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Hong Kong Protesters Keep Up the Pressure

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41–50 of 66 posts

Re: Hong Kong Protesters Keep Up the Pressure

#42
I sense a lot of exaggeration in hn regarding the likelihood of armed intervention in the relationship between hkmainland. China has nothing to gain from overt belligerence with its own special region which is clearly regulated by legal framework (unlike Taiwan).

I support the cause of Hong Kongers, the general the idea of maintaining both their political and social difference within greater China. I even accept that some political movements in Hk exaggerate the possible threats of Mainland to aid their political cause (considering Mainland might and their track record of intervention in other regions - the threat narrative has factual backing).

But what is happening in HK is the democratic expression of a unequal (politically) society and it will be workout politically and not militarily.

Re: Hong Kong Protesters Keep Up the Pressure

#43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I take it you are not familiar with the Arab Spring protests?

The failed democratic revolutions that lead to massive loss of life in the countries where they fizzled out (Egypt), hundreds of thousands of deaths where the US supported them (Syria, Libya) and one democratic transition (Tunisia)? The Arab Spring was, in toto, a disaster. If you want to discourage revolutions by all means publicise it.

Arab Spring was massively successful. It got the entire Arab world hopeful for, and talking about, democracy and self-determination. The fact that all the rebellions fizzled out or were violently put down is completely besides the point.

Re: Hong Kong Protesters Keep Up the Pressure

#45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the result then basically being that they just end up destroying what they sought...

> they just end up destroying what they sought Cities are people, not buildings. This underlines the Swiss defense strategy, for instance [1]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Redoubt_%28Switzerlan...

The Chinese government likely cares more about the capital contained and produced in HK, which they would ruin if they were to bust up the place.

Re: Hong Kong Protesters Keep Up the Pressure

#46
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Guerrilla warfare relies on willingness to abide by the laws of armed conflict for its effectiveness. If you’re willing to kill everyone and the rebellious population realises it you win. See Chechnya. Also, Hong Kong is a city. In cities guerrilla warfare just plain doesn’t work. If it did the Israelis would not have been able to occupy the Gaza Strip and West Bank for decades. This without the willingness to disreg…

Total BS. Irish War of Independence is a good example of guerrilla warfare beating the oppressor, and the British did not subscribe to 'laws of armed conflict' in the slightest: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Sunday_(1920) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_and_Tans https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_Cork

[deleted]

Re: Hong Kong Protesters Keep Up the Pressure

#47
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn’t guerilla warfare in the alleys and tight buildings be an absolute nightmare

Guerrilla warfare relies on willingness to abide by the laws of armed conflict for its effectiveness. If you’re willing to kill everyone and the rebellious population realises it you win. See Chechnya. Also, Hong Kong is a city. In cities guerrilla warfare just plain doesn’t work. If it did the Israelis would not have been able to occupy the Gaza Strip and West Bank for decades. This without the willingness to disreg…

> If you’re willing to kill everyone and the rebellious population realises it you win.

Would the Vietnam war not be a counterexample of this?

Re: Hong Kong Protesters Keep Up the Pressure

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Guerrilla warfare relies on willingness to abide by the laws of armed conflict for its effectiveness. If you’re willing to kill everyone and the rebellious population realises it you win. See Chechnya. Also, Hong Kong is a city. In cities guerrilla warfare just plain doesn’t work. If it did the Israelis would not have been able to occupy the Gaza Strip and West Bank for decades. This without the willingness to disreg…

> If you’re willing to kill everyone and the rebellious population realises it you win. Would the Vietnam war not be a counterexample of this?

The US was emphatically not willing to kill everyone in North Vietnam. Not even close.

Re: Hong Kong Protesters Keep Up the Pressure

#49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Guerrilla warfare relies on willingness to abide by the laws of armed conflict for its effectiveness. If you’re willing to kill everyone and the rebellious population realises it you win. See Chechnya. Also, Hong Kong is a city. In cities guerrilla warfare just plain doesn’t work. If it did the Israelis would not have been able to occupy the Gaza Strip and West Bank for decades. This without the willingness to disreg…

> If you’re willing to kill everyone and the rebellious population realises it you win. Would the Vietnam war not be a counterexample of this?

I'm of the opinion America lost that conflict and it was so terrible because officials chose to be restrained in overt military action, out of fear of direct conflict with the Soviet Union, and at the same time unrestrained in covert action. It was a poisonous mix that achieve nothing but years of death and misery; that said a full scale push by America could have spiraled into nuclear war.

Re: Hong Kong Protesters Keep Up the Pressure

#50
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> From my limited knowledge, the US has a military base in Taiwan. Huh? No, it doesn't. It has military bases in nearby Okinawa, however. I'm sure the USA setting up a military base in Taiwan would really piss China off, and it would also be not very useful since the Ryukyu Islands are right next door anyways. The USA simply provides Taiwan with weapons, and occasionally meanders an aircraft carrier around (or used t…

> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Taiwan_Defense_C... Taiwan existed because of the US. Basically, the other side of the civil war got defeated and come hiding in Taiwan behind US military. Otherwise, it'd have been invaded by China since. It seems currently that there is no official military presence. However, there is this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Assurances I think it's enough to deter China…

This was only active until 1979; the US currently has no military presence in Taiwan.
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