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Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China

economist.com

151–160 of 727 posts

Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China

#151
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While true, it is often ignored that combined EU does possess a huge, highly advanced and well trained military force. So more than that I'd hope EU can then put its squabbling aside and respong in unison to any military provocation as well.

Europe combined have more people and spend way more on military than US. On GDP Europe is lower, but they also have more than 2x the amount of people: https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/European-U...

Spending more doesn't mean much if you don't spend it on something worthwhile. Not to mention that the European countries don't count money spent on healthcare, education, etc for veterans as part of the military budget.

The US is definitely overspending for no real benefit, except lining the pockets of defense contractors(and by that, politicians pockets)

Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China

#152
post #54

I wish whole of EU would declare in unison support for Taiwan. Wonder if China would kick out every single EU nation embassy then?

> I wish whole of EU would declare in unison support for Taiwan.

Sure, Spain can take a break from hunting down Catalonian referendum politicians in France, or hunting down the Basque separatists that Franco didn't wipe out in Guernica, and can declare Taiwan should be an independent country.

The British PM can visit soldiers in Thiepval, Holywood or other UK barracks in north Ireland and declare support of Taiwan breaking off of China.

The Italian newspapers can take a break from condemning the northern League wanting to break off from Italy and form another country, and praise Taiwanese independence.

Maybe after an EU council meeting denouncing the people of Crimea voting to be annexed into Russia, we can have an opening of Taiwanese embassies in preparation for Taiwan announcing a break from China.

Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China

#153
post #54

I wish whole of EU would declare in unison support for Taiwan. Wonder if China would kick out every single EU nation embassy then?

They don't need to kick out their embassies, they just need to stop exports for a short period of time. A short stop because of the pandemic had hard consequences but it could be much worse.

The west ignored the human rights situation at the beginning to get cheap labor, cheap resources and to ignore environmental issues and now the west can't simply stop without killing it's econonmy.

Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China

#154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It isn't that easy. It's not just China's government that believes Taiwan is part of China — China's people also believe that. There is a saying that if China is democratic, they would have invaded Taiwan yesterday. Or another saying: if the president lets go of Taiwan, the CCP would be overthrown tomorrow. Another factor that complicates things is the fact that Taiwan is a strategic location for the US's military co…

There is no need for Mr. Xi to formally give up on Taiwan. He could just kick the can down the road for another few decades, like all his much smarter predecessors did. > China's people also believe that. Only because that is what they learn and hear (literally) daily, starting with kindergarten. Just reduce this crab step by step, and it will fade away. The same is true for this even more stupid 7-dash line. They dr…

He cannot kick the can down the road if the West forces a point of no return by suggesting the above.

Chinese people initially saw Taiwan as part of China for historical reasons as well as a result of the civil war. Propaganda slows this from stopping, but the problem very much is not manufactured.

Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China

#156
post #77

I think the right response to these provocations is to assist Taiwan in protecting itself. Essentially we should reverse the betrayal of Taiwan by Nixon in 1972, when he withdrew the US nuclear presence there. This time, to protect from changing political winds, the nukes should be under the control of Taiwan. Nothing much else will deter China.

Taiwan could likely develop their own native nuclear weapons in a matter of months, if they chose to. They have a mature nuclear industry with several reactors, and likely already have plans for nuclear weapons drawn up.

Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China

#157

My take on the whole China issue is this: no country actually cares about humans rights or any of that stuff but only about their national self interests and that most people do not actually care about humans rights, but only about their own personal self interests. China is a rising power in the world and wants to at least be the primary power in its region (maybe the world, who knows), and the USA as the primary po…

^ the only smart comment in this entire thread.

Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China

#158

China would be much better off if they just gave up on the whole Taiwan charade. I understand how badly they want to put Taiwan under thumb like they did HK, but Taiwan is really the only issue I foresee with potential to derail China's progress.

Edit: apologies to anyone who read my comment analysing the situation and assumed that I’m some kind of warmonger. At no point did I advocate for Taiwan to be annexed. I merely pointed out that China really wants to and they’re stronger than ever in 2021. Shoutout to the dude who implied I’m a Nazi for saying this. Why would they give up on this “charade” as you put it? They’re closer than ever to annexing Taiwan in…

You post really shows the power and danger of nationalism. You sound like Germany 1938.

Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China

#159
post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

5min searching for sources ... Might be a mixup with sonic weapons. "An employee at the U.S. Embassy in Guangzhou, China, allegedly suffered mild traumatic brain injury after hearing a vague and abnormal sound" https://www.theepochtimes.com/with-sonic-weapon-attack-china...

Well, one should note that The Epoch Times is brought to you by the propaganda arm of the anti-CCP Falun gong.

China always calls people and organisations who disagree with the government nasty names. Terrorists, propagandists, meddlers, revolutionists etc.

This continual name-calling of anyone who criticises any aspect of their government leads me to always doubt the sincerity of such accusations. Boy who cried wolf, writ large.

Could you provide independent sources that this Falun Gong spreads propaganda?

Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China

#160
post #77

I think the right response to these provocations is to assist Taiwan in protecting itself. Essentially we should reverse the betrayal of Taiwan by Nixon in 1972, when he withdrew the US nuclear presence there. This time, to protect from changing political winds, the nukes should be under the control of Taiwan. Nothing much else will deter China.

Taiwan is completely infiltrated by China. As soon as this plan is seriously discussed, China will invade Taiwan, and look like the good guys for 80% of the world.
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