China just can't afford a military conflict right now. It would throw a wrench in the works. That doesn't mean they won't ever flex their might, and it certainly doesn't mean they don't have every reason to develop that might. I get that you're freaked out, that others are freaked out, what I'm wondering is why? What does China stand to gain, in the here and now, from a little military adventurism?
@Variable. Yeah, it's a heady brew isn't it..lol? Hopefully they make it passed the no free this-and-that's phase without too much in the way of incident. Historically, development has been the enemy of governments set up the way China's is. In order to get the sort of development they want, they have to invest in their people (the ones who'll plan the projects and do the work). This empowers those people, and they begin to want more for themselves. Sometimes you see governments favoring one group (it's drones, if you will) with this and that - but all that does is show the rest of them what is possible while building resentment within the greater public. It's a bit of what we already see with the emergent chinese middle class. Right now, the smart money is learning chinese and trying to connect with that demographic. Obviously it doesn't have to go that way, but we have every reason to expect that it will. The genies already been let out of the bottle, and anything that the ruling party might do to stuff it back in is going to be at cross-purpose with what those leaders are trying to accomplish.
@Variable. Yeah, it's a heady brew isn't it..lol? Hopefully they make it passed the no free this-and-that's phase without too much in the way of incident. Historically, development has been the enemy of governments set up the way China's is. In order to get the sort of development they want, they have to invest in their people (the ones who'll plan the projects and do the work). This empowers those people, and they begin to want more for themselves. Sometimes you see governments favoring one group (it's drones, if you will) with this and that - but all that does is show the rest of them what is possible while building resentment within the greater public. It's a bit of what we already see with the emergent chinese middle class. Right now, the smart money is learning chinese and trying to connect with that demographic. Obviously it doesn't have to go that way, but we have every reason to expect that it will. The genies already been let out of the bottle, and anything that the ruling party might do to stuff it back in is going to be at cross-purpose with what those leaders are trying to accomplish.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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