The following is a translation of excerpts from the article, along with some online feedback from Chinese Internet users.] [1]
Since the beginning of this year, South Korea and the U.S. have been spreading the rumor that the USS George Washington nuclear-powered aircraft carrier would sail into the Yellow Sea to participate in South Korea-US military exercises. However, China has been strongly against a U.S. aircraft carrier coming to the Yellow Sea area for military exercises, for the simple reason that once a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier like the USS George Washington patrols the Yellow Sea, China’s strategic territory, including Beijing, would be completely within the attack radius of a U.S. aircraft carrier, its aircraft, cannons, and missiles. This is not only the greatest threat to China’s national security; it is also a rehearsal for the invasion and elimination of China. This matters for the life and death of China and the Chinese people. Any concession to South Korea or to the U.S. military provocation would be acquiescing to the enemy and betraying China.
In the face of the ferocious military threats leveled by South Korea and the U.S., discussing whether South Korea or North Korea provoked the Yeonpyeong Island armed conflict is already meaningless. Military analysts are very clear that, given current military technology, defending the Yellow Sea means defending Northern China. To China, a massive aggregation of U.S. and South Korean warships in the Yellow Sea by itself is an aggressive, warlike provocation. These are armies of tigers and wolves for whom invasion is second nature, and begging would only whet their appetite for war. Even peaceful negotiations would not allow for an escape, and China’s fate would be just like Iraq’s, which was invaded and then destroyed. There is only one way for the Chinese people who no longer want to be humiliated and pressured by America: pick up our weapons and prepare for a counterattack.
Without a doubt, if China’s strategic areas—including Beijing—want to avoid being attacked or bombed by the U.S. or South Korean military, then China must sink all U.S. and South Korean warships in the Yellow Sea. Of course, since no war has broken out yet, China does not have a valid reason to initiate an attack against the U.S. and South Korean warships. However, China must be well prepared and have enough confidence to be able to sink all U.S. and South Korean warships in the Yellow Sea within 24 hours. In order to achieve this, China’s army should not only have enough equipment, but also adequate training. To conduct this kind of training, the U.S. and South Korea’s military exercises in the Yellow Sea are providing an excellent opportunity: the Chinese army must have a military rehearsal in the Yellow Sea at the same time that the U.S. and South Korea carry out their military exercises. The goal would be to sink all U.S. and South Korean warships in the Yellow Sea. Not availing ourselves of such an opportunity would amount to ignoring the basic responsibility of the Chinese army to defend our national security.
We are not clear about the combat effectiveness of the Chinese army or whether it has the strength to sink all American and South Korean warships in the Yellow Sea. However, we are very clear that today’s China has the economic wherewithal to fund such armed forces. If the Chinese army’s weaponry, equipment, and logistics support are not strong enough to sink American and South Korea’s warships in the Yellow Sea, let’s vigorously develop China’s national defense R&D and the defense industry. We must use the most advanced and most powerful weaponry to massively equip China’s army, so that it not only has the confidence to attack and sink all American and South Korean warships in the Yellow Sea but also the confidence to sink any U.S. warship in any sea.
Of course, having the weaponry does not guarantee victory. To have the confidence to attack and sink American and South Korean warships in the Yellow Sea, the army that uses the weapons must be presumed to have achieved a certain proficiency. To acquire this proficiency, we need to have sufficient training. We must take any U.S. or South Korean warship that enters the Yellow Sea as a training target. We should not only practice to have enough confidence to attack and sink all American and South Korean warships in the Yellow Sea within several hours, but also practice to maintain this degree of proficiency at all times.
In the past, China didn’t have enough economic or military power. When the U.S. and South Korea conducted military exercises in the Yellow Sea, we could only swallow the insult. Today, however, we have the second largest GDP in the world, the largest volume of exports, and the largest foreign exchange reserve. If we still don’t have enough confidence to attack and sink American and South Korean warships in the Yellow Sea, we can only blame China and its economic development for heading in a wrong direction. If some people have said that it is impossible for China to attack and sink American and South Korean warships in the Yellow Sea, we must ask, “Who is to blame for this? Isn’t it because of a traitor’s conspiracy to sabotage the results?”
Comments from Internet users:
1. Isn’t this a quiet conflict?
China maintains composure and goes about its own business. It has already collaborated with Russia to end the practice of settling bilateral trade in U.S. dollars. Isn’t this a blow to the U.S.?
2. The U.S. and South Korea are very anxious facing China’s calm. According to CNN, some high-ranking U.S. officials disclosed that Obama planned to call Chinese President Hu Jintao personally to discuss the issues. U.S. White House national security advisor Tom Donilon said, “We must cooperate with China on this issue.”
3. Everyone has cards in his hand. Americans have a lot of cards but most have been played and the effect is so-so. China doesn’t have many cards, but it has one good card that has not been played yet. This is what makes them (the U.S.) uneasy.
4. At present, the U.S. has already shown its bottom line and naturally wants to know what China is thinking. China, however, is not in a hurry. After the exchange of fire between North Korea and South Korea, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs only responded, “The Chinese are paying attention to the situation.” After that, Chinese Premier Minister Wen Jiabao said in Moscow on November 24 that the Chinese side is devoted to maintaining the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. He urged all sides to maintain maximum restraint. That’s all.
5. Fight covertly, not overtly!
6. The reason that the people respected Mao Zedong was that he dared to stand up and say, “People all over the world, unite to defeat U.S. imperialism!” The reason that Chiang Kai-Shek was despised was because he dared not speak such words!
7. By simultaneously initiating attacks from the air, land, and sea to form an overlapping firepower network, it should not be a problem to sink the aircraft carrier. The question is how to minimize the cost.
8. Long live Chairman Mao!
9. It is not wrong to use war to stop a war. However, sinking all U.S. warships? What a waste to sink them! We would have to pay for the cost of the bomb. This would bankrupt us! The superior way to wage a war is to come up with a good plan. Military conflicts need not necessarily be resolved by military means. We need to use our advantages against the enemy’s disadvantages! Last time, I proposed to entertain the distinguished guests with bazookas. This time, China does not lack delicious dishes either! Do you know what war is? War is killing and torching! Who is the ancestor of “setting the fire?” We don’t need to mention fire on the Red Cliff! China only needs to provide several oil tankers to supply the distinguished American guests. When the oil leaks and catches fire, let’s shoot remotely. Americans will enjoy the BBQ. The North Korean people will not be starving during the BBQ of American soldiers. The Chinese people may also collect some rotten iron. The U.S. military corpses can also be used for making good money. Why skip this profitable business? Ha-ha.
10. China has proposed that the six-parties should talk, but they ignored the request. When they have played all their cards, they will propose it themselves. Fate is as fickle as a carp’s life. We gracefully offered them a chance to save face. When they are at their wits end, they will come begging for talks.
11. When facing a powerful enemy, I believe that the Communist (Party) will not start a war if it cannot guarantee success! Calmly observing the change. …
Endnote:
[1] www.huanqiu.com, November 29, 2010
http://bbs.huanqiu.com/thread-474407-1-1.html