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[–]oligarchracy 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

Who would benefit from a US-China war? Maybe the US elite, if they can win.

What would a win even look like? I cant imagine any scenario where the US could prevent a Chinese takeover of Taiwan, and China has a large nuclear arsenal. There's also zero chance the US could invade or take over China, and economically China holds most of the cards. A war would almost certainly result in a long term economic depression in the US. So what a win even mean?

Seems to me China has already won. They are in an infinitely better long term economic and strategic position than the US is, even with their many flaws. Time is completely on their side. All they have to do at this point is run out the clock.

[–]NeoRail 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

What would a win even look like?

Regime change.

[–]oligarchracy 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Do you know how difficult that would be? The Chinese are among the most conformist people on earth. Their government not only has absolute power, but the vast majority of the population are of the same ethnic group as those who lead their government, and generally agree with what their government does and see an attack on it as an attack on them. You'd be far more likely to succeed with Russia than China. Most Chinese would back their government to the bitter end. You might be able to force out a particular leader at best, only to be replaced by someone with more or less the same mindset.

[–]NeoRail 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

More unlikely things have happened before - the collapse of the Soviet Union, for instance. I don't think regime change is a likely outcome for China, but it is most probably the ultimate hope and goal of the US.