"an optimistic view of US and China" Topic

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Argues that the US is effectively containing China

Xi is very aware of his own problems. Two years ago, he was on the verge of controlling the approaches to North America. Today America has flipped that script. So isn't it at least possible that Xi is recognizing how we've kicked his butt out of the Caribbean, humiliated his armaments industry in Venezuela and Iran, and locked down Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok with our new Indonesian defense pact(s)?

And that's not even mentioning Japan's reassertion as both a major power and arsenal to our allies, South Korea's and Australia's nuclear submarine deals with the U.S., the defensive implications of the Taiwan arms deals, the growing forest of missiles in Luzon, and the recently announced $1.5 USD trillion Trump defense budget, up from under $1 USD trillion. If we obsess about China's strengths, do we really think they don't obsess about ours?

One can only hope. China intends to replace the US as THE top dog.

"1982 is a long way…that's a big far distance away….Certainly brought that up. He talked about that to me, obviously. What am I gonna do? Say I don't want to talk about it because I have an agreement that was signed in 1982. We discussed the arms sales, too. The whole thing with the arms sales. In great detail actually. And I'll be making decisions."

"You know, I think the last thing we need right now is a war that is 9500 miles away."

China definitely has some issues. But the USN controlled and still controls approaches to North America. China is only now beginning to come up with the vessels it needs for significant force projection. As is any navy still mainly powered by 20th century fuel. They still have no carrier resources ..oops forgot to finish this part….that are close to matching us. But they are moving faster than we are in development of the new ships they need. They will soon began using nuclear power, in their carriers and they are getting way ahead of us in alternative energy in general. Somewhere somebody recently said that Xi sees us as beginning to decline.

Japan's rearming program is not new, but it is in high gear due the perceived increased threat posture China has taken in recent months at sea in the region.not that they haven't been harassing 3verybody all along. But the USN 7th Fleet, long based in Japan, is a check. And Japan is set to help maintain and repair USN vessels. Our own deficiencies in this area should have been a priority. The steel for the Trump battleships was ordered concurrently with their announcement, Congress no longer consulted, but finding it and building them is another matter.

Whatever happened" in great detail" in China is not how Trump works, IMO. The fact that we are heavily jcommitted in the ME seems like a plus for both Xi and Putin. We are still there, they get to watch our ops, logistics, and strategic planning.

"The steel for the Trump battleships was ordered concurrently with their announcement, Congress no longer consulted, but finding it and building them is another matter."

Is there a source for this statement? Seems unlikely, since the warships are currently artist renditions.

My source is someone in the industry at management level who has been tasked with finding materials. You are right, this may not mean an actual order and to that extent I misspoke. But it was clear he was facing some pressure from some sort of feeler at least.

The paperwork comes LAST, when a deal is made.

Regardless … I think this was a good move. With more to this visit than we see in the media. And there is more to come. I think too many believe things happen overnight … Generally they don't.

I agree. But POTUS cannot help telling us things happened overnight. "In great detail. ". But the more connection and discussion the better.

However, reality is always a little grittier than what is said at meetings among politicians, etc.

E.g. The Chicoms are shipping weapons, parts, etc. to Iran through rail lines going thru A'stan to Iran.

These evil types always will find a way …

So I'd think these rail lines in Iran should be targeted as soon as they cross into Iran from A'stan. Which is probably already in the OPLAN.

Again …

Don't trust the Chicoms[no matter of the fact that the POTUS just talked to Xi face to face].

Don't trust radical islamists from Iran. Or anywhere else in the world.

As we do know rail lines are generally fairly easy targets. From WWI on.

Optimistically, when China collapses under the weight of Central Planning and Brutality it won't spark a nuclear war…

That would be acceptable …

A week later Xi and Putin are best friends and tossing veiled criticisms at Trump. .

Who in their right mind can trust what Putin or Xi say?… It's like sitting down to talk with Hitler and Mussolini…

Armand

A week later and we see arms sales paused to Taiwan: link

Not being trustworthy and deals that are out of date before the ink dries is the new diplomacy.

@Tango01 – reminds me of these scenes from the classic movie "The Great Dictator" by Charlie Chaplin.

1. When dictators meet – (Hynkel receives Napaloni): YouTube link

2. Dictators Hynkle and Napaloni one-up each other in a barbershop: YouTube link

Rules to live by :

Don't trust: the Chicoms, Russkies, and islamists[with Iran being at the top of the list.

Don't look now -- the Chinese stock market hiccuped on Thursday, wiping out $300 USD Billion in value. The Chinese economy also continues to slow -- the CCP needs to maintain 5% growth just to tread water, but is at an estimated 2.2% and steadily falling after a recent GDP growth peak of around 5.6% from 2022-2024.

Then… something… I dunno, happened in 2025-2026 to halve Chinese GDP growth…

No, this has been coming on before that. And its the Chinese government that has caused much of it. Foremost, the massive real estate crisis, has gone on for several years, killing investment, causing unemployment, regional and local debt. Huge oversupply, over-regulation, etc. Second, demographics. One child caught up with them, not enough factory age labor, huge aging population.

And finally, external financial pressures – but to imply that this is the start of China's troubles is not correct. They did this to themselves, for the most part. And they are not the only ones.

U.S.-China Summit: What Really Happened

"A great deal has already been written about this summit — and a great deal more will follow. Left-leaning media outlets have framed it as a failure or even a capitulation. Right-leaning outlets have celebrated it as a historic triumph. The result, in the words of one observer, is that "it has been clarified that nothing has been clarified."

That paradox is precisely what prompted me to write this piece. My aim is not to cheer for either side, nor to condemn either leader. My aim is to look at the verified facts — coldly, without sympathy or antipathy for any party — and offer the reader a sober assessment of what actually happened in Beijing from May 13 to 15, 2026, and what it means…"

link

Armand

For anyone too young to remember -- this was a Big Power Cold War Summit of the kind the US and USSR conducted in the past. I wouldn't expect much from such a thing, where demonstrating we can talk and not shoot is a desired outcome.