About 10 Chinese and 10 Taiwanese Ships in Stand-Off near Taiwan Strait Median Line

As China continues it's self admitted rehearsal for an attack on Taiwan the Taiwanese and Chinese navy's are having a bit of a stare down over the no go line , around 20 ships are reported to be involved , Taiwan officials say they're not looking for trouble but come and have a go if you think you're hard enough ... or something along those lines.

Taiwan's defence ministry said it had spotted 70 Chinese aircraft, including Su-30 fighters and H-6 bombers, as well as 11 ships, around the island on Sunday.

China's aircraft carrier Shandong, which Taiwan has been monitoring since last week, is now more than 400 nautical miles off Taiwan's southeast coast and is carrying out drills, the source said.

The 20 or so ships involved in the stand-off did not behave provocatively, they added.

The defence ministry said its forces will "not escalate conflicts nor cause disputes" and would respond "appropriately" to China's drills.
news.sky.com...

I think America needs to pull its neck in with regards to poking the Bear , this show of force is a clear warning.

a reply to: gortex

This has the potential to escalate very quickly.

a reply to: IAMTAT

This has the potential to be a sure s#it show... Our administration is in bed with the Chinese.

Biden seems to have his heart set on showing the world how tough he is. I guess I should say his handlers, since we all know Biden isn't really there.....

The state of the entire world is starting to look more and more like a well-planned genocide.

a reply to: Islandparty

Naval blockades of countries usually never end well.

a reply to: IAMTAT

Naval? no do not need any navals. They are creeping from within... Our biggest threat is from within the belly of the beast.

China and Taiwanese forces so close together are inherently dangerous, one misstep or accident and wars do definitely start this way, and so do false flags such as the Gulf of Tonkin which is just 800 miles away.

I completely understand the want and need to play chicken when China does this crap, the problem is both sides probably have factions that are looking for a reason to escalate the situation.

a reply to: gortex

Are they carrying out drills like Russia did before it went into Ukraine? Are more Chinese ships going to join these drills?

Chances are the PRC is probing and mapping radar and other defense systems. They probably already have human intelligence operating on Taiwan. The PRC never sets a date on military operations, they remain in standby and probe for the right moment to present itself. Sun Tzo's Art of War is still their goto military treatise.

originally posted by: Weareromulas
Chances are the PRC is probing and mapping radar and other defense systems. They probably already have human intelligence operating on Taiwan. The PRC never sets a date on military operations, they remain in standby and probe for the right moment to present itself. Sun Tzo's Art of War is still their goto military treatise.

Most likely, it may be why no response is the best response, don't give them any data to collect, or make sure whatever response you do show now, it's nothing like an actual response should be

Another money funnel is forming ⚔️

a reply to: gortex

They probably shouldn't do that.

a reply to: Islandparty

We're pretty much in bed with both China & Taiwan. This in a million ways is going to be one very ugly $-show. I would imagine Russia is making popcorn thinking this couldn't have happened to a more deserving US administration.

The simple way to stop the crap is to give Taiwan 10 to 20 nukes. Then Taiwan can say "come get some." A couple of burnt out Chinese cities and and a burnt out Taiwan would make that invasion prohibitively expense.

a reply to: ntech

Do our nukes even work anymore? That's a great question.

originally posted by: Islandparty
a reply to: ntech

Do our nukes even work anymore? That's a great question.

the tactical ones work perfectly fine.

a reply to: Islandparty

Yes, yes they do.

Folks that do the maintenance and upkeep take their job pretty seriously.

at least up to the point of my retirement (last year), probably take 10+ years before we approach the probable fail rate for Russia.

=========================

That said, while there is no doubt china can burn taiwan to ash reducing all infrastructure and populace on the island with little trouble, I dont think they can take the island with ground troops without gutting their military capabilities, even if the US and Japan do nothing.

They have never in their history preformed a landing under fire, they dont know the logistics (based on reality not war games) they have never seen the effect on morale when their troops are drowning in the water, or being chopped up on the beaches.

Least thats my uniformed opinion.

a reply to: Irishhaf

Nor have they ever operated a blue water navy in wartime.

Naval operations aren't marching a bunch of irregulars up and down mountains. Experience counts. For a lot.

Cheers

a reply to: F2d5thCavv2

yup, and while I know sqaut about the navy (get me out to the point I cant see land all I can do is puke) what I have read is that straight is treacherous to navigate on a good day.

originally posted by: IAMTAT
a reply to: gortex

This has the potential to escalate very quickly.

Indeed.

Not sure if this has the hair-trigger of 1961 Berlin, but hope both sides have their training and discipline together.

One case of jitters, or a genuine accident that looks like a first move... let's not think about it.