• nekandro@lemmy.mlOP
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    7 months ago

    Why would China want offensive abilities? Their only military engagements in recent history (if you exclude their embassy getting bombed in Serbia) have been fought with sticks and water guns.

    Chinese policy has always been domestically-focused.

    • Liz@midwest.social
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      7 months ago

      China wants offensive capabilities because what China considers domestic policy and what other countries consider domestic policy are not always the same thing. See: who is the rightful government of China, or man-made islands to expandf resource claims. Furthermore, offensive capabilities are dual-purpose and can be used to repel invasion. If all you have is defense (like passive armor), then advisories can attach without worrying about counter attack.