The irony is thick that the EU is active in supporting Ukraine in its fight to defend itself from Russian hegemony, yet effectively sides with the CCP in its squeeze of democratic Taiwan.
Those poor, misguided Japanese seem furious that he's pressuring the Diet to enact LGBT laws when the Japanese public hates that shit, but eventually they'll get used to it. Comfortably numb.
Of course, we don't need a bunch of conservatives on our side, right? Plus we won WW2, so how good can they possibly be? /sarc
I'm sure they will be breaking down doors to swell the ranks of JDF and antagonize their great big neighbor on the mainland.
Europe will sit on its hands. The European Political class (and by extension, the mercantile) has been sucking on our hind tit for three generations. They will not budge.
When the Communists were in Europe's backyard they recognized the dangers that the Soviets posed. Communist China on the other hand is on the other side of the world.
Europe feels that its commercial ties with the Party trump its obligations to support democracy in the South China Sea arena. Should a war break out in the Taiwan Strait those commercial ties will shatter. As long as a conflict rages there will be no maritime traffic to or from the PRC, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, and the Philippines.
Pretending that the Taiwan issue really does not affect them is a massive geo-economic mistake. Paraphrasing FDR, if your neighbors house is on fire yours is in danger. The more countries that stand up to Communist China the less likely a conflict in the Indo-Pacific will occur.
Great read as always. Just so long as the U.S. appeases the expectations of European elites that the U.S. will remain steadfast in her commitment and resolve in safeguarding the neutrality of the global commons through which European goods flow unimpeded.
Best case, Europe is eventually able to stand on its own two feet against a Russian threat against Europe, at least without immediate support from the US. Possibly, we can convince some Europeans that there is something to be gained from FDI in Pacific partners (anti-BRI), even if it's for purely financial reasons on their part. Anything more commitment from Europe than that is a pipe dream.
Well, except for the British Empire, Europe was not a serious player in the Pacific during WW II---an honorable exception for The Netherlands. Great nations do not have friends, they have interests, as somebody famous once said.
It's almost as if Taiwan is a regional concern for one country, and not some global harbinger of universal communism or something.
The USA will have to continue its crusade for liberal democracy and gay pride parades alone - well, alone except for their satrapies in the UK, AUS, CAN, and NZ.
Ralph Peters wrote a fiction book called Red Army it was about a Soviet invasion of Western Europe, told from the Soviet side the book came to an end after The Europeans called a truce and allowed CCCP to keep what they gained an forced NATO to surrender in a cease fire.
I think in any conflict between China and the US the "Allies" will sit it out and deal with the winner.
I think if push came to shove the Russians can expect the US to fight them alone, treaties or not.
We won't know if our "allies" will stand with us or melt away like snow at the first real shot.
Here is a suggestion which goes beyond mere rhetoric into visible concrete action. Give Poland our entire reserve stock of M1A1's now sitting uselessly in storage with the caveat that the Poles must pay for the necessary modernization and restorative maintenance before delivery.
The current administration would never consider an action as bold as this one, but some future American administration might. And no, for those of you on the Front Porch who are living in some alternate political reality, that hypothetical future American administration will not be headed by Ron DeSantis.
As I understand it, we are not counting on their participation
The irony is thick that the EU is active in supporting Ukraine in its fight to defend itself from Russian hegemony, yet effectively sides with the CCP in its squeeze of democratic Taiwan.
Don't worry; Rahm Emanuel is on the job in Tokyo.
Those poor, misguided Japanese seem furious that he's pressuring the Diet to enact LGBT laws when the Japanese public hates that shit, but eventually they'll get used to it. Comfortably numb.
Of course, we don't need a bunch of conservatives on our side, right? Plus we won WW2, so how good can they possibly be? /sarc
I'm sure they will be breaking down doors to swell the ranks of JDF and antagonize their great big neighbor on the mainland.
Europe will sit on its hands. The European Political class (and by extension, the mercantile) has been sucking on our hind tit for three generations. They will not budge.
They really don't like us.
When the Communists were in Europe's backyard they recognized the dangers that the Soviets posed. Communist China on the other hand is on the other side of the world.
Europe feels that its commercial ties with the Party trump its obligations to support democracy in the South China Sea arena. Should a war break out in the Taiwan Strait those commercial ties will shatter. As long as a conflict rages there will be no maritime traffic to or from the PRC, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, and the Philippines.
Pretending that the Taiwan issue really does not affect them is a massive geo-economic mistake. Paraphrasing FDR, if your neighbors house is on fire yours is in danger. The more countries that stand up to Communist China the less likely a conflict in the Indo-Pacific will occur.
TrustbutVerify, tell us again about all the great things Europe is going to do for us in the Pacific. 🙄
Maybe we should have let the Germans keep their Pacific possessions after WW1?
Great read as always. Just so long as the U.S. appeases the expectations of European elites that the U.S. will remain steadfast in her commitment and resolve in safeguarding the neutrality of the global commons through which European goods flow unimpeded.
Perhaps it's time for Taiwan to reciprocate by whom she sells chips to.
Best case, Europe is eventually able to stand on its own two feet against a Russian threat against Europe, at least without immediate support from the US. Possibly, we can convince some Europeans that there is something to be gained from FDI in Pacific partners (anti-BRI), even if it's for purely financial reasons on their part. Anything more commitment from Europe than that is a pipe dream.
CDR Salamander, for your interest: https://wentworthreport.com/review-of-the-defence-strategic-review/
Well, except for the British Empire, Europe was not a serious player in the Pacific during WW II---an honorable exception for The Netherlands. Great nations do not have friends, they have interests, as somebody famous once said.
And if you think the F-35 and the Super Hornet are going to protect the Fleet, think again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_uIBUPTi9o
The GAO has been trying to warn us: https://wentworthreport.com/the-f-35-dog-of-dogs/
It's almost as if Taiwan is a regional concern for one country, and not some global harbinger of universal communism or something.
The USA will have to continue its crusade for liberal democracy and gay pride parades alone - well, alone except for their satrapies in the UK, AUS, CAN, and NZ.
Ralph Peters wrote a fiction book called Red Army it was about a Soviet invasion of Western Europe, told from the Soviet side the book came to an end after The Europeans called a truce and allowed CCCP to keep what they gained an forced NATO to surrender in a cease fire.
I think in any conflict between China and the US the "Allies" will sit it out and deal with the winner.
I think if push came to shove the Russians can expect the US to fight them alone, treaties or not.
We won't know if our "allies" will stand with us or melt away like snow at the first real shot.
I have no illusions.
Here is a suggestion which goes beyond mere rhetoric into visible concrete action. Give Poland our entire reserve stock of M1A1's now sitting uselessly in storage with the caveat that the Poles must pay for the necessary modernization and restorative maintenance before delivery.
The current administration would never consider an action as bold as this one, but some future American administration might. And no, for those of you on the Front Porch who are living in some alternate political reality, that hypothetical future American administration will not be headed by Ron DeSantis.