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ORIGINAL: cyberdude611

Unlikely any issues will arise from China. The economies of both countries are just so interlinked that a war would devastate both countries. Taiwan is the only wildcard.

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ORIGINAL: Real0ne

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ORIGINAL: cyberdude611

Unlikely any issues will arise from China. The economies of both countries are just so interlinked that a war would devastate both countries. Taiwan is the only wildcard.

maybe but then why the arms buildup?

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ORIGINAL: cyberdude611

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ORIGINAL: Real0ne

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ORIGINAL: cyberdude611

Unlikely any issues will arise from China. The economies of both countries are just so interlinked that a war would devastate both countries. Taiwan is the only wildcard.

maybe but then why the arms buildup?

Just because someone flexes his muscle in front of you doesnt mean he plans on punching you out.

The majority of the Chinese build-up is on short range missiles and ground forces. This would mean more of a threat to Taiwan than anyone else since the majority of these missile launchers are located in southeast China.  The majority of the Chinese build-up is on short range missiles and ground forces.

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ORIGINAL: cyberdude611

China has no ability to get its massive army to US soil. So the size of their army is a minimal threat.

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ORIGINAL: cyberdude611

Russia isn't a problem right now. Yes, they are still selling their weapons to the highest bidder despite international opposition which suggests they are still hurting for cash. But the US is in a strange situation concerning Russian relations. Putin is not very popular in Europe. The EU thinks Putin is trying to roll back democratic reforms. They also dont like his policies concerning Chechnya and terrorism. Even though Putin has reached out and tried to make better ties with the US, especially after 9/11, the US has had to back off a bit because of European concerns. So we will just have to wait and see what develops with Russia before predicting what is going to happen with them. However, The Russian space agency and NASA have an extremely good relationship. So that's one thing holding strong. 
Also the US has said they will share nuclear missile defense technology with Moscow once it is implimented.

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ORIGINAL: caitlyn

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ORIGINAL: meatcleaver
You're missing the point. While America sees enemies everywhere and fighting wars ain't cheap, even against 3rd world countries, i.e. Iraq, India and China are quietly rising. Hmm The US under Bush reminds me of the old USSR, the world is round so enemies are all around. 1900 Britain was the richest country in the world and Germany and was the new kid on the block like India and China now. There was no way Britain could lose its power, it wasn't just a matter of not fighting WWI which it didn't have to and looked after its economy and things might have been different. The problem was, the world changed and the world is changing now with China and India most probably becoming superpowers. It's not about the US being defeated but having to come to terms with a new reality because it weakened its economy on wars while other powers quietly built theirs.

Empires never see the end until its upon them.

History teaches us that countries like China (more likely) and India (less likely) becoming more powerful, will do more to keep the United States powerful, than to curb that power.