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Comment by farooo123 | Hacker News Reader

So when Dubai does it it's tourism, but when Chinese do it it's a bullying tactic?

Does Dubai do it in contested international waters? ;)

We (USA) have a gigantic navy base replete with nuclear weapons 1000mi from China mainland. Where is the closest Chinese nuke base to the US?

Does it matter where nuclear weapons are? Can China or the US deliver one anywhere in the world?

No, once someone fires one nuclear missile no one will be left to argue who won.

With nuclear subs, it really doesn't matter.

With ICBMs with 12,000 mile range, it doesn't either.

Then why do we do it?

China is free to try to negotiate the establishment of navy bases anywhere in the world they see fit. And so is the US. The US has vastly more allies globally than China does, and that's the difference. Few countries trust China enough to establish long-term military arrangements with them. Whereas the US has been part of NATO for decades, and has been openly protecting Europe for decades - and the Europeans welcome it.

You think Germany wants China to set up a large military base in their country? How about South Korea or Japan? Of course not.

the trust has more to with NATO vs Warsaw, then the benevolence of usa.

Did Dubai do it in waters that are claimed by other countries?

I don't remember Dubai building military installations, only selling mansions to those who can afford it. Also they did it right off their own coast and not miles into disputed waters.

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