U.S. Navy at smallest point since 1913! Good luck with "Pivot" Against China!

Originally posted by babybunnies
Any war with China would be economic, not military based.

Keep in mind that most wars are fought for economic reasons. Certainly, some might profess that some wars have been fought for loftier ideals: i.e; freedom, democracy – liberty, but, ultimately, war is an economic action or, conversely, an economic reaction (such as opposing economic trade sanctions).

Originally posted by babybunnies
China would squash the US economy in about 24 - 48 hours, there would be a massive economic crash in the USA followed by the rest of the World, and China will win the war without sending out the fleet, without putting boots on the ground, and without actively engaging the massively oversized US military.

Yes babybunnies, China could certainly win an economic confrontation. China could easily make the economic moves that would leave the US and, as a result, the rest of the Western World in economic shambles. Keep in mind, however, that any such act would similarly affect the Chinese economy.

The Chinese might profess to be “Communist” but over the past few decades, China has taken to a form of “controlled Capitalism” that has left this giant nation financial entangled with the global economy.

Originally posted by babybunnies
It has already been proved that the Chinese Government are behind several high profile (and successful) computer hacks on US infrastructure and command structure, the US has made themselves too vulnerable by being too reliant on easily breached technology.

Yes, China has breached aspects of American infrastructure and command structures. These have been publicized on a number of occasions. What hasn't been publicized have been "our own" incursions into Chinese command structures.

While I do not have any evidence of these sorts of American 'forays' into Chinese computer systems, it would be very safe to assume that the US has similar capabilities. The Chinese certainly do not maintain a monopoly on these capabilities.

Originally posted by babybunnies
Even if a war were military based, most of the electronics and computers that the USA needs to run its military and weapons systems come from China. Without those parts, they would be dead in the water.

Should China and the US become embroiled in a military conflict, I have no difficulty believing that the US would be able to “gear up” to meet it's tech requirements. It would otherwise be foolhardy to believe that the US does not have sufficient replacement capabilities for their short-term technological needs.

It is quite clear that the US is considerably in the lead when it comes to the quality of their military forces and Navy. US technologies give them a tremendous lead but, perhaps, their greatest asset is their military history, tactics and training. Whereas the Chinese have only recently made forays into becoming a modern Naval power, for instance, the US has a long history being a Naval power and they have developed a strong heritage in this area. Some might discount having such a heritage as being inconsequential but in times of conflict, heritage and traditions play a powerful role because, ultimately, any army or navy is only as good as the soldier and sailors who comprise them.

What does concern me, in relation to any possible military engagement with China is the possibility that the nuclear deterrent – M.A.D. (mutual assured destruction) – would cease having any validity. Unlike the US, China, given their huge population and their “mindset”, might very well be able to absorb any nuclear attack. extra DIV