The Taiwan strategy conspiracy

[DaShi]

China would just bomb the **** out of Taiwan with SSMs from across the straight

If China did do that, it wouldn't be worth having.

The US could engage both China and North Korea at the same time. It wouldn't be pretty, but no war with China would be.

[PLATO]

Red Storm Rising

I loved Red Storm Rising. It was one of those books you simply could not put down. I think it was his best work. Wish they had made that movie.

[kentonio]

I liked Without Remorse.

[Docfeelgood]

I loved Red Storm Rising. It was one of those books you simply could not put down. I think it was his best work. Wish they had made that movie.

Agree, I think it was his best.

Have you read Red Phoenix by Larry Bond?

From the author who collaborated with Tom Clancy on Red Storm Rising, this is the book that dares to show us the military hardware, global upheavals, and raw combat a second Korean War would unleash. How F-16s would blast across the 38th Parallel. How ultra-modern submarines would vie for the seas. And how two armies would turn the snowfields of Asia red with blood. A thundering geopolitical thriller of vast scope, this is Red Phoenix - and a new standard for military/political suspense fiction.

[DinoDoc]

I like some of the Splinter Cell games.

[Hauldren Collider]

Red Storm Rising was awesome, yes

[regexcellent]

If China did do that, it wouldn't be worth having.

The US could engage both China and North Korea at the same time. It wouldn't be pretty, but no war with China would be.

You're missing the point here. Taiwan's in range of SSMs and therefore fixed targets like airports and military bases can be easily attacked, making the defense much easier.

Taiwan's ability to resist an invasion is dependent on its ability to keep Chinese landing craft at arm's length with shore-based missiles, aircraft, and especially submarines.

I loved Red Storm Rising. It was one of those books you simply could not put down. I think it was his best work. Wish they had made that movie.

I've always imagined it as a miniseries on HBO or something of that nature. Too many viewpoints and it's way too long for a movie.

I liked Without Remorse.

That was probably his best book although Clancy has always been really bad with those creepy sex scenes.

[DaShi]

You're missing the point here. Taiwan's in range of SSMs and therefore fixed targets like airports and military bases can be easily attacked, making the defense much easier.

Sorry, I can only read what you wrote. Not what you meant to write. Now I'm not sure how defense becomes easier without airports or military bases.

Taiwan's ability to resist an invasion is dependent on its ability to keep Chinese landing craft at arm's length with shore-based missiles, aircraft, and especially submarines.

Which why Taiwan has it's own naval capabilities. Also, storming an island is not an easy task either. The Taiwanese could likely hold out for sometime.

[regexcellent]

Except that Taiwan has no more tactical aircraft than China does and only four woefully out of date submarines.

If China can knock out Taiwan's airbases and destroy the planes on the ground, there's very little stopping an invasion. If it can knock out the main garrisons also, and eliminate leadership and troops, then there's not much to stop them once they're on the beaches.

[Hauldren Collider]

You're missing the point here. Taiwan's in range of SSMs and therefore fixed targets like airports and military bases can be easily attacked, making the defense much easier.

Are you saying Taiwan would launch the SSMs?

[DaShi]

Yes, it's obvious that they could not withstand a full assault from China on their own. However, as I said, Taiwan needs to only hold out as long as possible for the US to enter. Even if China manages to take the island before the US arrived, they will be in a even less defensible position than the Taiwanese were.

[Hauldren Collider]

What Taiwan needs are AIP subs to lurk at the bottom of the strait and pop torpedos at enemy ships.

[regexcellent]

Yes, it's obvious that they could not withstand a full assault from China on their own. However, as I said, Taiwan needs to only hold out as long as possible for the US to enter. Even if China manages to take the island before the US arrived, they will be in a even less defensible position than the Taiwanese were.

No. If the Chinese control the island, they're in a much stronger position because the distance we would have to launch an attack from is far greater.

Everything about US submarine operations is highly classified but I wouldn't be surprised if we keep a few sitting around to listen to their ships and sink anyone that tries to cross.

[regexcellent]

.

[regexcellent]

Interesting, I just checked my atlas and two important facts are apparent here:

1. Northeastern Taiwan is very flat. In fact, the entire eastern coast is flat and rises gradually from the sea. It appears to be the right kind of shoreline for an amphibious invasion.

2. Oddly enough I can't find any Chinese naval bases right across the strait from Taiwan (although that doesn't mean they aren't there). But then, it's only about 300 nm from Shanghai, and there are definitely ships based there.