many companies and the NBA bow to China whenever they object to something. Are you paying attention to what China is doing in the south China sea? After taking over Tiawan, I'll bet they would love to see their troops occupying Japan as revenge for WWII. Have you notice how they haven't done anything practical to rein in North Korea? The economic approach to China, started in 1990's and thinking if they become middle-class, they'll become good citizens of the world, has FAILED.

              Biden is doing good by building up alliances. I think one of the pluses of the Trump administration is the raising awareness of China's plans.

              I think you need to take some time to see what China is up to before you talk about controlling China.
              "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6

              "Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom

              Comment


              • #8
                The real question is, would Joe "10% for the big guy" Biden ever dare to upset China?
                Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
                But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
                Than a fool in the eyes of God


                From "Fools Gold" by Petra

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Thoughtful Monk View Post

                  But so does Ukraine. As I recall, they are big exporters of wheat and lithium. Under your standard, we should intervene in Ukraine.
                  We don't even import a quarter of our food supply, and only a minuscule amount comes from Ukraine.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by seanD View Post

                    We don't even import a quarter of our food supply, and only a minuscule amount comes from Ukraine.
                    Regarding wheat, true. However, there is the rest of the world to consider and how a shortage of wheat in the world is going to inflate prices for bread, etc.

                    Lithium is more of a concern since it's an essential component of batteries. I'll also admit I may be mixing lithium up with some else essential.
                    "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6

                    "Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Thoughtful Monk View Post

                      Regarding wheat, true. However, there is the rest of the world to consider and how a shortage of wheat in the world is going to inflate prices for bread, etc.

                      Lithium is more of a concern since it's an essential component of batteries. I'll also admit I may be mixing lithium up with some else essential.
                      Apparently we get quite a bit of iron and steel from Ukraine, but not enough that we can't compensate for from other sources. As far as the food effects on EU countries, that's EU's problem. They have money and resources so let them handle it. I have a big problem enriching defense contractors and corrupt Ukrainian officials, but I have no problem with humanitarian assistance to countries negatively affected by all this. But, of course, whether we can afford it and how much that help is at the expense of our own citizens is an argument that also can't be ignored.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by tabibito View Post
                        Is there doubt that expansionist ambitions will not be satisfied with one acquisition?
                        But they are only reclaiming "territories" lost due to colonial expansionism. Taiwan was taken by the Japanese empire in the 1890s.

                        But then again, so was Nepal, Bhutan, Burma and much of Malaysia (including Singapore), which the Brits took in the 19th century. And North Vietnam and Thailand by the French. And then there is Java, Borneo and Indonesia...

                        I'm always still in trouble again

                        "You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
                        "Overall I would rate the withdrawal from Afghanistan as by far the best thing Biden's done" --Starlight
                        "Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          We could start by calling that nation by its right name.
                          When I Survey....

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by rogue06 View Post
                            But they are only reclaiming "territories" lost due to colonial expansionism. Taiwan was taken by the Japanese empire in the 1890s.
                            Which is to say, Taiwan has never been a possession of Communist China.
                            1Cor 15:34 Come to your senses as you ought and stop sinning; for I say to your shame, there are some who know not God.
                            .
                            ⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛
                            Scripture before Tradition:
                            but that won't prevent others from
                            taking it upon themselves to deprive you
                            of the right to call yourself Christian.

                            ⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by seer View Post
                              With our military? Any thoughts?
                              On balance, no. The US getting into a direct war with China could too easily escalate. Taiwan isn't worth that.

                              Major reasons I think Taiwan isn't worth that is that (a) it was historically part of China, (b) it's directly adjacent to China, (c) it's inhabited by people of Chinese descent who speak Chinese. As I've said before I'm pretty apathetic about international intervention in these kinds of situations, which I tend to regard more as a civil war than an international conflict.

                              Compare to the reasons for defending Taiwan: (1) just generally preventing one country ever invading another, (2) defending a region that wants independence and democracy because those are goods, (3) stopping China expanding because China is viewed as a geopolitical threat, (4) legacy of supporting anti-communist elites from the Cold War, with Taiwan being controlled by the elites who fled the communist regime in China, (5) Taiwan produces the most advanced computer chips which the US uses. I think of that list, 1-2 are good reasons, but 3-5 are dodgy ones.

                              On balance it seems reasonable to let China have Taiwan because it was historically part of China and is inhabited by Chinese people.

                              If China started invading unrelated countries, that is a different matter. Then you are potentially in WW3 territory already, and US involvement in such a situation is not really an escalation.

                              What do Australians or New Zealanders think?
                              Not sure why you're asking this? Is this another attempt to pretend China is about to invade those countries? Look at a map, those countries are half way around the world from China. If China were to ever invade those countries it would have already invaded half the rest of the world. It's like fantasizing that China might launch and invasion of your area of New England specifically... why, when the rest of the US is closer to China?


                              Originally posted by Ronson View Post
                              Question 2" Should Biden be spouting off about it? Absolutely not! He's stoking a fire and drawing lines in the sand. He needs to shut his big, fat, demented mouth - otherwise the obstinate Chinese commies are going to raise the ante. What a bumbling idiot.
                              Despite being against the US defending Taiwan, I disagree with you here. Biden saying that the US will defend Taiwan, and saying so forcefully, might mean the Chinese believe it and so don't attack. This would be true regardless of whether Biden would actually defend Taiwan. Biden is potentially saving lives with his words.

                              The first Iraq war infamously occurred because the US failed to say that it would defend Kuwait. Saddam Hussein decided that what he was hearing from the US meant that he could invade Kuwait without US intervention, and so did. A huge number of people died as a result. Though the US eventually decided it would intervene, the entire war could have been avoided if the US had simply told Saddam in clear terms that he could not attack Kuwait without US intervention against him.

                              For this reason it's important for leaders, especially those perceived as being more peaceable, to be tougher with their words than they are actually prepared to be with their actions. You can always choose to not intervene if an invasion happens, but you absolutely don't want to encourage an invasion by saying you wouldn't intervene.
                              "I hate him passionately", he's "a demonic force" - Tucker Carlson, in private, on Donald Trump
                              "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism" - George Orwell
                              "[Capitalism] as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy" - Albert Einstein

                              Comment

                              Related Threads

                              Collapse

                              Topics Statistics Last Post
                              Started by little_monkey, Yesterday, 04:19 PM
                              16 responses
                              103 views
                              0 likes
                              Last Post One Bad Pig  
                              Started by whag, 03-26-2024, 04:38 PM
                              53 responses
                              301 views
                              0 likes
                              Last Post Mountain Man  
                              Started by rogue06, 03-26-2024, 11:45 AM
                              25 responses
                              109 views
                              0 likes
                              Last Post rogue06
                              by rogue06
                               
                              Started by Hypatia_Alexandria, 03-26-2024, 09:21 AM
                              33 responses
                              196 views
                              0 likes
                              Last Post Roy
                              by Roy
                               
                              Started by Hypatia_Alexandria, 03-26-2024, 08:34 AM
                              84 responses
                              357 views
                              0 likes
                              Last Post JimL
                              by JimL
                               
                              Working...
                              X