Letter

In response to Les MacDonald's US unlikely to be able to hold its own against China

War with China

Les McDonald makes a valid point in saying that the US no longer has the naval or merchant fleet strength to invade China. But I suggest that’s not in the Pentagon’s war plans.

If they have a coherent thought on the matter, Washington’s military leaders want to deter China from invading Taiwan, or punishing it if it does.

That involves massive bombing from the air, as Curtis LeMay did in North Koreas in 1952-3. No land combat. The danger, of course, is that bombing could escalate to include the use by either side of nukes. Let us hope it does not come to this.

— Richard Broinowski from Paddington