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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To worry about war with China

87 replies

Sassenach85 · 31/05/2020 08:32

I am not political and I don’t mind admitting my knowledge about international affairs and the ins and outs and details is pretty low. Humour me - what would happen if we went to war with China? If America did? I’m no expert but it feels like we are in a dangerous point in history right now.

OP posts:
MaxNormal · 31/05/2020 08:34

Why would we go to war with China?

justanotherneighinparadise · 31/05/2020 08:38

It would be a Cold War and to be honest it’s already simmering between the US and China. I fount very much we’d get involved.

justanotherneighinparadise · 31/05/2020 08:38

*doubt

Original poster
Sassenach85 · 31/05/2020 08:39

For whichever reason the govt decide to spin us? I don’t know why. I’m just wondering what would that be like? I can’t imagine. The way Trump is going and the articles being published about China right now I just feel there is trouble brewing.

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Original poster
Sassenach85 · 31/05/2020 08:40

I wouldn’t trust our govt not to get us dragged into it though...

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onalongsabbatical · 31/05/2020 08:54

There is always trouble brewing. There's no reason at the moment that an actual fighting war would break out and the vast majority of world leaders and heads of state will do everything to prevent it. Trump is on his last legs and China are not stupid and we would not go gung-ho after Trump into a war even with Boris at the helm.
It's really not likely at the moment, although it's volatile it's a way off being that volatile.
I'm more worried about America domestically at the moment, and also how petulant Trump is about being part of this and that - G7, UN, WHO. He's undermining cooperation seriously which will have more immediate affects on us all.

Mucklowe · 31/05/2020 08:57

China has a very weak military, and pretty much a zero war record since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. It will take over the world by economic and ideological means, not warfare.

Original poster
Sassenach85 · 31/05/2020 09:00

I suppose from reading about how China work as a country and that they apparently despise democracy, it raised a red flag I suppose considering the whole pandemic and the WHO allegations etc

What does a Cold War look like to the general population?

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Mypathtriedtokillme · 31/05/2020 09:01

It’s also simmering between China and India and their on going on and off boarder incursions and disagreement of where it is.
(And China’s relationship with Pakistan)

DysonFury · 31/05/2020 09:09

Within 5 years America will be at war with China. China keep pushing and pushing, building islands in international waters and more and more warships are being sent out by the US. It'll probably be way sooner than 5 years but I'll guarantee within that timeframe this will happen.
The UK? We are just a pissy little mess now so I doubt we'd have any clout aside from Kissing Big Trumpers arse.

Original poster
Sassenach85 · 31/05/2020 09:13

Would it affect us at all though? I know I’m a bit clueless but what would change for us or indeed the rest of the world if two super powers went to war?

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ChoosingHim · 31/05/2020 09:16

China would very nearly wipe us out.

HesterShaw1 · 31/05/2020 09:23

This is very firmly in "You can't do a thing about it" territory.

Such a shame that certain male leaders are so intent on waving their dicks and making the world a worse place. Shame on them.

onalongsabbatical · 31/05/2020 09:29

War and cold war are two very different things OP.
What is it you're worried about?
I honestly think cold war is much, much more likely (and in some sense we are already there) than actual war.
Europe and the EU being strong and united would help enormously of course (cough).

EvilPea · 31/05/2020 09:59

The Hong Kong and China thing concerns me.
We made promises to the people of Hong Kong
, we clearly cannot keep them

Original poster
Sassenach85 · 31/05/2020 10:07

I am a bit ashamed to admit that despite being fairly highly educated I chose to avoid the news and current affairs for most of my adult life. This virus has opened my eyes to a world of horrors tbh. The things I’m reading g about China are almost sci-fi but I think it’s true and how can this have happened? I have no idea what a Cold War what be like for the countries involved and those not.

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Moondust001 · 31/05/2020 10:11

I think it is very, very unlikely. These days wars are fought with economic power. And frankly, much as Trump might like to think otherwise, in an economic war China could probably bring most economies to their knees, because we have become dependent on them for just about everything we like. Even what isn't made in China often has components that are, and we can't afford to produce them at the price they do.

But if there ever was a war, God forbid, I wouldn't worry about it. With any luck it'll be over for us in minutes, which is about the time it takes intercontinental ballistic missiles to deliver their nuclear payload. Nobody can survive a war between superpowers. Or, perhaps to be more precise, one shouldn't hope to, given what that life would probably look like. The thought of someone as irrational as Trump having decision making power over nuclear weaponry is the greatest threat we face; and I can only hope that if it ever came to it, US military leaders would refuse his orders. The man isn't fit to have a smart phone, never mind a nuclear aresenal.

MadameMarie · 31/05/2020 10:13

A small island can't fight a behemoth like China in today's world.

Moondust001 · 31/05/2020 10:15

I suppose from reading about how China work as a country and that they apparently despise democracy, it raised a red flag I suppose considering the whole pandemic and the WHO allegations etc

PS. If you are saying what I think you are saying here, you really need to take an interest in better sources of news. China does not control WHO, it did not deliberately engineer the virus, and (albeit I have vast differences of opinion with China) democracy is in the eye of the beholder.

trellishead · 31/05/2020 10:16

I actually think it is a possibility. Trump pulling out of WHO in the middle of a pandemic, his continual goading of China. There are obviously other things but I do think you have a very valid point.

NoHardSell · 31/05/2020 10:18

It'll be a technological war most probably, so no sending our children off to remote battlefields. It's all shit, but there you go, no point worrying about things you can't control.

trellishead · 31/05/2020 10:18

China doesn't control WHO but they have been misquoted and demonised including during the WHO situation.

justanotherneighinparadise · 31/05/2020 10:21

I suspect they probably now do control WHO as it’s biggest contributor has backed out permanently and everyone else is absolutely skint. The only country who still has the vast wealth to prop the organisation up will be China. Funny that.

Original poster
Sassenach85 · 31/05/2020 10:34

Thanks for the helpful answers I am genuinely interested about the facts and I’m aware that the places I get my info are not brilliant but the facts are there and as a PP said Trumo seems to be goading the Chinese. The way that China works was completely unknown to me I didn’t realise how much they controlled the population or how they were overtaking other countries etc

Is a Cold War really just like a stand off?

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noTon9 · 31/05/2020 10:35

We are already at war with China. They have managed to fuck over the west without lifting a finger by ensuring the majority of individuals and companies are dependent on cheap Chinese manufactured goods. And China has bought up huge swathes of the west from private housing in London to factories. Our politicians don't care because they directly benefit from being cosy with the Chinese.