wiredseal7 said:The Americans are out there making noise and throwing threats around—meanwhile, China, who's also a massive buyer, hasn't said a single word.
Are we really going to pretend there’s no difference in how these two superpowers handle diplomacy? — It's a bit of a stretch, honestly.
Nobody can touch Chinese high-tech unless the Party gives the green light—period.
They can build it entirely on their own—or maybe they can't. It’s one of those contradictions that just doesn't add up, right?
Hold on—so all this "high-tech" talk from China is a joke if they can't even build their own damn planes? Unbelievable.
Is it just chip manufacturing now?
Glad you decided to pick a side right out of the gate. 👍
China’s pumping out everything these days—it's hard not to respect their tech climb, even if I won't get into the whole political freedom mess (that's a whole different conversation). Honestly, they're better off this way than having some corrupt bureaucracy running the show and leaving the country stuck in the mud forever.
Some things just take time—consistent, long-term development is a grind—which is why they haven't mastered everything yet. But where they can move fast and run things in parallel? Americans and everyone else have definitely found a way to get ahead.
Lately, they've been cracking high-precision CNC machines and RF chips for mobile tech—it’s just one thing after another.
It all tracks—there's some heavy scientific weight behind it, too—especially if you actually bother to dig into the stats on published papers and citation counts.
So, they’re looking at building a Higgs factory—basically the successor to the LHC—in about ten years. It looks like the US is planning to go solo on this one, keeping the keys to themselves while letting Europe, Japan, and everyone else just watch from the sidelines. Honestly, though, the sheer amount of brainpower that kind of place would attract? It's basically an infinite knowledge incubator.
Who even are you people? Just some independent Russophiles?
🤦
And?
What kind of diplomatic approach? The USA simply stated they are withdrawing
their missile shield from Saudi Arabia if production levels drop. Do sovereign nations not have the right to withdraw
their technology and personnel from countries that are no longer considered "friendly"?
No one is forbidding Arabs absolute independence in determining their own production levels. This is about the USA deciding they will no longer expend their resources just to ensure independent Arabs remain safe from independent Iranian missiles and drones.
Do you honestly believe China would act differently if their own missile shield were at stake? Or even better, do you think China would behave differently if they were the ones who found oil for those desert dwellers back in the day and basically said, "Here is your oil, enjoy Saudi Aramco, but don't forget who pulled you off those camels?"
OK, I'm glad you took a side immediately.
China is already producing just about everything. A smart person can admire their technological ascent—not to get too deep into political freedoms (that's a whole different conversation). It actually turned out better for them this way than having some corrupt mess running the show and leaving the nation stuck in the dark ages of development.
That’s exactly what you wrote—everything.
But damn, they can't even build an airplane on their own.
Some things simply require time—continuous, long-term development—which is why they aren't caught up in everything yet. However, in areas where rapid, parallel progress is possible, the Americans and others have certainly held their own.
Recently, for instance, they've made huge strides in high-precision CNC machines, RF chips for mobile communications, and so on.
All of this is backed by incredibly serious scientific foundations; just look at the statistics on research papers and citations.
For example, they will be building a Higgs factory in about 10 years to succeed the LHC. That is something the Americans will clearly dominate, while Europe, Japan, and others will be welcome guests. And what an incredible incubator for knowledge that will be...
Exactly.
What would we be without Chinese expertise? We'd still be living in the Middle Ages.
As for the "facepalm," I have no idea what version of an "independent West" you are living in.
I live in a country that is part of the EU and NATO, which means we certainly aren't making decisions in a vacuum and we definitely pick sides. Unfortunately for you, our side is the opposite of your "free world" composed of unified Russia, communist parties, progressives, and similar elements of freedom.
