President Xi Jinping poses with soldiers on a navy ship last year as China continued its military exercises in the Taiwan Strait. Photo: AP
Zero Hedge: Chinese Military Exercises Threaten To Invade Taiwan
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is currently staging a military exercise across from the Taiwan Strait that looks as if it plans to culminate in an amphibious assault on an island in the South China Sea. Taiwan's military -- evidently fearing, with good reason, that the exercise may be a cover for an actual Chinese plan to seize another island in the region, Pratas (Dongsha), claimed by both the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan -- has declared a state of emergency. The PLA exercise also looks as if it is preparing China's air, naval and marine assets required for an invasion of Taiwan.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: The U.S. is closely watching what is happening .... US sends surveillance aircraft to watch Chinese coastline as Taiwan starts major military exercise (SCMP).
18 comments:
The only difference between an exercise and an invasion is a compass heading.
China may well feel if there's ever a time to do the invasion, the time is now. The US is in disarray and the world can't really hate us any more than they do right now, so why not?
The only question for China is who will be president/president elect on November 4th. If it is Biden, would Trump dive into a war with China or punt it to Joe Biden?
There's never been a decision like this ever made.
My bet is that the Chinese do not. There would have been much more preparation and lead up to this kind of adventure.
GAMBIT,
R,
It was never a question of IF, but WHEN, the Chinese would invade Taiwan. Recent arms sale, and dissidents from Hong Kong fleeing to Taiwan, (apparently) China may be deciding that the risk is worth it.
It wouldn't be the first miscalculation it has made; it seems to be making many in recent times.
Personally don't see it as an invasion. Yet.
Also this is Zero Hedge... and I've not seen their report elsewhere, and no news on Taiwan declaring an emergency.
The calls in China are for doing it now
The US has been crippled by the Chinese virus(coincidence? I think not)
China's economy is and has been spreading downwards, we just forget it now as the US economy is devastated by the wuhan virus
China's leadership needs a diversion to satisfy hardliners and the population. They also need Taiwan's riches. It is one of the richest societies on Earth, right next door to failing China.
Also, it is the most important strategic island next to China
And the World cannot afford a war. China has poisoned us all for a reason, and not just to devastate their sworn enemy. But also to buy up many places and favors as long as people still believe in their currency. Iran is the perfect example.
China needs the warfighting experience and finally dominate someone militarily.
And China benefits from all these marches and protests and division in the US. For years (!) the left media has been financed through Chinese ads,parrots Chinese talking points and even the MBA and Hollywood are deep in their pocket. The educational system in the West is overrun by Chinese students who come here on very suspicious circumstances. The professors at high ranking universities like even Harvard had and still have active spies working for China. There's a news story every other week. Just Google China's thousands talents program.
This exercise is exactly what it is. An exercise for the real thing.
What day it'll come is anyone's guess. Could be any month now. And they can bet on the mentally impaired, like our own Fred Lapides, to parrot -their- talking points. They know full well that anything that smears Trump is just something they lap up. Lap up. Lapides. Haha so close name wise.
Our weakness are people like Fred who think they do good, who get up early to browse the left news for "truth", amplifying the lies and never posting the silent reactions they all had to post months later.
Oh, Fred. Your idiocy knows no bounds. The strongest chain truly is as weak as the weakest link. Go on. Do your thing. Virtue signal for your decades of smut life, Fred. And yes, you've served. We all know your schtick. Korea..blabla.. decade's ago!
Since then you've hurt the political discourse like none other. Historians will browse this blog and be like.. what a retarded Haha that guy. Xi might invite you over for a vacation. You surely deserve it :)
It's not too late, you know? Told you years ago you're wrong on so many points. I've been proven right on all points we argued on. You just keep on doing what you do. Failure is hard to admit.
Also, we must not forget the psychological aspect
The Chinese population firmly believe and have been indoctrinated that this virus came from Westerners. Westerners are being segregated from the Chinese population in restaurants and there are death clocks next to your and my nation's flags, blaming us for it all.
The hurt in China is real and they not only want revenge for the virus. But they've been told for decades that their Chinese century will come. And part of the Chinese century always has been a one China philosophy. Think the violations in Hong Kong just came about? No. They're on a schedule. And the next entry is Taiwan. Has to be. People want it now more than ever.
I hear war drums.
Not sure what other people hear
Oh look, president Xi has provided us the latest leaf to put in an Ishihara test booklet.
He wants to stand out. He wants to be the only person with true agency. The rest of us get to choose the color of our clothes, blue or green. Or maybe we get to choose rice or noodles. Big Choices!
Ah, girly boy having another period! stalker up and at it!
can not simply comment on an issue but, true to form, must do the girly thing: sniping, stalking, catty name calling.
So 7:24 AM (Fred R. Lapides)
What post(s) are you referring to? I fail to see one that lampoons one of your holy of holies ... unless you include a votive figure of Xi along with those of Obama and Biden that you keep at your fane.
Anthony Fauci isn’t about to quit, despite the White House’s clumsy attempts to stain his public image. More so now than at any other point in their uneasy partnership, it seems that if President Donald Trump wants to be rid of Fauci, he’ll need to fire him. In recent days especially, the White House has stepped up efforts to discredit Fauci, a move he describes as “bizarre.”
“Ultimately, it hurts the president to do that,” Fauci told The Atlantic in a series of interviews this week. “When the staff lets out something like that and the entire scientific and press community push back on it, it ultimately hurts the president.”
He described the White House attacks against him as “nonsense” and “completely wrong.” He also seemed dismayed that they are coming at a time when COVID-19 is surging across the country, deaths are once again rising, and Americans remain deeply confused about how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
Targeting Fauci seems like a tragic misuse of White House time and energy if officials’ aim is to defeat the coronavirus. But Trump appears more concerned with discrediting Fauci. Over the weekend, the White House sent multiple news outlets a document that smacked of opposition research. It carried a list of statements Fauci had made about COVID-19, purporting to show that he had contradicted himself about the outbreak and that he “has been wrong on things.” In one example from an NBC interview in February, the White House omitted Fauci’s full quote, giving the impression that he’d misjudged the outbreak’s danger. Peter Navarro, Trump’s top trade adviser, wrote an op-ed for USA Today yesterday claiming that Fauci has been “wrong about everything I have interacted with him on.” (A Trump communications aide tried to distance the White House from the op-ed this morning.)
Peter M. Shane: Trump shouldn’t be able to fire Fauci for contradicting him
The attempt to discredit Fauci’s public-health expertise is a political move, and one with disastrous implications. As much as Trump wants and needs Americans to see the virus as a nuisance that’s soon to be overcome, Fauci is a recurring reminder that the crisis remains a grave and enduring threat, and that Trump has mishandled the pandemic. The Americans who believe the White House’s anti-science campaign risk cutting themselves off from potentially life-saving information.
“I cannot figure out in my wildest dreams why they would want to do that,” Fauci told The Atlantic, in reference to the White House document. “I think they realize now that that was not a prudent thing to do, because it’s only reflecting negatively on them.
“I can’t explain Peter Navarro,” he added. “He’s in a world by himself.”
President Donald Trump's newly confirmed U.S. postmaster general ordered the endangered public service Monday to make major cost-cutting changes, which could slow mail delivery.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a top Trump donor who has given more than $2 million to the GOP, warned employees that the agency needed to make "difficult" decisions to stay afloat, according to a new report in The Washington Post.
"If the plants run late, they will keep the mail for the next day," one guideline says, according to a document obtained by The Washington Post and verified by the American Postal Workers Union.
Carriers do not typically leave mail behind, often making multiple trips under heavy loads to get letters and packages to marked recipients as soon as possible.
Experts who reviewed the internal document, titled "New PMG's [Postmaster General's] expectations and plan," said it presented "a stark reimagining of the USPS," which could alienate customers. If the agency increases package delivery rates, which has the support of the administration, competing private companies could smell blood and throw new weight behind smothering the agency.
DeJoy, a North Carolina businessman, ascended to the head office in May after the resignation of Ron Stroman. Stroman, who had defended the integrity of voting by mail, was reportedly forced out amid coordinated Republican attempts to undermine public faith in the service.
"Stroman was specifically key on elections and vote by mail — this is not a good sign," ProPublica's Jessica Huseman tweeted in response to the resignation.
A USPS spokesperson told Salon in a statement that the service was "developing a business plan to ensure that we will be financially stable and able to continue to provide reliable, affordable, safe and secure delivery of mail, packages and other communications to all Americans as a vital part of the nation's critical infrastructure."
That plan has not been finalized, but it will "certainly include new and creative ways for us to fulfill our mission," the spokesperson added.
Vote-by-mail advocates say any new policy which slows deliveries might mean bad news for mail-in ballots, yielding delays in ballot requests and possible confusion surrounding the tabulations of votes. This represents an acute concern for upstart Democratic congressional candidates looking to pick off Republican seats.
Same parrot. Complained. Wouldn't point out what bugged him. wouldn't debate. Just crapped and onto the next topic.
"Signed, Sealed, Undelivered: Thousands Of Mail-In Ballots Rejected For Tardiness" - NPR
There are a lot of problems with voting by mail.
PS: My Xi comment was spot on. First I went where was he> Usually the alpha is in the center of the picture. So I looked and the 1st thing that struck me was Ishishara. Then the whole uniformity for thee but not for me.
The whole Xi, Mao, pick your dictator is such a let down. It is as bad and underwhelming as the denouement of the whole concept of 'The Borg' in "Star Trek: 1st Contact"
PS2: You still have not answered why a red blooded American would be upset for someone poking fun at President Xi. If you do not answer, I will assume that you are guilty.
The End of China’s Foreign Policy Restraint?
thee is a real article with substance. Howk, girly boy, hurl more of your period driven venom
Taiwan will never be reclaimed by China not now and not ever. China will have to change themselves bedore it can happen. Chinas enemy is itself.
China will attack Russia.
End of Restraint does not explain China's transgressions against Malaysia, Indonesia or Brunei.
What has those 3 countries or their predecessor governments or countries done to China?
As coronavirus cases surge and states rollback re-openings, former Vice President Joe Biden opens up his biggest lead this year over President Donald Trump in the race for the White House. Registered voters back Biden over Trump 52 - 37 percent, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll released today. This compares to a June 18th national poll when Biden led Trump 49 - 41 percent. Since March, Biden's lead had ranged from 8 to 11 percentage points.
Independents are a key factor behind Biden's widening lead as they now back him 51 - 34 percent, while in June, independents were split with 43 percent for Biden and 40 percent for Trump. There is also some movement among Republicans as they back Trump 84 - 9 percent, compared to 92 - 7 percent in June. Democrats go to Biden 91 - 5 percent, little changed from 93 - 4 percent in June.
"Yes, there's still 16 weeks until Election Day, but this is a very unpleasant real time look at what the future could be for President Trump. There is no upside, no silver lining, no encouraging trend hidden somewhere in this survey for the president," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
BIDEN VS. TRUMP: THE ISSUES
Voters now give Biden a slight lead over Trump in a direct match up when it comes to handling the economy. Voters say 50 - 45 percent that Biden would do a better job handling the economy, a reversal from June when Trump held a slight lead 51 - 46 percent.
Asked about other key issues:
* On handling a crisis, Biden leads 57 - 38 percent;
* On handling health care, Biden leads 58 - 35 percent;
* On the coronavirus response, Biden leads 59 - 35 percent;
* On addressing racial inequality, Biden leads 62 - 30 percent.
BIDEN VS. TRUMP: PERSONAL TRAITS
When asked about whether the candidates are honest, have good leadership skills and whether they care about average Americans, President Trump receives some of his worst scores ever.
Honesty:
Trump: 31 percent say "yes;" 66 percent say "no;"
Biden: 46 percent say "yes;" 42 percent say "no."
Good Leadership Skills:
Trump: 35 percent say "yes;" 63 percent say "no;"
Biden: 49 percent say "yes;" 42 percent say "no."
Cares About Average Americans:
Trump: 37 percent say "yes;" 61 percent say "no;"
Biden: 59 percent say "yes;" 33 percent say "no."
TRUMP JOB APPROVAL
Voters give President Trump a negative 36 - 60 percent job approval rating, a 6 point drop in his job approval compared to last month. In that June 18th poll, Trump had a negative 42 - 55 percent job approval rating. Trump's net job approval is his worst since August of 2017.
TRUMP'S HANDLING OF THE ECONOMY
President Trump's approval rating on the economy is underwater as voters approve 44 - 53 percent, compared to his 52 - 45 percent approval rating on the economy in June. Today's numbers are his worst net score on the economy since August of 2017.
TRUMP'S HANDLING OF OTHER ISSUES
On handling the military, voters give the president a negative 41 - 51 percent approval.
On handling foreign policy, voters give the president a negative 37 - 59 percent approval.
On handling health care, voters give the president a negative 35 - 59 percent approval.
On handling race relations, voters give the president a negative 31 - 65 percent approval.
CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE
Voters give the president a negative 35 - 62 percent approval rating for his handling of the coronavirus response, his lowest mark since the question was first asked in March.
A clear majority of voters, 62 - 31 percent, say they think President Trump is hurting rather than helping efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
More Fred L. being Fred L.
"Instead of standing there and teaching a cop, when there's an unarmed person coming at them with a knife or something, you shoot them in the leg instead of in the heart is a very different thing. There's a lot of different things that could change,"
- Biden @ Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware
Biden is a moron.
So are his voters.
And while Mr. Biden can currently survive a 2016-like polling error, there is no reason a polling error couldn’t be even larger in 2020.
But for now, his lead is large enough to survive a 2016 repeat and just about every general-election polling error in recent memory. He leads by an average of nearly 10 percentage points in national polls since June 1, well ahead of Mrs. Clinton’s four-point lead in the final national polls or her peaks of about seven points in early August and mid-October.
Mr. Biden also enjoys a far wider lead in the battleground states likeliest to decide the presidency. His 13-point lead in a Monmouth University poll of Pennsylvania published on Wednesday, for instance, puts him in a much stronger position than Mrs. Clinton, who had a four-point lead in the last Monmouth poll of Pennsylvania taken just before the election.
Of course, the polls could be even further off this time than four years ago. But there are also many reasons to think they could be better this time around.
Perhaps most important, many pollsters now weight their sample to properly represent voters without a college degree. The failure of many state pollsters to do so in 2016 is widely considered one of the major reasons the polls underestimated Mr. Trump’s support. Voters without a four-year college degree are far less likely to respond to telephone surveys — and far likelier to support Mr. Trump. By our estimates, weighting by education might move the typical poll by as much as four points in Mr. Trump’s direction.
Though many state pollsters still do not weight by education, far more do than four years ago.
Post a Comment