Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

War with China Thinking Through the Unthinkable
Rand Corporation ^ | 2016 | David C. Gompert, Astrid Cevallos, Cristina L. Garafola

Posted on 08/02/2016 7:42:11 PM PDT by Sawdring

Premeditated war between the United States and China is very unlikely, but the danger that a mishandled crisis could trigger hostilities cannot be ignored. Thus, while neither state wants war, both states' militaries have plans to fight one. As Chinese anti-access and area-denial (A2AD) capabilities improve, the United States can no longer be so certain that war would follow its plan and lead to decisive victory. This analysis illuminates various paths a war with China could take and their possible consequences.

Technological advances in the ability to target opposing forces are creating conditions of conventional counterforce, whereby each side has the means to strike and degrade the other's forces and, therefore, an incentive to do so promptly, if not first. This implies fierce early exchanges, with steep military losses on both sides, until one gains control. At present, Chinese losses would greatly exceed U.S. losses, and the gap would only grow as fighting persisted. But, by 2025, that gap could be much smaller. Even then, however, China could not be confident of gaining military advantage, which suggests the possibility of a prolonged and destructive, yet inconclusive, war. In that event, nonmilitary factors — economic costs, internal political effects, and international reactions — could become more important.

(Excerpt) Read more at rand.org ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: china; us
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last
To: ClearCase_guy

Exactly

https://warisboring.com/step-by-step-here-s-how-to-defeat-china-in-war-1fd16b4d0a54#.mh9yft9yv


21 posted on 08/02/2016 10:07:33 PM PDT by Coronal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Forward the Light Brigade

Japan returned a loaner 331 kg of weapons grade plutonium to the US—the remaining 48 tons of Pu is for ‘fuel’ use. Obama has made overtures toward taking it off their hands as they supposedly have no use for it. Japan having a handling basis for reprocessing the material, has since announced an imminent restart 19 of 42 reactors.

In other news, Japan has substantial space launch capability for satellite and deep space exploration missions...


22 posted on 08/02/2016 10:08:40 PM PDT by Ozark Tom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: dr_lew

We’ll fight it by proxy, if there even is a confrontation. Guaranteed.

It’s just too risky for China to start a full out war with America and her allies. They know it, we know it. The risk of even one or two nukes on both sides in an exchange before a cease-fire is called is too risky, and all too likely in a direct confrontation. Even in China leaders don’t get to the top of the food chain by being homicidal mass murdering maniacs.

The people with nukes are mostly sane, and want their countries to live. The real problem is going to happen when a rogue/terrorist state gets some. Like Iran making some. Or ISIS taking a NATO or US base with some nukes.

I’m fine with sane mostly civilized and developed countries having them. Because they aren’t going to push the button on a whim. But the Iranians will sell them to terrorists, ISIS will use them without a seconds hesitation.


23 posted on 08/02/2016 10:44:12 PM PDT by FreedomStar3028 (Somebody has to step forward and do what is right because it is right, otherwise no one will follow.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Sawdring
I will read it later, but I suspect that some of the conclusions will be similar to what I read on, ah, "private" stuff decades ago while the cold war was going hot.

The short story was that most any naval engagements with the Soviets would likely go nuclear within the first hour or so.

I hope the ChiComs have more restraint, but if they see their ass getting kicked.................

24 posted on 08/02/2016 11:01:07 PM PDT by doorgunner69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

If my region (British Columbia) is any sort of guide, the real Chinese threat is not military, it is socio-economic. They plan to take over gradually through colonizing, combined with increased immigration. This may not be much of a factor in the U.S. yet, but I can think of a few places where a similar thing may be underway. However, British Columbia appears to be a pilot project on a larger scale. And from their point of view, it’s working. Ten years ago, in my neighbourhood, there was no sign of recent mainland Chinese influence at all (around the region, a past generation Chinese ethnic population but that’s quite a different thing). Now, buildings are coming down to be replaced by huge condo towers, almost all the purchasers are either recent Chinese arrivals or offshore investors.

This is of course a destination city and province, but frankly I don’t think our charms are the main attraction here, more likely it’s the geography of a logical bridgehead into North America. If this works as planned, watch for it to spread step by step.

From China’s point of view, North America is like a second China that is largely devoid of people (our population is one quarter of theirs on a similar land base, if one excludes the 90% of Canada that is mostly wilderness).

So the military talk is interesting, but make no mistake, the main threat is socio-economic, cultural imperialism. And the Chinese have no shortage of two things — people, and self-confidence.

This sort of program is easier to push forward if they own the local political leadership, and in this province, it’s pretty clear that they do.


25 posted on 08/03/2016 12:14:08 AM PDT by Peter ODonnell (I have counted up the good things about Hillary Clinton and I am stuck on zero. Anyone got anything?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Forward the Light Brigade

You are off the mark on this a bit Lord Cardigan. The Chinese of course have an enormous military. However it’s quality and capability are very suspect. Remember that they got into a tussle with Vietnam a number of years ago and got whipped. Chinas best options are to use the Pacific as their back door and defend. Their front door and an opportunity for their huge infantry is against Russia through thinly populated Siberia.
As to the Panama Canal, they control both ends and can deny use by blowing up a couple of locks in the extreme, or just denying passage to those they don’t like as part of a trade war. Just a few observations to consider.


26 posted on 08/03/2016 2:30:01 AM PDT by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: FreedomStar3028

I would suggest reading the book. A conflict with China would be a lot different than war with the Soviet Union.


27 posted on 08/03/2016 5:04:07 AM PDT by Sawdring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Coronal

Thanks for the link.


28 posted on 08/03/2016 5:05:09 AM PDT by Sawdring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Sawdring

29 posted on 08/03/2016 9:57:00 AM PDT by Svartalfiar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sawdring

30 posted on 08/03/2016 10:02:54 AM PDT by Svartalfiar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Svartalfiar

I haven’t read a Clancy book in 20 years.


31 posted on 08/04/2016 7:44:34 PM PDT by Sawdring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson