China sends “nuclear message” for the United States!

[TroyJackson]

Link to article - http://goo.gl/Vn5s8w

Beijing had recently sent a nuclear H-6K Bomber over the New South China Sea, showing that like the US, they are also capable of nuclear attacks. Over the past few months, the United States have conducted B-52 bomber flights over contested airways, which China perceived as a threat.

Photographs were released on the weekend, showing China’s deadly H-6K long range nuclear-capable bombers overflying the new South China sea. The aircraft is capable of delivering nuclear weapons throughout Asia, and is based on a 1950s Russian aircraft.

Should the US be afraid of China?

[JNelson6563]

1. There is too much commerce at stake.

I do not think we need to be afraid of China. Without our consumer market things would get a bit tough for them.

[HereSince1628]

2. Isn't the point of their economic expansion to move away from dependence on US consumer market?

As their internal consumption rises, our importance as a consumer would seem to diminish...
Similarly, as consumer capacity grows across southern and southeastern Asia don't our consumer markets diminish in importance?

The US and China in economic competition and it's something of an existential threat to life as we have known it. Unwanted change to life-style imposed by political choice of a competitor is sort of the uncut cloth of conflict.

[JNelson6563]

3. No doubt but it is slow going.

Of course we are exploiting other labor markets with increasing effectiveness, perhaps we could reach a point of mutual lost interest.

Still, I just don't foresee war with China. I think they have enough problems and, frankly, so do we. But doesn't their leadership look brave and strong to the people now that there's been some military flexing? Yeah.

[HereSince1628]

4. I think they see a Chinese dominated economic zone from India to New Guinea

But, yest, we are a long way from war at the moment.

Both nations have air forces that can't be left to rot, so they fly. And those training flights are exploited to send messages.

Aspirations are fluid in their interpretation and can be considered healthy ambitios or arrogant desires.

It's all quite normal fun and games until something seen as valuable gets put at risk, which it seems is what the energy reserves under the South China Sea have become.

[uhnope]

5. Let's hope the world's largest dictatorship crumples apart

even better than the USSR did

[TroyJackson]

7. we can only hope!

lets hope so

[meow2u3]

9. From your mouth to God's ears

I'm hoping the world's largest dictatorship becomes the world's largest democracy, eclipsing India in the process, but that's a long shot. One can still pray and/or dream.

[Adrahil]

6. Not really... too much money at stake.

This is a dance.

However, both sides have to be careful not to stomp on toes while dancing. Things can get out of control.

[Statistical]

8. No. Not really.

The US far outspends China on military spending and also has a habit of using those shiny new toys in foreign adventures so honestly China should be more worried about the US (although nuclear powers simply do not go to war).

Bombers are essentially obsolete in the modern age which is why the AF has slowly reduced the number of B-52s about 90% from their peak. We keep a few around but honestly no nuclear war is going to be won or lost due to strategic bombers.

ICBMs (and SLBMs) are more than capable of providing a MAD deterrent and neither the US or China has a shortage of those. Of course you can't wave your dick around with an ICBM. They just sit there quiet in the silo for decades awaiting the order which will end the world as we know it.

Simple version: ICBMs are how the world will end. Bombers are a way to look tough. If China is flying around bombers well that is a good sign.