... in know this thread has been out a while, but I'm a newcomer and just had to add to this.
China is not going to invade us militarily. (...assuming no nukes)
Consider some things:Owning our Debt? It's not what you think. Politicians love to talk about this, but of our $16 trillion national debt, they hold about $1.3 trillion (which is less than it was 2 years ago). Japan holds a little over $1.1 trillion... Most of our debt is actually owed to ourselves to Social Security, US Bonds, and the Federal Reserve Bank. China does not own us. ... but we also don't want them to call in all the debt they do hold, that would suck.
California is unarmed? Nope. SF and Sacramento are where most of the hard core liberals reside. California's national guard and it's armed citizens (which are way more than most folks realize) would make life hell for them. Heck, there is a Air National Guard base in Fresno that - last time I checked - flys F-16s. ...then there is Camp Pendelton, one of the largest USMC bases in the USA. San Diego has a very large naval base with 2 nuke carriers and a submarine base. ...also, the significant forces stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV, is easily able to strike places all over California to make a real mess of things under such a situation. ...the Marine Corps Air Station at Yuma, AZ, would cover much of southern CA as well.
Seattle invaded? I don't think an invasion force would have much fun in Washington (or Oregon either) with those armed populations. Don't forget the significant presence the USN has in the Seattle area either.
Don't forget about Hawai'i: If they leapfrogged past Hawai'i, those forces from all the military branches would destroy any hope of the Chinese creating a supply line across the pacific. If you consider the sub bases in Seattle and San Diego, it makes the thought of resupply virtually impossible.
But the Chinese have an aircraft carrier now!: OMG! They have ONE trial carrier - and even if they build a few of their own, they (and frankly the rest of this planet's navies) are planning on carriers that are not really any bigger than what the USN calls "Amphibious Assault Carriers"... Boats like the Wasp and America class. Displacements of about 45,000 tons. We have NINE of those with 4 more planned! ...oh yeah, then there are the TEN Nimitz class super carriers we have... they displace over 100,000 tons - there is nothing like them in the world! ...and the first of the new G.R. Ford class super carriers is already under construction. IF China were to back up an invasion as theorized with their navy - their carriers would last a few days ... maybe ... and they would probably never get past the mid-Pacific.
The Chinese are building a deep water navy: Yup. It will likely take them DECADES to seriously challenge the USN backed up by the USAF and such. Their biggest threat is their subs ... which we would relentlessly hunt with the (approaching) 75 Arleigh Burke class destroyers and 22 Ticonderoga class cruisers... don't forget the 3 Zumwalt class destroyers being built as well. ...the Chinese navy currently has about 25 destroyers, and zero cruisers. Both sides also have frigates as well... Subs. Subs will cause the most pain on both sides.
...granted, all of our naval resources are not in the pacific, but lots are - they would fight hard.
They can just nuke us!: Ok, was keeping nukes out, but I have to add that they likely won't do any kind of nuclear first strike. We are their economy. If we are wrecked, so is their income. So a lose-lose situation ... assuming the strike is even successful. Remember our anti-missle systems are mainly in Alaska and - gasp! - California (Vandenberg AFB). Plus if they nuke the west coast military bases, they are intertwined in the major population centers that drive a huge portion of our economy. The Los Angeles/Long Beach harbor complex is the main port of entry for Chinese products. All the other major west coast population centers our hooked to major ports - all bringing in Asian goods. Those goods move by truck and train to the rest of the US - if you wreck those transportation corridors you wreck even more of the economy (and hamper an invading army's ability to move East).
They can cross the US/Mexican boarder: You ever been to most of it? Once you are past the San Diego coastal area in California a great deal of it becomes a very harsh desert all the way thru Arizona, New Mexico, and a good portion of Texas. Not a place to move a sizeable army. Plus we all know the Mexican people are not exactly unarmed ... just watch the news any given week about the violence down there.
Sorry, couldn't help myself
...that's my .02.
