Corona

[Kriterion_BD]

The fact that zimdoggy and googly are even entertaining the idea of a military confrontation with China is ludicrious. There isn't even a military solution to a weak country like North Korea...China is 100 times more powerful. Probably 1000x.

[sloandog]

The fact that zimdoggy and googly are even entertaining the idea of a military confrontation with China is ludicrious. There isn't even a military solution to a weak country like North Korea...China is 100 times more powerful. Probably 1000x.

I don't like the Chinese, but agree, they're a fucking powerful nation in the nuclear sense. Going to war with them is a dangerous and , in my opinion, stupid idea. I'd do what Trump's done, embarrass them and put a block on some of their agendas.

[ZIMDOGGY]

I agree. And for some of Trumps earliest mismanagement of the virus, he's the guy who can stick it to China. The man we need. I saw on Facebook from someone that Biden forgot he's the democrat candidate briefly, he's not the guy, but Trump (and Mel Gibson- different story) have been vocal against China from day dot. He's who we need in the world.

I don't know why anyone would back up China. Why do they have friends? Bully the good people of Taiwan and Hong Kong, eat dogs by cooking them alive. Fuck Africans up, beat blacks in the street, make useless cheap goods, harvest muslims for their organs, create lost world viruses.
In Australia their little brainwashed minions buy up alll the baby formula and toilet paper to send back to the mainland. And drive up real estate prices.
Who are their friends ?
Should replace Germany as the usual scapegoats in Hollywood film and mainstream scapegoating.
And they are like rats and can't handle confrontation.
Want them dead.
Al we need to do is put tooth floss in front of their eyes and they will be blinded. -_-

[Kriterion_BD]

I don't like the Chinese, but agree, they're a fucking powerful nation in the nuclear sense. Going to war with them is a dangerous and , in my opinion, stupid idea. I'd do what Trump's done, embarrass them and put a block on some of their agendas.

They are powerful in a conventional sense as well. You will not find a single American military analyst who will argue that a hypothetical US-China war would end well for anyone. Apart from that a "soft" diplomatic response from China will not be possible under a Trump administartion for multiple reasons:

1) Trump isn't the right guy to embarass or impede the Chinese because he doesn't understand international relations, diplomacy, or realpolitik. His only calculus is "does this make monetary sense". Diplomacy is rarely measured by dollars and cents. All Xi Jinping needs to do to gain leverage is promise the Trump company $10 billion in access (hotels, golf courses, equities, whatever) and its done. Putin and Turkey's Erdogan have successfully followed that playbook already. Congress wants to sanction Turkey for their purchase of the Russian S400 anti-missile defense system, but Trump is cockblocking that move because of his personal interests in Istanbul and Ankara.

2) The US needs allies, particularly the EU countries, but the Europeans still believe in mutlinational organizations like the UN, WHO, ICC, IMF and others. Trump may get some sympathy from euroskeptics like Boris Johnson, but with Johnson himself a COVID victim, waging war on the WHO might not be something Johnson is willing to do.

3) The Chinese are far more influential than the US post 2016. They have their hands in EVERYONE's pockets. Not just irrelevant countries like Bangladesh or Zimbabwe, but even major players like Italy, as googly has already pointed out. Because Trump pulled out ot the Trans Pacific Parternship, the Chinese filled that leadership vacuum. Many countries look to China for leadership because Trump wants them to fend for themselves. That is soft power suicide, and the Chinese are only happy to fill the void.

4) The Phase 1 trade deal which is so far Trump's crowning foreign policy achievement because it extracts some painful concessions from Xi. But at a huge cost. You won't outsmart the Chinese. You can sell sand to the Arabs, but you won't be able to pull a fast one on China or India. Those are two countries that know money. Under Phase 1, China has agreed to buy an additional $200 BILLION worth of agricultural products from the US. If Trump pisses them off...Xi can always pull out. The American farming industry (all Trump voters) would collapse and Trump would lose millions of votes right there. With a re-election looming, we cannot afford that.

[zimbos_05]

Don't misconstrue my anti-Trump views as pro-china. I am definitely anti-China. I think that is one thing we can all agree on. I definitely feel like they should pay. I have had my qualms with China before and feel quite strongly that in Aus particularly, we need to be very weary of them. I have heard that the Chinese government wants to purchase Virgin Australia because of the struggles they are going through and if that goes ahead, I am cancelling my membership with VA straight away.

My issue with Trump is his inability to lead. Yes it is nice to stick it to China and all that, but his response to this virus has been inept and by reducing funding, you are reducing the means by which many will be looked after. How you stick it to China is important in the grand schemes because as much as one does not want to admit it, China is a big nation, literally and on an economic standpoint. I'm not saying the W.H.O are perfect either, but the middle of a pandemic is not the time to be stroking ones ego.

[Jemisi]

I agree with the Dogg that China really only respects strength. I also agree with Kriterion that Trump is a bloke without understanding of nuance diplomatically. I don't know where you find a firmer version of Obama in the political landscape.

[Googly]

Jeez Jemisi you’re not an Obama supporter are you? Read Matt margolis’ book - The Worst President in History, the Legacy of Barack Obama
Brilliant orator, but what a divise, nasty piece of work.
I’m still convinced he’s Kenyan, shouldn’t have even been allowed to run for office , a drunk Jesse Jackson would have made a better first black President.
The guy I’d like to see run is Trey Gowdy, super smart and has that simmering contempt for the Democrats that warms the cockles of my heart. That beautiful southern drawl makes me want to whistle Dixie and run the Democrats out of town.
Whilst I’d like to see Trump for another 4 years because it is worth seeing these liberal elite’s cozy little world imploding as he drains the swamp, but I don’t think I can listen to him speak for much longer. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone didn’t try and knock him off, this last term of his he’s going to go after a few of these muppets and it will be amusing to watch.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Does China have nuclear capability ? Genuinely don't know. Probability should before mouthing off.

If I was a democrat, I'd be trying to get Gavin Newsom to run next campaign.

Governor of California and doing an ok job. Good looking. Mild. Not a total idiot. Should have been the nominee. Like a more sane version of the Texas Idiot who started speaking Spanish at the democrat debates.

[Kriterion_BD]

Does China have nuclear capability ? Genuinely don't know. Probability should before mouthing off.

If I was a democrat, I'd be trying to get Gavin Newsom to run next campaign.

Governor of California and doing an ok job. Good looking. Mild. Not a total idiot. Should have been the nominee. Like a more sane version of the Texas Idiot who started speaking Spanish at the democrat debates.

No love for the republicans in disguise like Bloomberg, Gabbard, and Lieberman (I think he actually came out of the closet)?

[eugene]

Tulsi Gabbard is hardly a Republican in disguise, she endorsed Bernie Sanders. She just isn't in the Clinton mafia. If I were Gabbard I would be concerned about my chances of suicide these days.