> That cost is simply too high; no one in China wants to pay it

China was happy to invade Tibet and assimilate it's population.

Hard to believe that a government who claims all of South China sea, large parts of India (Arunachal Pradesh) does not want to expand.

Or do you think people of Arunachal Pradesh are also Chinese?

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mytailorisrich 9 hours ago | parent [-]

Arunachal Pradesh is a historic part of Tibet and was part of the Qing Empire before the Chinese revolution of 1912.

When Tibet then broke away from China the Brits got what is now Arunachal Pradesh from Tibet.

Hence the ongoing Chinese claim but the days of any military actions are long gone.

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ivell 7 hours ago | parent [-]

If historical claims are valid, then Mongols would be very happy to claim large swaths of land. Or if more recent claims are to be taken, then the Brits have claims over quite a large amount of countries.

Historical claims are meaningless and are just an excuse for expansion.

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yanhangyhy 7 hours ago | parent | next [-]

if its not valid maybe we should return Califonia to mexico?

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7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[deleted]

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mytailorisrich 7 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I did not comment on the "validity" of the claim, just explained its rationale and history.

Chinese territorial claims in general are not "an excuse for expansion", they are rooted in territorial losses at the end of the 19th century and during the revolution of 1912 with the formal aim of recovering them. They also predate the PRC as you'll find that the ROC/Taiwan has the same claims for the same reason. This does not mean that China is going to go to war over them, certainly it won't go to war with India.

No need for drama or hysteria over those claims.

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ivell 6 hours ago | parent [-]

> This does not mean that China is going to go to war over them, certainly it won't go to war with India.

Then why make a claim? Claims are made to prepare the domestic audience so that when war comes there is home support for the action. It is not made lightly.

The Chinese are definitely taking action in the South China Sea. It is not just words.

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mytailorisrich 6 hours ago | parent [-]

> Claims are made to prepare the domestic audience so that when war comes there is home support for the action. It is not made lightly.

That's your opinion, not reality.

	▲	ivell 6 hours ago \| parent [-]
		What is in your view the need to make a claim?