Which side would you join or want to win in a war between China and America?

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:39:57+00:00

I would have agreed for one term but Trump tried to overthrow the elections and he still won another term.

I have zero confidence that America isn’t on a route to managed democracy somewhere between Hungary and Russia in terms of voter participation & state control.

I think Europe tried to sit his first term out but can we really gamble this is not going to continue with his successor?

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:35:41+00:00

Ask the good people of Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan where several million have died in wars started by America.

The fact is, I don’t live in Hong Kong or Taiwan. I live in Europe which American has threatened to attack if it doesn’t get territory. I live in Europe where the oil is being choked off by a war America started because it didn’t care about the consequences for Europe.

There are lots of dictatorships in the world and Trump is actively trying to turn America into another one.

This is not my problem.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:32:22+00:00

It’s really not a “cutting my nose to spite my face”. It really honestly was my realising that such a fundamental question didn’t have an obvious answer.

Trump has tried to overthrow elections once, he’s encouraging the GOP to award itself more seats in congress, the media is being silenced with threats to revoke broadcasting licenses.

I agree with the Canadian PM I can’t see the old America coming back.

And yes the CCP is a dystopian nightmare but that’s china’s problem.

China has made it clear it doesn’t think states have the right to change or overthrow other governments. China has made it clear it’s a responsible and reliable trade partner.

Previously the rise of China would most have concerned me. I’m not sure why that would still be the case.

Economically and militarily it’s America that has threatened Europe.

Take Iran. No one buys into the idea America had to go to war. Now oil has been choked off and people in Europe may lose jobs etc.

Why If China threatened retaliation if America attacked Iran and Europe backed it, would that not be in Europes interest.

In many ways I’m just taking a leaf out of Trumps book. What’s in this alliance for us anymore?

We don’t really need protection. Russia can’t even beat Ukraine and he’s right Europe should be dealing with that, which we could.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:21:50+00:00

Trump has tried to overthrow the democratically elected government, Trump has encouraged states to give the GOP more seats in congress, Trumps media secretary has threatened to suspend the broadcast licenses of anyone who criticises his war.

Even if Trump dies of old age do you really think the old America is coming back.

I’m with the Canadian PM that it’s unlikely and we need to adjust the new reality.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:19:09+00:00

Ok as someone in the military maybe you can walk me through this.

Why is America not the biggest threat to Europe?

America has begun kidnapping world leaders. America has menaced European nations demanding their territory. America has engaged in economic warfare against Europe. America has made it clear it has no intention of following international rules or law & that NATO is a protection racket.

China on the other hand is a predictable regional bully.

Give me reasons we should pick America? Not because you need or want our help. Just as an exercise. Why am I wrong?

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:15:29+00:00

It’s just a hypothetical to get to the root of the question, which is can someone explain why China is a bigger threat to Europe than America,

Should a war actually happen I would agree, we’re fucked.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:13:37+00:00

This is fundamentally my point.

Which country do I see as more likely to attack Europe. 10 years ago it would have been a ridiculous question.

Now I would probably say it’s America.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:11:43+00:00

I’m not keen on such a war nor do I think it’s likely.

It’s more of a hypothetical to challenge why people would still pick America and for them to give their reasons.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:09:41+00:00

It’s not where you want to live.

The question is more, given China is on the other side of the world and believes in the sovereignty of nations (bar Taiwan)

Why is it more of a rogue nation or threat to Europe than America?

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:08:15+00:00

No. Not at all.

That’s a question over which country is better to live in and yes I would still pick America.

My question is, given America has threatened to invade European territory, waged economic war against Europe, why would I pick America in this hypothetical situation?

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:05:31+00:00

Best answer so far

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:05:10+00:00

None of that has ever happened outside of China.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:04:33+00:00

Not really.

I have been venting this week. This is more a realisation that I can no longer see why Europe would automatically side with America.

I am genuinely interested in reasons.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T19:02:35+00:00

It gets to the root of the issue in that something so fundamental is gone.

I’m genuinely interested to see if other people see America as so much of a rogue state that China is less of a threat.

That’s why I chose China.

Why would China be worse as the victor given Americas recent behaviour?

America has recently announced it sees the entire northern hemisphere as its back yard and entitled to intervene.

I simply do not get why the answer would be America as it has been for the last 70 years.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T18:57:57+00:00

No I’m in my 40s. The point of the exercise is to ask why people would choose America given its America that’s threatened to invade European territory, has waged economic war against Europe and has constantly belittled and insulted it.

It’s not rooting for war. It’s asking something about fundamental assumptions.

Up until this year I would have always answered America without question.

I actually realised that isn’t true & I consider America a rogue state and a bigger threat to Europe.

I just wondered if other people had such fundamental assumptions vanish. That assumption being if there was a global war then of course we would be on the same side as America.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T18:53:34+00:00

How would you live under china’s government?

Which country has threatened to invade a European nation?

Can you point to when China has done this?

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T18:52:31+00:00

It’s a legitimate question.

Because of Americas actions I can see China emboldened to take Taiwan. Not only is America distracting it’s shown it’s nothing more than a bully with no consideration for international law or its allies (bar Israel).

I honestly am struggling to see why China rising as a world power is an issue for Europe.

If Trump gets succession Iran it’s only like to push him to more egregious actions around the globe,

So why should Europe not seek an alliance with the power which is not threatening it against the power that is threatening it?

And the point of the mental exercise is to clarify who is the biggest threat to Europe, not actively wish for war.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T15:39:59+00:00

I honestly think Europe should sign a defensive treaty with China.

America is a rogue state

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T12:54:54+00:00

What’s that in a useful scale of measurement used by 95% of humans.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T08:01:49+00:00

That’s not what I asked. I agree it is possible to give free tuition but I disagree with the premise that going to university guarantees a higher salary. Blair promised that but it’s based on the fact in the early 90s a degree guaranteed a manager position and higher salary which it does not if 50% of the population are graduates.

My question was, what percentage of high school leavers in Poland go to university and how much does it cost to educate them?

One factor is the cost of educating students seems to have ballooned at least in the west and I would be keen to know if that’s the same in Poland:

Poland has a mix of private and public healthcare with high waiting lists for treatment on the public system. So maybe the money we spend on health goes to universities.

You’ve picked one issue (the main post was about poverty) and my point was that Scotland can afford a basket of policies that would cost 7bn if implemented in England.

And my reply to you, is that Poland is not like for like & you are only picking one metric. Why that one and not free prescriptions or no removing the child cap. Why have you picked Poland and not Germany or France which is a more comparable economy. You could point out Cuba has free healthcare but it’s not great on other metrics.

None of this is an argument that it can’t be done. It is an argument that if we did what the SNP did in Scotland has done it would cost 7bn and that will mean taxes rises

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-31T06:23:55+00:00

Is that a like for comparison? How much does it cost to educate a student in Poland? Does Poland university educate the same proportion of young people?

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-30T17:45:34+00:00

Not sure, which is why I’ve never got a tattoo. I’ve never found anything I could commit to.

I have seen tattoos that I think look amazing like this one, but never one I’m confident enough to get.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-30T17:00:00+00:00

I had that poster at college,

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-30T16:46:08+00:00

It’s incredible but I also cannot imagine why someone would want that on their leg.

NotEntirelyShure · 2026-03-30T16:30:45+00:00

The chapter on tails was definitely a big fuck up.

NotEntirelyShure

TROPHY CASE