How China's Military Views the United States

Japan's economy shows signs of recovery, after 30 years of stagnation and devastation. Some believe that this 30 years of devastation is what China is headed for.

Of course, on the plus side for China, the government has access to a vast amount of wealth to spend on resolving problems that Japan's government did not have. On the minus side, it was the Chinese government's poor investment policies and hubris that got them into this mess. They do not seem very competent or responsible managers of money. China also has an institutional problem in that the country is essentially a dictatorship--one man gets to decide the policies, and everyone else must agree. If Chairman Xi wants to build a technology hub city in the middle of the swamp, then that's what is going to happen. Japan is a democratic country, so it can reverse policies just by voting in new leadership.

Japan's historic economic comeback shows just how screwed China is right now

 

China's Belt and Road Initiative takes another hit, this time in Pakistan. A terrorist bomber crashed a car full of explosives into a vehicle carrying Chinese workers to the Dasu Dam Project. Three years ago, terrorists blew up a bus transporting nine Chinese workers to another project. Apparently, China is not as popular as they think they are in other countries.

Chinese workers killed in suicide bomb blast as Pakistan grapples with attacks on Beijing’s interests | CNN

 

China's submarine corps seems to have a slight problem with its officers on board the subs. China insists on using its lowest scoring military academy applicants for submarine officers, with the exception of the engineering positions. Not sure what the logic behind this is, but it doesn't sound good for them. I guess if you are on a ship that spends most of its time beneath the waves, you are out of sight and out of mind. No need to be especially bright if the admiral isn't going down there to talk to you. No wonder there are reports of Chinese sub officers panicking and reacting poorly to difficult situations.

China picks its lowest-scoring officers to command nuclear submarines

 

Apple is looking to Vietnam to source more and more components for its products, now that it is moving away from China.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/18/tech/apple-vietnam-supply-chain-china/index.html

 

I think in the long run, Antigua will be an expensive boondoggle for China, providing minimal benefit. The locals will eventually get tired of being pushed around and abused, with endangered species wiped out and local culture disrespected, and they'll kick China out.

 

In more comical news, several half-marathon runners lost their medals in Beijing after it was broadcast that multiple African athletes stepped aside and cheered China's star distance runner across the finish line, disgracing Chinese sport once again.

Beijing half marathon: Top three stripped of medals after investigation

 

So in your mind there is no value to the quality of ships involved? Try to remember, of the two countries, the U.S. is the only one that has actually won a war in the last century or two. And one of the wars that the U.S. won (WWII, against Japan) was largely won with the U.S. Navy. China has not had a strong navy since the days of their best admiral, Zheng He. Unfortunately for China, he was dead by 1436 A.D. And, for the most part, Zheng He had stopped sailing by 1424 (six centuries ago this year). So, in a competition between a country that has not won a major naval battle in 600 years and the world's most powerful navy, you're betting against the world's most powerful navy? That doesn't sound very smart.

Zheng He - Wikipedia

You could put five college football teams together, but they still wouldn't beat a pro team. Sometimes, quality beats numbers. Especially when each U.S. aircraft carrier can put up 50-60 planes that can each disable or sink 4-5 ships in a single afternoon, without showing up on enemy radar.

 

I tend to be suspicious of anyone who reports history six years in advance, Clownie. Your propaganda spreader says that the U.S. GDP will essentially stay the same between 2023 and 2030, while China's GDP will increase from $17.7 trillion to $30 trillion. Remarkably, only one of the two countries has a severe real estate crisis at the moment, a shrinking population, 24-40% youth unemployment, and they've managed to piss off their wealthiest customers with threats of invasion of Taiwan and support of Russia. In other words, that country (China) has long-term economic problems. And your propaganda seems to indicate that having these problems will lead their GDP to increase by 70%. How idiotic.

 

The Brits believe that the way western countries easily handled Iran's missile attacks on Israel will make China think twice about attacking Taiwan.

China to rethink Taiwan seizure after Iran’s failed attack on Israel