[Strategerist]

Yup, and all with tons and tons of fresh young unemployed bodies to throw onto the front lines.

Um, front lines where? Russia?

The Chinese military has been rapidly reducing its total troop strength for many years now.

A bunch of untrained conscripts are utterly useless in a naval war.

The main problem here is that the Chinese military is well aware they can't stand up to the Japanese in a fight, but the Chinese populace is not.

[Pining_4_TX]

Yes, but isn’t the average age for the Japanese about 75 right now? They are definitely a decaying country.

Also, someone asked why the Japanese would pick now to heat up this conflict. Anybody have any ideas? Seems rather stupid to me.

As for the Chinese, the leaders are more than happy to have people upset over an external enemy rather than being upset with them for the problems in their economy.

Unfortunately, we live in interesting times.

[Oztrich Boy]

The main problem here is that the Chinese military is well aware they can't stand up to the Japanese in a fight, but the Chinese populace is not.

Well maybe the mob will be satisfied by the government clsiming victory

China claims 'success' in patrolling disputed islands

China says six boats sent to disputed islands at the centre of a row with Japan were ''successful'' in patrols to show Beijing's jurisdiction there.

The statement comes after protests spread to dozens of Chinese cities.

China sent the boats to the islands, called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan, after Tokyo sealed a deal to buy three of the islands.

But if it's a policing war, the Japanese Coast Guard has more than enough ships to continue to match every Chinese Coast Guard ship with a bigger, faster, and better armed Japanese one.

The Chinese have no chance of winning unless they skip the prelimimaries and open the conflict by smothering Okinawa with CJ-10 land attack cruise missiles. That might involve the US and lead to complications.