[speedybird]

If the Chinese were really so hot-headed to start a nuclear war because they were annoyed by an American submarine doing typical submarine things (an SSN no less, with no nuclear weapons of its own..), then there is no telling what other petty incident might also set them off. But I don't think they're so sensitive as that.

[xxpor]

I'm not worried about them doing it deliberately, it's the accidents that are the problem. This incident, for example. What if it were a Chinese mine that they hit? And the Pentagon mistook it as prep for an invasion of Taiwan?

[Accujack]

>What if it were a Chinese mine that they hit?

Laying a minefield in international waters (from the point of view of everyone but China, anyway) is an act of war. It's not necessary for there to be any interpretation or misunderstandings at that point, it's pretty much the same as if the Chinese fired ballistic missiles with real warheads at Taiwan, or engaged foreign navies in the South China Sea with swarms of anti ship missiles. At that point, the war has already started, so no one would do that unless that's what they wanted.

Which is why China hasn't placed any mines there, and your question doesn't make sense.

[xxpor]

Isn't flying jets into Taiwan's ADIZ without announcing yourself also an act of war, technically? The Chinese do that all the time.

[Accujack]

Technically, no. If they flew in and attacked, that would be.

[speedybird]

It seems equally unlikely to me that the Pentagon would let loose the nukes after losing a single SSN and having no other indication of an invasion. For one thing, it would probably take days to confirm the sub was sunk, and by that time the lack of an invasion should be clear. All the other American ships in the area being unscathed would also be a pretty big clue.

To be frank I'm not even sure I believe America would start a nuclear war at all even if Taiwan really were being invaded.