With so many Chinese military personnel, if they invaded our west coast, could we stop them?

2017-01-12T21:19:34-05:00

Wouldn't they storm our borders the way the Russians rushed the Germans, with waves of troops.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2017 10:06 PM

2017-01-12T22:06:56-05:00

While I do not claim to be an expert on the Chinese Army, and I took the following description from the internet, I believe it to be fairly accurate in terms of numbers. China’s Army—officially the People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces (PLAGF)— is the largest army in Asia. Numbering 1.6 million active duty troops, the PLAGF is charged with securing China’s borders, providing a capability to project land power in China’s neighborhood and increasingly, on a global scale.

I think the Pacific Ocean provides us with enough of a buffer to deter a determined assault on our western shores. Sustaining an invasion force from over 6,000 miles away presents its own challenges coupled with US Naval and Aviation superiority for the west coast that i believe would prevent invasion plans anytime soon.

I think a bigger challenge would be facing the Chinese military in the Pacific where they seem to be flexing some muscle and expanding their naval and aviation capabilities.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 12 at 2017 10:11 PM

2017-01-12T22:11:48-05:00

Does anyone really think they can swim that far? They sure as hell don't have the sea power to project strength across the Pacific. They barely have enough to overwhelm Taiwan.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2017 10:15 PM

2017-01-12T22:15:08-05:00

While I hold no love for California I do respect the ability of the Navy and Marines to hold the line along with the Air Force, Army, and National Guard units also in California. Not to mention their amphibious invasion would have had to bypass Hawaii and our Fleet in the Pacific.

Combine this with nearby National Guard and Reserve units being activated to assist in repelling the invasion the Air Force and Air Forces of the Marine Corps and Navy would not make it easy to advance. While the Forces on the West Coast and the immediate back up of the Reserve Component are holding them in place the Active Component would mobilize and prepare for a counter attack on China as well as aiding in forcing them off our shores.

Holding the line is something I believe we could do, evacuating the Civilians would be difficult.

That being said their Naval Air Forces might slip past our defenses and target Civilians, that in addition to potentially deploying ground forces by air and using missiles to hit Military and Civilian targets.

EDIT

They could invade South America or Mexico and do their land invasion via the Southern Border but we would detect a movement that large and intercept it. Unless China secured an Alliance with Mexico the Mexican Military though weaker would assist us in repelling the Chinese. Not to mention the Canadian Navy and Air Force as well.

Top that off with China attacking a NATO member or two and well there we have World War III.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Jan 12 at 2017 10:20 PM

2017-01-12T22:20:26-05:00

How would they get there? Force projection isn't Chinas forte (yet)

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 12 at 2017 10:26 PM

2017-01-12T22:26:21-05:00

Fun question. But it will never happen. They have no ability to get enough troops here to even try. Navy and AF would put paid to that before they ever even set foot here. I'd be more worried about eventual kinetic bombardment from orbit, an ability you can be sure every military power is racing to get to.

That said, if they joined forces with Russia and invaded through Alaska...that would be problematic.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Jan 12 at 2017 11:10 PM

2017-01-12T23:10:25-05:00

Reminds me of the private at the Chosen Reservoir who asked, "Gunny, how many hordes in a Chinese platoon?". Speaking of which, it would be about the same 10 to 1 ratio from DEC 1951 and the same 1st MARDIV with Marine Air and a target rich environment.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2017 11:13 PM

2017-01-12T23:13:17-05:00

Cpl D L Parker They do not have the capability to move that large of a force to the west coast. If they had the capability, they would not be able to sustain a beach head.

Response by Cpl Joshua Caldwell made Jan 12 at 2017 11:17 PM

2017-01-12T23:17:27-05:00

If they promise to stop and just take CA, do we even bother to try and stop them.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Jan 12 at 2017 11:25 PM

2017-01-12T23:25:25-05:00

Cpl D L Parker Have you ever seen ONE mini-gun workout?Waves would mean nothing.

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made Jan 12 at 2017 11:27 PM

2017-01-12T23:27:24-05:00

They are much smarter than that. I bet, if the get ticked off enough, they will move towards the ME. Control the oil production.
M. Morris RVT

Response by MSgt George Cater made Jan 12 at 2017 11:39 PM

2017-01-12T23:39:23-05:00

Since the question presupposes invasion of the west coast, just let the liberal gun lobby led by Jerry Brown, the ladies of The View, Meryl Streep, et al. explain the gun laws to them and collect up the Chi-com AK's on the beach..

Response by SFC George Smith made Jan 12 at 2017 11:46 PM

2017-01-12T23:46:41-05:00

Surely You jest... have you forgotten a lesson from WW II History...

"..."... Fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto -
“You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.”

Response by PO3 John Wagner made Jan 12 at 2017 11:55 PM

2017-01-12T23:55:26-05:00

They would be blown out of the water or the air long before arrival. An
invasion of this country by an army is impossible.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jan 13 at 2017 12:22 AM

2017-01-13T00:22:13-05:00

at 6,000 rounds per minute, a Mini gun every 20 yards running freegun in remote turrets might work

Response by A1C Charles D Wilson made Jan 13 at 2017 12:58 AM

2017-01-13T00:58:46-05:00

With our eye in the sky early warnings we would be well prepped. Build a line defense along the mountains on the Nevada and Az border the clean house from there. Cali wants to be free so be it with the no gun zones and it would be a free for all until they hit that line we set up. I bet Cali would wake up then about not wanting to be on the band wagon. Seems right to me. Oregon and Washington may be ok not sure yet lol j/k j/k
Salute 07
Chuck D

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Jan 13 at 2017 7:40 AM

2017-01-13T07:40:03-05:00

The West Coast presents a fairly substantial series of obstacles even though the Democratic politicians over there are openly sympathetic to hardline Communism. You just have a small land area before the Coastal Mountains in most cases and then inside you have the Sierra Nevada mountain range next with a rather harsh climate in the upper elevations.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Jan 13 at 2017 7:57 AM

2017-01-13T07:57:44-05:00

Those that were able to swim the 200 or so miles from where their ships were sunk would be too tired to mount much of a fight. Perhaps if west coast food banks could meet them on the beach with some General Tso's Chicken we could win them over and get some cheap labor to build the wall.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jan 13 at 2017 8:04 AM

2017-01-13T08:04:18-05:00

We'd need all the M60's and M2's the entire military has to take them out.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2017 8:57 AM

2017-01-13T08:57:19-05:00

Since they would have to cross the Pacific, it would be almost impossible to storm our beaches without losing over half to Davy Jones locker.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jan 13 at 2017 9:41 AM

2017-01-13T09:41:51-05:00

Isn't military service in China mandatory? I wouldn't worry so much about people who are forced to fight when we have an all volunteer military filled with people who want to fight. It might look intimidating at first because of their sheer numbers, but when rounds start flying and bodies start dropping, they won't trust their size to protect them anymore. It'll be preservation of self that kicks in and they will scatter and try to flee.

Response by LTC Joseph Gross made Jan 13 at 2017 11:45 AM

2017-01-13T11:45:38-05:00

If they were able to reach our shores then we would still have sufficient warning to build up defenses. As you don't need as many men to defend as you need to attack, I feel we would win. Of course the point still stands that even if they had sufficient air and sea resources to reach us, we would destroy those ships and planes long before they were a threat.

Response by MSG Jay Jackson made Jan 13 at 2017 2:02 PM

2017-01-13T14:02:08-05:00

We will build a great big wall. It will be a beautiful wall with a few doors, and China will pay for it.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Jan 13 at 2017 5:20 PM

2017-01-13T17:20:17-05:00

Your not looking at just the Military stopping them, but every household with a weapon. We are the most armed country in the world. They would have people sniping at them 24-7 from everywhere.

Response by PO3 John Wagner made Jan 14 at 2017 5:59 PM

2017-01-14T17:59:30-05:00

We take out their carriers,somewhere east of Hawaii.
With no tactical air cover they are now sitting ducks

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Jan 14 at 2017 7:00 PM

2017-01-14T19:00:25-05:00

I'll say what they used to tell us during the Cold War stationed in Germany. The Russian Forces out numbered us something like 7 to 1 but we have technical, tactical and oh yes superior training and leadership! Hope its all true!!

Response by PO3 John Wagner made Apr 27 at 2017 9:32 PM

2017-04-27T21:32:18-04:00

Hollywood!

Response by PO3 John Wagner made Apr 28 at 2017 4:12 AM

2017-04-28T04:12:05-04:00

If they did we could storm them with troops of Waves. The women would seem exotic to them and they would take them home as war brides creating a cultural link between the United States and China. We might be inspired to counterattack China and bring home a few war brides of our own.
Shouldn't knock it till we try it Eh?

Response by PO2 Willis Linn made Apr 28 at 2017 7:29 AM

2017-04-28T07:29:02-04:00

I'd hope we never have to, but they'd have to get past a lot of well placed air bursts from our strategic defenses around the world. Saddle if it comes to that, they'll likely float up on the beaches with most of the rest of the world. Let's Hope no one wants that!

Response by SGT Richard H. made Apr 28 at 2017 8:42 AM

2017-04-28T08:42:11-04:00

I think the thing that gets most overlooked about the potential for a Chinese invasion is that they don't have anywhere near the transportation assets needed to actually be a real, credible threat. Sure, they could make life unpleasant for a pretty good while, but the chances of them actually succeeding in such a venture are slim to none.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 30 at 2017 1:24 PM

2017-04-30T13:24:47-04:00

The logistics of the operation make it impractical to impossible with current technology and capability. Unless they first destroy the US Navy in the Pacific along with all US land bases in the USPACOM AOR, then there's no chance an armada of Chinese ships would get within 100 miles of the West Coast of the US. If the Chinese employed weapons of mass destruction to pave their way in, I expect the US would respond in kind on the Chinese homeland. However, if by some miracle the Chinese do get to the West Coast of the US, I believe AC and RC forces in the US would be sufficient to repel the invasion.