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FluffyMcChicken My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare from where the floating lights gleam Since: Jun, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare
#336501: Oct 31st 2020 at 8:16:31 PM

CNN: China's military rise poses the greatest foreign policy challenge to the next US President

As voters across the US cast their ballots in November's presidential election, the rise of China's military power represents one of the most complex and pressing foreign policy concerns confronting the country's next leader. Here's a look at the key areas:
  • Taiwan: The self-governing island has received increasing levels of public support from Washington during the Trump administration, including visits by high-level US government officials and the sale of high-end weaponry like F-16 fighter jets.

Analysts say the current state of play doesn't leave much room for either the Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden, or President Donald Trump to pull back from supporting Taiwan.

Biden could offer minor concessions to Beijing, like stopping any new visits by Cabinet-level officials or ensuring future arms sales consist of smaller, less potent weapons, said Timothy Heath, senior researcher at the RAND Corp think tank in Washington.

"But regardless of who wins, the US will likely maintain a friendly relationship with Taiwan and criticize Chinese efforts to intimidate and destabilize the island," said Heath. Beijing continues to view Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory even though the Chinese Communist Party has never governed the democratic island. China's leader, President Xi Jinping, has been clear in his ambitions to "reunify" the island with the mainland, and has refused to rule out the use of force.

While the analysts expect US support of Taiwan to continue, they also expect that Beijing will not pull back on the increased military pressure it has put on the island — in the form of increased PLA Air Force flights and naval exercises in nearby waters — no matter who is in the White House.

  • South China Sea: Beijing claims almost all of the vast South China Sea as its sovereign territory and has stepped-up efforts to assert its dominance over the resource-rich waters in recent years, transforming a string of obscure reefs and atolls into heavily fortified man-made islands and increasing its naval activity in the region.

Carl Schuster, a former director of operations at the US Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center, said Biden's campaign hasn't given a clear indication of where it will go on the South China Sea.

"The former VP says he will be tougher on China than Trump has been, but less confrontational. ... It is not clear what he means by that," Schuster said.

During the two candidates' final presidential debate, the only reference to the South China Sea was made by Biden, who said that US planes would "fly through" Chinese identification zones set up in the region, something that the US military has done at increased levels under Trump.

Schuster, now a Hawaii Pacific University instructor, says Biden may also be hobbled by his eight years as vice president under Barack Obama. South China Sea countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines judged Obama's policies in the region as "all talk backed by little to no substantive action," he said. "Biden will have to overcome that perception to gain their cooperation beyond the minimum," Schuster said.

Either administration would be wise to stand fast with those who commit to Washington's point of view, he said. If Washington leaves its partners hanging, "they will be left to deal with an angry China."

That said, because of the pandemic's drain on the economy, the next administration will face pressure to cap defense spending at current levels or even trim it, according to the analysts.

Biden may face the more difficult road here.

"There is strong pressure in the Democratic party to scale back the US military presence and investments in maintaining US military power to free up resources for domestic initiatives," Heath said.

But even Trump could be hamstrung.

"Trump's ambitions for the military also face the tailwinds of slow growth, and massive deficits will also limit Trump's ability to boost defense spending," Heath said.

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#336502: Oct 31st 2020 at 8:32:02 PM

Mind you, I speak as The Teetotaler and as a Canuck, but I'm definitely rooting for Biden because I don't want to get invaded by Trump and his goose-steppers.

I remember saying a few years ago that I wouldn't put it past Trump to straight-up declare war on Canada, Mexico, and other American allies, and I remember getting laughed at.

Currently, I'm more sure than ever that Trump would absolutely declare war on Canada and Mexico and try to conquer their land for America. He is just the kind of fascist Hitler-wannabe to attempt something like that on the high of re-election.

I keep saying, Trump does not want to be an elected leader of a democracy, Trump wants to be a dictator of a totalitarian dictatorship. He makes friends with other dictators and picks fights with America's democratic allies. If he had the opportunity, he would absolutely abolish voting, declare himself god-king of the USA for life, and invade the rest of North America.

I don't think it's likely, I think Biden winning is much more likely, and I'm grateful for Trump's stupidity being a massive roadblock in the way of his ambitions, but it's easy to forget the sort of man we're dealing with here.

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#336503: Oct 31st 2020 at 8:34:50 PM

[up] If he's invading anyone for territory, it's gonna be Denmark for *Greenland because he really really wants *Greenland.

Edited by DingoWalley1 on Oct 31st 2020 at 11:37:03 AM

PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#336504: Oct 31st 2020 at 8:35:41 PM

[up]I think you mean Greenland. Iceland has been independent from Denmark since 1944.

Edited by PresidentStalkeyes on Oct 31st 2020 at 3:36:16 PM

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#336505: Oct 31st 2020 at 8:35:44 PM

[up][up]I think you mean Greenland.

[nja]'d.

Edited by LSBK on Oct 31st 2020 at 10:36:06 AM

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#336506: Oct 31st 2020 at 8:36:03 PM

Are we distinguishing between Trump saying he's declaring war and trying to invade somewhere or getting congressional approval? Because at least one of those is something only Congress can do.

PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#336507: Oct 31st 2020 at 8:40:40 PM

Since Greenland is mostly governed by (and populated by) Greenlandic Inuits, if they were independent I suspect Trump would have brought back Manifest Destiny and invaded them already. :V

Edited by PresidentStalkeyes on Oct 31st 2020 at 3:42:58 PM

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
Resileafs I actually wanted to be Resileaf Since: Jan, 2019
I actually wanted to be Resileaf
#336508: Oct 31st 2020 at 8:44:43 PM

Although I have no doubt that Trump would love to invade Canada for any dumb reason he could think of, I also have no doubt that the current leaders of the army and every single person in the administration would do everything in their power to prevent that. There is no viable reason for the US to invade us, not the least because Canada is the closest ally the US has, and they would instantly lose all of their influence in the entire world (no one wants to be allied to someone who so blatantly betrays an ally). Everyone would turn against them, everyone would turn away from the US in a heartbeat.

The money sink for an occupation of Canada would be out of control as well. Controlling the city centers will be easy since most of them are close to the Canada/US border, but Canada is 95% wilderness and will be just as difficult to keep control of as Afghanistan, if not more.

ScubaWolf from South Carolina Since: Feb, 2020
#336509: Oct 31st 2020 at 8:47:05 PM

Texas Republicans are taking their attempts to throw out Harris County drive-thru votes a step further by taking their case to the most partisan federal judge in the nation who has scheduled an emergency hearing on the eve of Election Day.
If the judge rules in favor of the Republicans, he would be an absolute imbecile. Because that would require the SCOTUS to have to rule on it due to an appeal (possibly leading to a redo of Texas's voting), and could easily lead to the end of his career (because there's no doubt the Democrats would immediately move for his impeachment).

Edited by ScubaWolf on Oct 31st 2020 at 11:49:42 AM

"In a move surprising absolutely no one"
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#336510: Oct 31st 2020 at 8:50:31 PM

Given how much Stupid Evil there is on the right...

i'm tired, my friend
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#336511: Oct 31st 2020 at 8:57:31 PM

Trump would have wanted to, the military aren’t going to start a full scale war because he asks them to.

I think he did officially declare Canada a national security threat though.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#336512: Oct 31st 2020 at 8:58:40 PM

Plus, the US has been fighting most of its wars in a desert for the past 30 years and would be unaccustomed to winter warfare. You know how trying to invade Russia never works out for anyone because you can only cover so much ground before winter sets in? Same deal. On top of that, a sizable portion of the Canadian population is part French, and therefore has the raging-hot, battle-hungry blood of Robespierre and Napoleon running through their veins. :V

Yes I know Napoleon was actually Corsican, but shhhh

Edited by PresidentStalkeyes on Oct 31st 2020 at 4:08:38 PM

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#336513: Oct 31st 2020 at 9:09:06 PM

As for Mexico, I could definitely see Trump making a speech that goes something like this:

  • Trump: "For decades now, Mexico has been sending America criminals, rapists, and overall bad people, and they're doing it maliciously to erode the American way of life. To stop them from doing it in the future, I am officially declaring war on Mexico unless they stop sending criminals and rapists to our beautiful country. If immigration from Mexico does not stop within the next two weeks, I am going to send troops, tanks, and bombers in to destroy their country."

Only more incoherent and rambly. He's already keeping innocent Mexicans in concentration camps, going full genocide on the country is the next logical step.

God, I can't wait until he's gone, I can't believe I live in a world where this insanity even sounds remotely plausible.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#336514: Oct 31st 2020 at 9:10:59 PM

He'd be too lazy to make a speech. He'd threaten war with a bunch of inane tweets.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Resileafs I actually wanted to be Resileaf Since: Jan, 2019
I actually wanted to be Resileaf
#336515: Oct 31st 2020 at 9:16:18 PM

Oh, and the president can't declare war without Congress' (or the Senate?) approval, and no Congress, no matter who controls it, will ever declare war on Canada or Mexico.

Edited by Resileafs on Oct 31st 2020 at 12:16:45 PM

PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#336516: Oct 31st 2020 at 9:18:48 PM

If all else fails, he could always declare war on pancakes. He's already had a good go at stacking the supreme court with babies, so why not? :V

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#336517: Oct 31st 2020 at 9:20:10 PM

[up][up]Oh yeah, but that won't stop him from attempting it, it'll just stop him just succeeding. He's just the kind of dumbass who would say a lot of stupid things that he technically can't act upon. He has. Consistently.

Edited by PushoverMediaCritic on Oct 31st 2020 at 9:20:25 AM

doctor05 Since: Sep, 2015
#336518: Oct 31st 2020 at 9:24:44 PM

Two more days people. Two more Fricken days till we live in Post-Trump era.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#336519: Oct 31st 2020 at 9:30:19 PM

Even if loses, we won't be in a post-Trump era. He'll still be President for another four months, and I doubt he'll have the courtesy to fade away into obscurity after that.

Steven (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#336520: Oct 31st 2020 at 9:31:24 PM

Four months? Don't Presidents leave office in Janurary?

Remember, these idiots drive, fuck, and vote. Not always in that order.
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#336521: Oct 31st 2020 at 9:32:15 PM

And again, as myself and several others have stated before, it'll take some time to fully sort out the large amounts of mail votes.

Galadriel Since: Feb, 2015
#336523: Oct 31st 2020 at 9:47:00 PM

For perspective on voter turnout numbers as they come in on election day, the typical turnout - based on the last few years would be between 55% (140 million people) on the low end and 57% (145 million) on the high end. (This accounts for increases in the voting-age population in the last 5 years.)

Turnout of 55% would be similar to 2004, 2012, and 2016. Turnout of 57% would be similar to 2008.

(Calculated this from Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout_in_the_United_States_presidential_elections#Turnout_statistics)

So far - still two days prior to election day - turnout is 91 million people.

Edited by Galadriel on Oct 31st 2020 at 12:51:09 PM

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#336524: Oct 31st 2020 at 10:21:36 PM

Our national news says Florida will be the key state for Trump. Do you guys agree?

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#336525: Oct 31st 2020 at 10:22:30 PM

Regarding those over 100,000 thousand votes possibly being thrown out in Texas, while it's not guarantee the same judge has apparently ruled against Republicans/Trump before, based on the reasoning that they took too long to file a complaint.

Something which would definitely apply here. Who knows, maybe his Republican heart would win out this time, but just saying there's precedent for him to not always fall in line.


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