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Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers
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Originally Posted by Cactus
Yes, I am sure the Paks fill a very prized role in the Chinese confrontational strategy vis a vis India. I just reminded you of the real penalty Chinese haven't faced... way beyond the annoyance of dealing the Pakistanis.
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I don't see how this could have been avoided. Again, Chinese nukes were Moscow centric. They were facing war in the 70s and the real prospects of the Soviet Army smashing their way to Lop Nor did not end until the late 1980s. India exploded her 1st bomb in 1974. The balance of power (never in the Chinese favour in the 1st place) was begining to sink China's strategic posture.
They needed a counter-balance to check India while they deal with Moscow. Unless they were willing to put Pakistan under their already too small of a nuclear umbrella, the Indians could wipe out Pakistan while maintaining a sizeable army on China's southern front. |
True. The Soviets are no more, the PRC "won" that one by default on coattail. What about the next 16 years?