[ngruhn]

> but doing it forcefully just isn't something China would realistically do unless they really don't like their path of becoming an international trade and manufacturing hub

Sounds rational, but this decision is in a small number of hands. And those hands can change quickly. I also thought the US would never threaten to annex territory of a NATO member.

[mghackerlady]

Chinas power structure is misunderstood. Theres a small number of hands, yes, but they don't change quickly and actually understand how to play geopolitics

[chrisco255]

Offer to purchase imperial territory of a NATO member is not the same as a threat to annex it.

[ngruhn]

But threat to annex is what's happening.

[unethical_ban]

But we threatened to annex it.