The "why" is ideology, put simply. In a cold-blooded world where line-go-up is all that matters, all China would have to do, indeed, is just stay put, stay the course, and hope the GDP grows in line with predictions.
But this is not a cold-blooded world of rationality and pure numerics. This is a world where Europe gets into wars every so often because of desires to control parts of it for various reasons; some of which can be charitably described as "ineffable" and uncharitably described as "stupid and irrational." China is little different, having been wedded to a zealous Communist ideology for decades now. While it is not an immutable set of first principles, the desire to see a "One China" united under a red flag has never gone away even when their economy opened up.
It may well be that China will never let go of any revanchism over Taiwan, and that it may well be their undoing if they decide to ever make a move.
As for the "math," yes, I'll concede that, in theory, a massive amount of resources and manpower can be directed as needed to whatever projects are deemed important--by gunpoint, if necessary. But as Dase's last link there shows, there are inefficiencies that even China's size can't overcome.
I mean, yeh, there’s a war on in Europe now but it’s hardly a common occurance post world war II. The US is nearly always involved in some conflict.
China is little different
This is a non sequitur. Europe isn’t that war-like these days and, even if it were, why is is clear that China is “little different”. China also actually is not all that war-like in the modern era.
Anyway i am not saying that China won’t someday try take over Taiwan, I’m saying there’s no rush.
But as Dase's last link there shows, there are inefficiencies that even China's size can't overcome.
Well he didn’t show anything, he said something. And the link didn’t work.
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Notes -
The "why" is ideology, put simply. In a cold-blooded world where line-go-up is all that matters, all China would have to do, indeed, is just stay put, stay the course, and hope the GDP grows in line with predictions.
But this is not a cold-blooded world of rationality and pure numerics. This is a world where Europe gets into wars every so often because of desires to control parts of it for various reasons; some of which can be charitably described as "ineffable" and uncharitably described as "stupid and irrational." China is little different, having been wedded to a zealous Communist ideology for decades now. While it is not an immutable set of first principles, the desire to see a "One China" united under a red flag has never gone away even when their economy opened up.
It may well be that China will never let go of any revanchism over Taiwan, and that it may well be their undoing if they decide to ever make a move.
As for the "math," yes, I'll concede that, in theory, a massive amount of resources and manpower can be directed as needed to whatever projects are deemed important--by gunpoint, if necessary. But as Dase's last link there shows, there are inefficiencies that even China's size can't overcome.
I mean, yeh, there’s a war on in Europe now but it’s hardly a common occurance post world war II. The US is nearly always involved in some conflict.
This is a non sequitur. Europe isn’t that war-like these days and, even if it were, why is is clear that China is “little different”. China also actually is not all that war-like in the modern era.
Anyway i am not saying that China won’t someday try take over Taiwan, I’m saying there’s no rush.
Well he didn’t show anything, he said something. And the link didn’t work.
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