In a war between the U.S. & China, would the Chinese attack the Panama Canal?

[Dayton3]

In order to damage the U.S. both economically and militarily, if war broke out between the U.S. and China would the Chinese attempt to disable the Panama Canal? The canal should be fairly easy to damage with land attack cruise missiles launched against either set of locks from ships off shore some distance. Failing that simply sending a ship through the canal with a large explosive device aboard to be detonated in one of the sets of locks (after the crew quickly abandons it) would probably be more than enough to disable one of the sets of locks.

Note an attack doesn't have to destroy the canal or the locks for any length of time much less permanently. Just a few weeks duration would hurt U.S. trade and impede the ability of the U.S. to move major warships and support vessels from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

 

[Jimmy_Chitwood]

In order to damage the U.S. both economically and militarily, if war broke out between the U.S. and China would the Chinese attempt to disable the Panama Canal? The canal should be fairly easy to damage with land attack cruise missiles launched against either set of locks from ships off shore some distance. Failing that simply sending a ship through the canal with a large explosive device aboard to be detonated in one of the sets of locks (after the crew quickly abandons it) would probably be more than en enough to disable one of the sets of locks.

Note an attack doesn't have to destroy the canal or the locks for any length of time much less permanently. Just a few weeks duration would hurt U.S. trade and impede the ability of the U.S. to move major warships and support vessels from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Quid Pro Quo Communist China Joe will sell it to them through The Meth Hunter.

 

[rightwinger]

There will be no war

The US Military has global reach, the Chinese can only fight in their own theater.

China has limited Naval capabilities

 

[Dayton3]

There will be no war

The US Military has global reach, the Chinese can only fight in their own theater.

China has limited Naval capabilities

The primary combat zone would be close enough to China that they could do a fair amount of damage to U.S. forces in theatre.

 

[Thunk]

If it will hurt us...our enemies would hit it.

In a nuclear war...the hoover dam is a primary target!

 

[EvilCat Breath]

Carter gave the Chinese a sizable interest in the Canal. They could just close it to American interests.

 

[the other mike]

In order to damage the U.S. both economically and militarily, if war broke out between the U.S. and China would the Chinese attempt to disable the Panama Canal? The canal should be fairly easy to damage with land attack cruise missiles launched against either set of locks from ships off shore some distance. Failing that simply sending a ship through the canal with a large explosive device aboard to be detonated in one of the sets of locks (after the crew quickly abandons it) would probably be more than enough to disable one of the sets of locks.

Note an attack doesn't have to destroy the canal or the locks for any length of time much less permanently. Just a few weeks duration would hurt U.S. trade and impede the ability of the U.S. to move major warships and support vessels from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

No. They would leave it open for their own future use.

 

[rightwinger]

There will be no war

The US Military has global reach, the Chinese can only fight in their own theater.

China has limited Naval capabilities

The primary combat zone would be close enough to China that they could do a fair amount of damage to U.S. forces in theatre.

It would have to be in and around China

Why would we attack?

 

[Likkmee]

There will be no war

The US Military has global reach, the Chinese can only fight in their own theater.

China has limited Naval capabilities

The primary combat zone would be close enough to China that they could do a fair amount of damage to U.S. forces in theatre.

It would have to be in and around China

Why would we attack?

Because the Real Owners say GO FOR IT. It's just business.
China would never fuck with THEIR canal. China builds canal, America pays for it. Like a wet wall.

 

[Markle]

There will be no war

The US Military has global reach, the Chinese can only fight in their own theater.

China has limited Naval capabilities

That's right, we'll hand over the keys.

China, as you know was the largest shipping company in the world which is run by their military. It is not counted as part of their military budget. As for the Panama Canal, thanks to Presidents Carter, and Clinton, China owns the long-term leases for the ports at both ends of the greatly enlarged canal. China also owns a long-term lease for a major major portion of the largest port on the West Coast, the Long Beach Seaport. They are expanding a port in the Caribbean which adjoins a 13,000 ft runway.

They have an unknown number of submarines around the world and have been manufacturing them at an alarming rate. We don't know how many they have, they are capable of launching underwater missiles. They have a largely secret submarine port hidden under a mountain that can be entered and exited secretly underwater. Yes, they are nuclear power powéred.

Prior to the Clinton administration, China had a difficult time hitting the China Sea. President Clinton, after huge contributions from China, made the sale of our rocket motors and guidance systems available to them. They now have rockets capable of destroying an aircraft carrier or a satellite in orbit.

China learned the value of cheap, plentiful power to an economy from us. China is building nuclear power plants and have more planned than the rest of the world combined as well as coal plants. Democrats demand the opposite from us.

We (the USA) seem to plan in four-year election cycles. China plans in centuries.

 

[rightwinger]

Any war with China would be a cyber war

We would probably lose

 

[Dayton3]

Any war with China would be a cyber war

We would probably lose

so called "cyber warfare" is an empty threat. A nation isn't going to lose a war because the internet goes down.

 

[AZrailwhale]

In order to damage the U.S. both economically and militarily, if war broke out between the U.S. and China would the Chinese attempt to disable the Panama Canal? The canal should be fairly easy to damage with land attack cruise missiles launched against either set of locks from ships off shore some distance. Failing that simply sending a ship through the canal with a large explosive device aboard to be detonated in one of the sets of locks (after the crew quickly abandons it) would probably be more than enough to disable one of the sets of locks.

Note an attack doesn't have to destroy the canal or the locks for any length of time much less permanently. Just a few weeks duration would hurt U.S. trade and impede the ability of the U.S. to move major warships and support vessels from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

They already control both of terminus’ of the canal. They could block it by simply scuttling a couple of large tankers or container ships At each end in the harbors that the Chinese control.

 

[Quasar44]

There will be no war

The US Military has global reach, the Chinese can only fight in their own theater.

China has limited Naval capabilities

USA military will be a 3rd rate power once Biden takes over

 

[harmonica]

In order to damage the U.S. both economically and militarily, if war broke out between the U.S. and China would the Chinese attempt to disable the Panama Canal? The canal should be fairly easy to damage with land attack cruise missiles launched against either set of locks from ships off shore some distance. Failing that simply sending a ship through the canal with a large explosive device aboard to be detonated in one of the sets of locks (after the crew quickly abandons it) would probably be more than enough to disable one of the sets of locks.

Note an attack doesn't have to destroy the canal or the locks for any length of time much less permanently. Just a few weeks duration would hurt U.S. trade and impede the ability of the U.S. to move major warships and support vessels from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

..just like other wars, each country would defend vital areas--the US would defend it--if necessary
..of course a country would want to destroy important targets--but it's not that easy ...
..like I've said before, most wars are not total--they are contained/restricted
...the other thing is--other countries use it--so China probably would not want to hit it

 

[esalla]

In order to damage the U.S. both economically and militarily, if war broke out between the U.S. and China would the Chinese attempt to disable the Panama Canal? The canal should be fairly easy to damage with land attack cruise missiles launched against either set of locks from ships off shore some distance. Failing that simply sending a ship through the canal with a large explosive device aboard to be detonated in one of the sets of locks (after the crew quickly abandons it) would probably be more than enough to disable one of the sets of locks.

Note an attack doesn't have to destroy the canal or the locks for any length of time much less permanently. Just a few weeks duration would hurt U.S. trade and impede the ability of the U.S. to move major warships and support vessels from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

..just like other wars, each country would defend vital areas--the US would defend it--if necessary
..of course a country would want to destroy important targets--but it's not that easy ...
..like I've said before, most wars are not total--they are contained/restricted
...the other thing is--other countries use it--so China probably would not want to hit it

If China wanted to restrict military transport it would hit the canal. However they might never again be allowed thru costing them untold amounts of money

 

[Markle]

If China wanted to restrict military transport it would hit the canal. However they might never again be allowed thru costing them untold amounts of money

Why? For all intents and purposes, China "owns" the canal. Why would they destroy the canal?

 

[Markle]

so called "cyber warfare" is an empty threat. A nation isn't going to lose a war because the internet goes down.

I believe you are living in a fantasy world. It would not be just the internet.

 

[Dayton3]

so called "cyber warfare" is an empty threat. A nation isn't going to lose a war because the internet goes down.

I believe you are living in a fantasy world. It would not be just the internet.

Fine. No nation is going to lose a war because Walmart (and other retailers) point of sale reorder systems go off line.

 

[AZrailwhale]

so called "cyber warfare" is an empty threat. A nation isn't going to lose a war because the internet goes down.

I believe you are living in a fantasy world. It would not be just the internet.

Fine. No nation is going to lose a war because Walmart (and other retailers) point of sale reorder systems go off line.

Most utilities are controlled via the internet. Want to fight a war with no phones, water and electricity? Society in both the eastern and western worlds are dependent on computers.