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by phobosanomaly 2068 days ago
Unfortunately, I don't see that the West, and the United States in particular, is in a position to do anything in the near future. China seems to know that. They have by-and-large solved their Coronavirus problem months ago (with some pretty draconian methods), but the West is still reeling.

The US is heading into a pretty contentious election, nobody is sure whether or not we're on the brink of a recession, international diplomatic relationships are in tatters. If the CCP took Taiwan right now, I don't see the US lifting a finger.
2 comments
T-A 2068 days ago
> nobody is sure whether or not we're on the brink of a recession

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/08/872470104/economists-announce...

> If the CCP took Taiwan right now

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4034710

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phobosanomaly 2067 days ago
You're 100% right. Depression! I should have said depression!

Maybe. They could still infiltrate Special Forces teams (I'm sure they have boat teams trained for this very thing), hit Taipei with DF-17s, mine the outside boundaries of the strait, parachute guys in and take the harbors.

My point is more that the US isn't in a position to do anything right now, than that China is going to take Taiwan.

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FindMySocks 2068 days ago
I've heard people chime in that China used Draconian methods to contain COVID, but what Draconian methods did they use?
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phobosanomaly 2068 days ago
"How China Slowed Coronavirus: Lockdowns, Surveillance, Enforcers" https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-china-slowed-coronavirus-lo...

"China, Desperate to Stop Coronavirus, Turns Neighbor Against Neighbor" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/03/business/china-coronaviru...

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franklampard 2067 days ago
Which part is "Draconian"?
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phobosanomaly 2067 days ago
I guess that's relatively subjective, and depends on what you or I feel is draconian.

I might feel something is a little over-the-top, but you might feel it's just fine. You might feel something is a little over-the-top, but I might feel it's just fine.

So, I guess my only answer would be that you would have to read the articles and decide for yourself.

You may have a different tolerance for the techniques described than I do.

"In the eastern province of Jiangsu, quarantine turned to imprisonment after authorities used metal poles to barricade shut the door of a family recently returned from Wuhan."

"Authorities have used computerized systems that track ID cards — which must be used to take most long-distance transport and stay in hotels — to round up people from Wuhan."

For example, I find this to be a bit much. I do, however concede that it works. You may be perfectly fine with it.

I find the prison camps in Xinjiang to be a little draconian. Plenty of other people feel that it's a wonderful idea.

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franklampard 2066 days ago
The second quote is literally digital contact tracing. How is that bad?
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phobosanomaly 2066 days ago
You have to consider the context.

Putting Uighurs in concentration camps is literally just helping them to learn more about the Han Chinese way of life.

Xkeyscore is literally just helping an analyst access a database.

A famine is literally just a national weight-loss program.

Extraordinary Rendition was literally just an opportunity for hundreds of people to visit other interesting parts of exotic countries.

Catch my drift? Pay attention to the 'rounding up' part that follows the contact tracing.

Again, feel free to disagree. There's a wide spectrum of opinions on this stuff.

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