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BeyondGeography

(39,280 posts)
Tue Apr 5, 2022, 12:32 AM Apr 2022

China Should Heed Lessons from Russia's Ukraine Invasion, US Official Says

“Your adversary’s probably stronger than you think it is,” warned the assistant defense secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs.

Russia’s poorly executed invasion of Ukraine and the international community’s economic and diplomatic response are cautionary lessons for China and others who may want to attempt aggressive actions in the Pacific, the Pentagon’s policy chief for the region said Monday.

“When we look at the types of acts of aggression that we worry about in the Indo-Pacific—and the Taiwan Strait being the top of that list—it's going to be very difficult, and I think that there are broad lessons there to be drawn from Ukraine,” Ely Ratner, assistant defense secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said at the Sea-Air-Space conference outside Washington, D.C.

“Number one, military operations are probably going to be more difficult than you think for a whole bunch of reasons: because you're not tested in the way you think you are, because your adversary’s probably stronger than you think it is. And because the terrain might be more difficult than you’ve anticipated, et cetera.” The economic sanctions imposed against Russia after the invasion in February went much further than expected by Russian and Chinese leaders, Ratner said.

“I think that's a very important lesson, particularly for an economy in China that's in very bad shape,” he said. “But to be facing, potentially, that kind of economic penalty and costs for acts of aggression is something one would not take wisely when your own economy is facing such incredible headwinds.”

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2022/04/china-should-heed-lessons-russias-aggression-us-policy-leader-says/364021/


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China Should Heed Lessons from Russia's Ukraine Invasion, US Official Says (Original Post) BeyondGeography Apr 2022 OP
The U.S. should be the last country lecturing anyone about military operations. former9thward Apr 2022 #1
Just doing it to make Xi think twice before any violent acts Justice matters. Apr 2022 #2
Probably an allusion to their COVID nightmare BeyondGeography Apr 2022 #3
Most of the world? luv2fly Apr 2022 #4
Agreed BeyondGeography Apr 2022 #5
Big thumbs. Sorry about that. luv2fly Apr 2022 #6
No worries BeyondGeography Apr 2022 #7

former9thward

(31,802 posts)
1. The U.S. should be the last country lecturing anyone about military operations.
Tue Apr 5, 2022, 12:49 AM
Apr 2022

Given its record since WW II ended. And China has a higher economic growth rate than the U.S. so the comments about China having an "economy in very bad shape" are strange.

I see little parallel between Russia/Ukraine and China/Taiwan. Ukraine is surviving so far because it is adjoining friendly countries that are supplying it and taking in refugees so Ukraine doesn't have to deal with them. Taiwan is an isolated island. Supplying them would be very difficult. In addition most of the world considers Taiwan to be part of China and not a legitimate indepedent country.

Justice matters.

(6,874 posts)
2. Just doing it to make Xi think twice before any violent acts
Tue Apr 5, 2022, 01:43 AM
Apr 2022

is not a bad strategy.

But forcing our domestic oligarchs to relocate production here should be urgent priority.

BeyondGeography

(39,280 posts)
3. Probably an allusion to their COVID nightmare
Tue Apr 5, 2022, 07:19 AM
Apr 2022

And however you feel about Taiwan, nothing out of line with pointing out the difficulties of mounting a large-scale amphibious assault across 140 miles of water.

luv2fly

(2,475 posts)
4. Most of the world?
Tue Apr 5, 2022, 07:47 AM
Apr 2022

"In addition most of the world considers Taiwan to be part of China and not a legitimate indepedent country."

When you say "most of the world," I assume you mean diplomatically. They're most certainly their own country. Just ask them.

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