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How China is replacing America as Asia’s military titan

reuters.com

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Re: How China is replacing America as Asia’s military titan

#31

Post by NTDF9 »

jayd16 wrote: post #24
NTDF9 wrote: post #14

I can't be the only one noticing so much noise about China in American media. Is America really so scared of being number 2?

Of course. Our entire national psyche has been centered around American exceptionalism for at least 70 years. Scared isn't exactly right. We're very rival focused, I would say. It's China now but there was a time when it felt like Japan would control the electronics industry, for example.

But is there an acceptance that the exceptionalism cannot be had by massive global bullying, wars, lack of investment in people vs corporations?

I mean, its literally impossible to be number 1, if the competition is investing in their people and aren't going to insane wars.

America is still number 2 and that's not a bad place.

Re: How China is replacing America as Asia’s military titan

#32

Post by duxup »

mrb wrote: post #20

Half the comments in HN are flagged or downvoted. Is it a sign that the HN crowd feels uneasy and divided about China's rising power? Meta comment: wonder if my comment will get downvoted too when it's just asking a question meant to start an intelligent discussion.

I suspect it has to do with the comment(s). Also there are all of a handful of comments right now, if you're drawing conclusions already I'd say that is flawed from the start.

It's all too easy to declare votes are for whatever reason you want to think they are.

Re: How China is replacing America as Asia’s military titan

#33

Post by AtlasLion »

mc32 wrote: post #17

Ideally the US, EU and CN would work cooperatively rather than adversarially with regards to leading the world into a brighter future. The US and EU share s lot in terms of philosophy and economic goals. Japan and the “Asian tigers” also fit in. I think India to a great degree shares the same, but China currently is not in synchronicity with the EU-US-JP and to a lesser extent India’s goals on the world stage. We can…

your priorities seem way off to me, I don't care if these countries disagree about trade but climate change needs everyone on board. Also, we don't need China following the US regime change war machine.

Re: How China is replacing America as Asia’s military titan

#35

Post by panzagl »

landryraccoon wrote: post #26
terryschiavo22 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's be clear. Being the world's military titan is not a desirable job. Someone has to fend off the Somali pirates, but it's not glamorous and everyone benefits equally from it (as in not just the US).

I don’t get it. Why is any of this true? If this is true, why doesn’t the US also take in refugees from all over the world, and take over building schools or doing more humanitarian aid as well? What exactly is the moral principle that “someone” has to do these things, and why does that “someone” have to be the US?

The US does all of those things.

Re: How China is replacing America as Asia’s military titan

#36

Post by elefanten »

NTDF9 wrote: post #14

I can't be the only one noticing so much noise about China in American media. Is America really so scared of being number 2?

There are many alternative hypotheses to your rather provocative and insulting one.

As China's prominence or output rise, it makes sense coverage would rise too.

It also makes sense that as China has more impact on the world, it will naturally affect the interests of a greater number of people. This in turn, means more people have a stake in something China is or isn't doing.

Re: How China is replacing America as Asia’s military titan

#37

Post by luckylion »

JimboOmega wrote: post #18
noobermin wrote: post #8

We should match our military spending with China's, that should do it. EDIT: I hope everyone realizes this is sarcastic. We already spend more than China and then some.

It kind of worked with the Soviet Union. They tried to keep up, but just didn't have the economic power to do it. It won't with China, because China isn't playing the force projecting world superpower game like the SU was.

The SU was also much smaller than NATO wrt to population, it's reversed with China.

Re: How China is replacing America as Asia’s military titan

#38

Post by beasteurope »

AtlasLion wrote: post #33
mc32 wrote: post #17

Ideally the US, EU and CN would work cooperatively rather than adversarially with regards to leading the world into a brighter future. The US and EU share s lot in terms of philosophy and economic goals. Japan and the “Asian tigers” also fit in. I think India to a great degree shares the same, but China currently is not in synchronicity with the EU-US-JP and to a lesser extent India’s goals on the world stage. We can…

your priorities seem way off to me, I don't care if these countries disagree about trade but climate change needs everyone on board. Also, we don't need China following the US regime change war machine.

Count Europe out as well. With Italy officially joining the Belt and Road and Hungary expressing interest we should align ourselves with the future not a dying America.

Re: How China is replacing America as Asia’s military titan

#39

Post by Leary »

With anti access area denial weapons like ballistic missiles and submarines, it is increasingly difficult to offensively project naval forces into a region. While this means America will have trouble navigating within China's vicinity, it also means that even relatively small countries like Vietnam and Taiwan can buy equipment to deter China.

Re: How China is replacing America as Asia’s military titan

#40

Post by luckylion »

NTDF9 wrote: post #31
jayd16 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course. Our entire national psyche has been centered around American exceptionalism for at least 70 years. Scared isn't exactly right. We're very rival focused, I would say. It's China now but there was a time when it felt like Japan would control the electronics industry, for example.

But is there an acceptance that the exceptionalism cannot be had by massive global bullying, wars, lack of investment in people vs corporations? I mean, its literally impossible to be number 1, if the competition is investing in their people and aren't going to insane wars. America is still number 2 and that's not a bad place.

Number 2 doesn't get to control what the numbers 3 - X do, number 1 does. US wealth depends on being the primary global power.
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