| Tango01 | 15 Oct 2020 3:40 p.m. PST |
"Across Southeast Asia, scenario planning exercises by analysts and policymakers preparing for the unthinkable – a military clash between the world's two largest economies in their backyard – has taken on added significance in recent weeks. Tensions between the US and China, already fraught over trade, technology and the South China Sea, deepened as Beijing protested against Washington's ties to Taipei and conducted military activities close to the self-ruled island last week. The question "What will happen if a shooting war erupts between China and the US?" has played on the mind of Manila-based defence researcher Jose Antonio Custodio…" link Main page
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Amicalement
Armand
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| JMcCarroll | 15 Oct 2020 3:47 p.m. PST |
Answer: Which of those countries wants to speak Chinese? |
| Thresher01 | 15 Oct 2020 3:50 p.m. PST |
It depends. I suspect many may go for the long play, and ask who they think will ultimately win, AND who they live closest to? That does not bode well for the USA. See the Philippines as a prime example of the above. |
| HMS Exeter | 15 Oct 2020 4:03 p.m. PST |
Unless they have been attacked by China, they will move heaven and earth to hug the sidelines. |
 Editor in Chief Bill   | 15 Oct 2020 4:34 p.m. PST |
Lots of corruption there, lots of funny money, and China is a lot closer than the USA is. |
| arealdeadone | 15 Oct 2020 4:42 p.m. PST |
Alas old news! Thailand is mentioned as a maybe US friend but it ignores the massive ties between the two countries including increasing military ties. All of these countries love Chinese money too. And other than Singapore all of them other have worthless militaries that have no defensive capabilities. In many cases their militaries are extremely corrupt, poorly equipped and which often have more of an internal policing role than defence. Thus they actually quite a defense liability. |
| arealdeadone | 15 Oct 2020 7:50 p.m. PST |
Sorry made an error – I was meant to say "ignores the massive ties between China and Thailand including increasing military ties." |
| Rudysnelson | 15 Oct 2020 10:47 p.m. PST |
China will be the choice of their governments and economic leaders.
The people will concur until Chinese cultural policy tries to replace local culture, as in Tibet. At that time local resistance will occur causing a minor headache for the Chinese army. |
| nsolomon99 | 16 Oct 2020 3:26 a.m. PST |
Actually, apart from the Cold War with India at Ladakh in the Himalayas, Vietnam was in fact the last country to be invaded by the Chinese PLA. Back in the late 70's if I recall correctly. The Vietnamese Army did so well resisting that it caused a rethink and re-org in the PLA – they re-introduced Officer's ranks as I recall. |
| Tango01 | 16 Oct 2020 12:38 p.m. PST |
I'm with Bill…. Amicalement
Armand |
| 15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 16 Oct 2020 12:53 p.m. PST |
The PLA in the 1970's is by-and-large a "people's army" comprised of ill-equipped and inadequately trained peasants. The modern PLA is a high-tech force of well-trained and educated professionals modeled after western armies and schooled in western military doctrines. To compare what might happen today to 1979 is like comparing apples to kumquats. |
| John the OFM | 17 Oct 2020 9:46 a.m. PST |
To make an ally of these countries would require us to defend them. |
| Rudysnelson | 17 Oct 2020 9:10 p.m. PST |
Why? The US no longer needs to be deployed as a viable force overseas. No force can survive so is not viable.
We could not reinforce them or even res up ply them. Only a trip wire presence as we were in the Cold War. |
