US Complaint of China's military buildup, Justified or Not? Options

[Titanium]

As the title of the thread suggests. Please no flaming on this thread and keep it clean. The US has been complaining about China's military buildup for the past few decades now. Ever since Mao started China's nuclear program back in the 60's. Each year the US comes up with the same argument "China needs to keep it's military budget low and not try to challenge US dominance". For me this seems rather absurd and apparently Chinese politicians feel the same way. The US has by far the world's biggest military expenditure. China has not even a one tenth of it's size and on top of that the US is the only powerful nation that's militarily active in the world. China has not a single soldier stationed abroad anywhere. Chinese military capability only extends furthest in defensive measures. China is only capable of protecting and defending itself against foreign aggressors and yet the US seems to be even upset about this. The very idea that the US could even lecture another country on military buildup seems hypocritical and flat out absurd which is why Beijing tends to ignore everything Washington says. Most Chinese politicians believe the only reason the US is criticizing is because they don't have the ability to completely subjugate China militarily without suffering disastrous consequences. The rhetoric of the US government seems to be that "Any nation that even has the power to defend themselves against us should we choose military action is considered a threat". China's modern history was one of extreme darkness with foreign powers coming in and subjugating the Chinese people at will. It would seem only logical that China's builds up a military capable of defending itself after suffering war with European powers and the Japanese.

However the US is the world's only sole superpower and as such it will inevitably try to maintain dominance over others at all cost. It is only natural that a superpower behaves this way so in the end are these complaints valid or justified?

[Suijen]

It's understandable to recognize another country's military growth. If I had a neighbor who bought a new gun a year, I'd take note of that.

However, the US needs to recognize China's military growth, but in no way DETER it. China is a sovereign country and has every right to build up its military, with reason or not.

The US should recognize China's military growth, but should not use it against China or try to deter it, either by questioning the reason for growth, or engaging China on it. If you have no legitimate reason to fear the growth, then don't complain about it.

[Chinese_Soldier]

The US complaints are just stupid and is just hypocrisy. Lets see:

Who spends $500+ billion on military a year? Not China
Who has 12 carriers? Not China
Who has 5000+ Nukes? Not China
Who has 500+ ICBM? Not China
Who has military bases in nearly every continent? Not China

[VietPunk]

well, U.S. doesn't remain top dog by letting other countries build up

[Chinese_Soldier]

well, U.S. doesn't remain top dog by letting other countries build up

They also don't remain top dog with a $10 trillion dollar external debt and an idiotic leader.

[Titanium]

One thing that I am happy about though is that Chinese leaders do a superb job of ignoring/dismissing these criticisms. They did a good job of making Rumsfeld look like an idiot last year and continue to do so today because finding US inconsistency is not a difficult task at all.

[Jasel]

I have a feeling alot of US officials know gradual military buildups worldwide are inevitable but just do what they can to slow down that growth to maintain US military dominance. Despite tensions between the countries I doubt there's much of a chance for hostilities between either nation. I think the main goal is to keep China from having an even greater influence in Asia than it already does for as long as possible. Which naturally lowers the US' influence.

[Suijen]

I have a feeling alot of US officials know gradual military buildups worldwide are inevitable but just do what they can to slow down that growth to maintain US military dominance. Despite tensions between the countries I doubt there's much of a chance for hostilities between either nation. I think the main goal is to keep China from having an even greater influence in Asia than it already does for as long as possible. Which naturally lowers the US' influence.

The US can only do so much. They call the China threat, but because China ignores it or doesn't critically respond back, the US has nothing to build momentum on. Besides, we're integrated markets. Whether China attacks US or the US attacks China, we'll both lose, since we have so much at state economically wise.

I think the US should just admit that keeping an influence in Asia is just too tough. China is just closer to all these countries. Whatever happens to China will affect these countries more than whatever happens to the US.
China's influence isn't getting smaller, and as China grows, naturally, because of it's locale, it's going to have an advantage of influence.

It's like, imagine if China tried to gain influence with Mexico. It's just not happening.

This post has been edited by Suijen: Nov 18 2006, 06:28 PM

[Jasel]

The US could always build up it's influence as well. Maybe I should say re-build. The only problem is for the past decade we've had a bunch of stupid fu-king Republicans running things who piss everyone off as well an idiot for a President who sure as hell didn't help.

[Suijen]

^ Cold War politics has declined since then. Even if the US rebuilds its influence back during the time of its peak, there's still that handicap of location. The US is far away from Asia, so it'll always be at a disadvantage compared to China when vying for Asian influence.

Of course, you can take into account economics, politics, military, yadda yadda, but it's nothing that China can't work on, whereas the US isn't moving any closer to Asia.

[froglee]

Just let everyone know the Asian country which bought the most weapons last year in Asia is India, not China.

[KJlost]

Indian domestic military industry is still underdeveloped. It's mainly beauracratic crap than any real technological challenges, but it's their problem. Besides, India is faily well-contained by Pakistan and the US fleet in the region.

[froglee]

Indian domestic military industry is still underdeveloped. It's mainly beauracratic crap than any real technological challenges, but it's their problem. Besides, India is faily well-contained by Pakistan and the US fleet in the region.

US is helping India, not containing India.

[STFU]

Among all east asian countries, only South Korea and Japan are complaining the re-emergence of China. I dont see other asian countries whine about it. what's the deal?

[KJlost]

Let's be blunt: who else's opinion really matters? The Mongolians? Never been an issue whether Chinese had new planes or ships with them. Their economic, military and political strength has never been comparable to China's in this centuary. The Norks? They're crazy anyway, so who cares what they think?

US is helping India, not containing India.

They are courting India, precisely because they have them contained to the Indian Ocean and surrounding nations.

This post has been edited by KJlost: Nov 18 2006, 11:59 PM

[STFU]

Let's be blunt: who else's opinion really matters? The Mongolians? Never been an issue whether Chinese had new planes or ships with them. Their economic, military and political strength has never been comparable to China's in this centuary. The Norks? They're crazy anyway, so who cares what they think?

i think only american's opinion matters. south korea is too small of an economy and political entity to have a chance to compete with china. japan has potential, but she is a lap dog of USA for the foreseeable future and the US aint going to completely give uo her contorl over Japan. Since SK and JP have no way to compete with China for East Asia dominance. why bothers to complain? that's my thinking.

[big_d!ck]

The US spend 10x more on military than any contry in the world.

[froglee]

Let's be blunt: who else's opinion really matters? The Mongolians? Never been an issue whether Chinese had new planes or ships with them. Their economic, military and political strength has never been comparable to China's in this centuary. The Norks? They're crazy anyway, so who cares what they think?
They are courting India, precisely because they have them contained to the Indian Ocean and surrounding nations.

No, US is courting India because it wants to contain China.

[Vitality]

Even though the US is acting rather hypocritical, you can't blame them. It's like you said, The US is the world's only superpower, they'd be damned if they just sat by and watched a competitor slowly overtake them.

[ninjakamster]

No, US is courting India because it wants to contain China.

Um......durr?

Froglee, why aren't you telling us your sick fetish for India again? Why haven't you been banned?