Will a future POTUS attack the Chinese mainland in a future war?

I believe that China is more likely to neutralize itself internally rather than us trying to neutralize the threat. China is a fragile state in my opinion that is heavy populated in the littoral regions. With 1/3 of the world's population in the subcontinent area (India to China), the next issue will be water rights to the water off the Himalayan Plateau.

I suspect a war with China would be one of physical containment with economic and digital attacks being the primary "mainland" assault. A conventional attack on mainland China would be insanity anyway. They can't arm them all, but they could field a loyal defense force roughly the size of the entire population of the US in a pinch. We simply couldn't carry enough bullets and would probably lose on attrition alone.

None of that matters anyway. China, from a cultural standpoint, would probably not hesitate to use nuclear weapons. They would not suffer defeat lightly and I wonder if they'd tolerate an invasion at all, even if they're going to win. Hell, I'm not sure ANY nuclear nation would act otherwise, which is a big reason none of us have fought each other in open warfare since Korea.

LTC Bink Romanick - Colonel; If the Chinese leadership feel threatened by the potential outcome of an actual attack then the Chinese leadership will use all weapons at its command to negate the effectiveness of that attack.

This might include "defensive nukes" against the actual invading forces on Chinese territory, and/or "defensive nukes" against the support vessels for the actual invading forces on Chinese territory, and/or "defensive nukes" against the supply/staging areas for the actual invading forces on Chinese territory and/or the follow on troops, and/or "defensive nukes" against the sources of supply for the actual invading forces on Chinese territory and/or the follow on troops, and/or "defensive nukes" against command and control points for the actual invading forces on Chinese territory and/or the follow on troops.

One interesting tactic which the PLA could use would be to allow the invading forces to land, unopposed, and then simply nuke them out of existence on Chinese soil.

The political ramifications when the government of the invading country has to tell its population that it has lost 100% of the invading force would NOT be something any rational person would want to have to deal with.

Anything less that an actual invasion would have international political ramifications which would be equally obnoxious.

LTC Bink Romanick For the sake of mankind and world let's hope that we never see this in our lifetime my friend. I don't think it would end good for anyone.

LTC Bink Romanick - Maybe I am missing something in the question... If the war is with China, why would we not attack? Do we simply stand by and have a war with a country that we never attack?

There is certainly a risk of a nuclear war when one or more countries possess nuclear weapons. While the US has a stated policy of no first-strike use of nuclear weapons, does anybody think that we would not use them first if our country's survival was at stake?

Nukes are supposed to be a deterrent; under MAD concepts of Mutually Assured Destruction, we hope not. US also has long standing policy of "no first use" but likely massive retaliation--once the source is confirmed. Thus Space is the high ground to note launches and intercepts. Making security and protection of Space assets critical for a myriad of reasons. A more likely scenario is an NBC threat by low level rogue entities, with or without a national sponsor.

I am going to say conditionally yes, but not in the textbook way. It's a cyber war, and thus cyber attacks. China represents one of the biggest cyber threats to us, and I am sure we will be active in engaging these entities whether they are state sponsored or not.

LTC Bink Romanick

I think Vizzini in the Princess Bride stated in best:

Vizzini: You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line"! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha. [Vizzini stops suddenly, his smile frozen on his face and falls to the ground dead]

The most famous classic blunder is never get involved in a land war in Asia.

It's more likely a cyber attack than an actual attack.

I hope not but any Posturing wouldn't surprise me. Anymore the US and China being so economically tied to each other any "Attack" would be disastrous for Both.