• nucleative@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    I feel like we should at least consider that DJI is a mainland Chinese company and nearly all drone innovation in the past decade has originated there. They are no strangers to extreme manufacturing or advanced automated drone technology.

    • MehBlah@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Its funny but when I think of drones and innovation I don’t think of china. China just mass produces but for the most part when the current class of true drones were being created I remember a lot of amateurs working on it and others, china being one of them stealing the base tech. Just like 3d printing.

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        China just mass produces but for the most part when the current class of true drones were being created I remember a lot of amateurs working on it and others, china being one of them stealing the base tech.

        Wait… you think amateur hobbyists out in the American suburbs are inventing new forms of independent flight technology from kits they bought on Amazon. And then some of the largest and most well-financed universities in the world are stealing the technology?

        Just purely out of curiosity, who do you think Mingjing Qi, a professor of energy and power engineering at Beihang University stole this schematic from?

        • MehBlah@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          Nope. I was involved and it was people all over the world who started building autonomous and semi autonomous drones them starting back in the mid 2000’s when cheap inertial and gyro stabilizers started appearing. I remember the open source projects that eventually matured into commercial products. China was by no means at the forefront of that. It was hobbyist the world over. Some were students at universities. Some lived in the suburbs and villages and big cities. The world over. Way before the alpha tech in that article. That they have taken those first steps and mass produced them by no means implies they invented it all.

          • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            it was people all over the world

            :-/

            What planet is China on?

            China was by no means at the forefront of that.

            I’m assuming you’re saying this as a Beihang alumnus?

            • Eezyville@sh.itjust.works
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              5 months ago

              You know they can’t include Chinese innovations if they want to single out China and make them the enemy. The fact is the Chinese own 90% of the consumer drone market because of their innovations. I assume they have good military drones too.

      • LustyArgonian@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        When I think of China I think of serious medical innovations including the cure for fucking HIV and herpes. Idk that they are so great with robotics but I wouldn’t really underestimate them.

        • BobGnarley@lemm.ee
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          5 months ago

          Those are being tested, not proven treatments for those diseases.

          A few people have been cured of HIV from bone marrow transplants but it has to be a super specific set of circumstances like their blood type has to be a certain type and things like that.

        • MehBlah@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          I think of thieves and I am not underestimating them nor am I giving them credit for most of things they ‘discover’ Since its based on tech they stole. I also know that much of the HIV research did not originate in china.

          • cecinestpasunbot@lemmy.ml
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            5 months ago

            It’s just not true to say that China is relying on copying other’s technology anymore. In the last decade, they’ve caught up and are now at the cutting edge of research in many fields. I think this shift is catching a lot of people off guard including many western journalists and pundits.

          • LustyArgonian@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            Hmm, sounds bigoted. One way I can tell this is bigoted, is that you’re making Chinese people out to be both ultra competent (at stealing) while also being ultra incompetent (at science). This boogeyman who will “get you,” but is also way beneath you and who you obviously can “get back,” has existed towards Jewish people, black people, Islamic people, Latinos, women, gay people, etc etc.

            All innovations are based on the people who came before us. Or are you saying the West should give all Arabic people the money we make in hospitals since the origin of the hospital is from there and they were originally free. The origin of our numbers themselves comes from Arabic countries.

            Do you think America’s patent system is just? Do you think the patent system stifles innovation? Do you think the inventors of Crispr Gene Editing have more rights to this bone marrow transplant cure for HIV than the actual people who thought of it and implemented it?

            • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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              5 months ago

              Or are you saying the West should give all Arabic people the money

              That’s sort of been our policy with the Petro-dollar since the 1950s. But, tbh, we shouldn’t just stop at hospitals. Since our numeral set is Arabic and modern mathematics is routed in Al-Jabr: The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing…

              Do you think America’s patent system is just?

              Absolutely. Here, let me dig through my PLEX server, I’ve got thousands of hours of legally acquired videos and pdfs arguing this very point.

              Do you think the inventors of Crispr Gene Editing have more rights to this bone marrow transplant cure for HIV than the actual people who thought of it and implemented it?

              The people of China should pay the patent holders of the modern iterations of Penicillin, Insulin, and Hormonal Contraception eleventy zillion dollars forever an into perpetuity or voluntarily choose to fuck off and die. Otherwise, I’ll call them thieves and make farting sounds in their general direction.

              This, I believe, is what the original pioneers of these medications would have wanted. Same goes for any kind of treatment for current and future epidemics. If an American thought of something first, Chinese people aren’t allowed to have it. And if a Chinese person thought of it first, no they didn’t, they’re not smart enough.

              • LustyArgonian@lemmy.world
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                5 months ago

                You missed one of my questions

                If the US patent system is just, then should we pay reparations to Native Americans and black people?

                If the US patent system is just, then Chinese companies could just buy the parents here and be the “inventors” of. Is that just to you? Is it just when Google does it?

                if a Chinese person thought of it first, no they didn’t, they’re not smart enough. Yeah exactly, you’re bigoted

  • Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works
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    5 months ago

    Ukraine has had massive success with naval drones which I would imagine to translate very well to the defence of Taiwan as well.

  • JATth@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    More like defending TSMC… large majority of all high-tech silicon is made in Taiwan. If that foundry burns, the consequences would be astronomical. The possible consequences are already at a point they could make threats via self-sabotage.

    • werefreeatlast@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      If the hellscape thing comes to pass the structural integrity of any building is probably going to be the least of anyone’s care. Like a drone walk is not going to make people happy about going into a clean room for an entire shift. That will end shortly.

      The much more possible possibility is that the plant moves to the US with newer machines.

      • kurap1ka@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        There are no newer, or any other machines at the level of the tsmc plant. They cost multiple billions for each production line and require parts that take ages to produce (like zeiss mirrors for millions a piece)

        • werefreeatlast@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          It’s not that bad actually. The various mirrors are just some of the most important components. But it’s not the gating item.

  • Cocodapuf@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    My faith that this plan will succeed is a bit shaken by the other news story about the Navy today: the Navy ran out of pants.

    We can’t seem to produce enough pants for our sailors and marines, but we expect to produce “thousands upon thousands” of fancy new drones? Well I do hope it all works out, but uh, I guess I’ll just keep my fingers crossed.

      • gwilikers@lemmy.ml
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        5 months ago

        Manager: Rodney, Rodney what the fuck are you doing?

        Rodney: Sweating as he tries to complete a tripple stitch on a pair of Navy Standard Issue Pants. Sorry boss, these pants gotta get shipped today!

        Manager: Fuck the pants, Rodney. These MQ-9 Reapers gotta be finished and out the door by noon. gestures to massive pile of weaponry and metal in the corner The Chinese are gonna invade Taiwan!

        Rodney: puts pants down Sure boss!

    • andrewth09@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      but we expect to produce “thousands upon thousands” of fancy new drones?

      I think Taiwan can absolutely help support the US in producing thousands upon thousands of new drones.

    • Eezyville@sh.itjust.works
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      5 months ago

      We aren’t gonna produce those drones. We don’t have the infrastructure, China does. When we decided to ban Chinese made drones there were no one capable of replacing them in the consumer space. The ones left in the Blue UAS program pulled out of consumer markets. DJI dominates and that’s just in the consumer market. I wouldn’t sell the Chinese short in military drones.

      • Cocodapuf@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Well, DJI has the market cornered in quadcopter/multirotor drones. But what do they have with wings?

        From the sound of it, this program is also quite interested in vehicles with longer loiter times and heavier payload capacity (winged aircraft). And they’re explicitly interested in seeding smaller companies with funding that would allow them to realize whatever innovations they may have and scale up. So with that in mind, it may be irrelevant that DJI dominates the multirotor drone market.

        I guess we’ll find out in time.

        • Eezyville@sh.itjust.works
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          5 months ago

          The problem is neither of us know what the true capabilities between the two nations are. Obviously they keep that intel under lock and key and if either of us had inside knowledge and revealed that knowledge then the respective nation would come after us.

          I find these discussions on military capabilities to be pointless on Lemmy and Reddit. No one actually knows and if they did they can’t say anything, there are too many people pretending to know what they’re talking about speaking with authority but are making everything up, and though you can gain some insight on a nations capabilities by paying attention to news and media that focus on military technology no one actually cites those sources.

  • aodhsishaj@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Archive link here https://archive.is/kJlQW

    China has no incentive to invade Taiwan. Geographically there’s nowhere but the heavily fortified western side of the island to land an amphibious assault. And even if you get a beach head there, it’s not Normandy, there’s sheer fucking cliffs, and then MORE mountains. China doesn’t have the Navy to setup a blockade or the carriers to setup an air bridge and if they did it’ll be Antoniv all over again.

    The Taiwan government isn’t trying to unify the “two Chinas” anymore as Chiang Kai-shek and Sun Li-Jen have been dead a long while. The PLA or what’s left of it does not want control over mainland China and the current ruling Taiwanese government are happy to create 60% of the worlds super conductors. In fact they have Thermite and other destructive charges setup in the fabs in case china invades. There’s other fabs in the US or EU they can spin up with engineers and personnel that will likely be swept away by the US or Japan or South Korea.

    This is saber rattling from the Pentagon and a distraction from Pooh Bear’s own internal problems. Nobody wants war in Taiwan most of all the Chinese.

    However it would be very profitable for defense contractors. Hey, I should write an article about that.

    Edit: sorry if it wasn’t clear in my tone, I do not like China and do not support their foreign policy. People in Taipei and across Taiwan are very very worried. And likely as not it’s so Xi can feel big after the Olympics. It’s terrible that they’re taking advantage of such global strife to pull this again. With Iran and Israel playing brinkmanship, the genocide in Palestine, the ongoing war in Ukraine… A German naval vessel is waiting for the go ahead to cross international waters.

    Edit 2: I have sprinkled references to support my points throughout my comment to hopefully form a cogent thought from the word salad I originally wrote. Further reading for those interested:

    https://www.cfr.org/article/why-china-would-struggle-invade-taiwan

    https://www.newsweek.com/china-taiwan-blockade-invasion-us-navy-pacific-fleet-admiral-samuel-paparo-1749139

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_Defense_Treaty_between_the_United_States_and_the_Republic_of_China

    • Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works
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      5 months ago

      Nobody is saying invading Taiwan would be a good idea, the CCP has been very consistent in stating that they are willing to do it though.

      I personally thought Ukraine wouldn’t be invaded by Russia because it would make no sense and go against Russia’s interests. Turns out I was half right, but it happened anyway.

      So let’s hope that it’s all sabre rattling and continue planning for the worst.

      • aodhsishaj@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Russia invaded Ukraine twice before there was a war, Putin took Georgia before that, very little international response happened. It wasn’t until Ukraine had the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 before anyone was even concerned about Ukraine and when Zelensky was elected, a comedian, Putin thought he could have his special operation and assassinate Zelensky.

        There’s none of that in the last 30 years with Taiwan. Unlike Ukraine in 2015; Taiwan has very strong mutual defense treaties with Japan and the US, strong trading partners in the EU. There’s a German Naval Vessel standing by to join the fight

        The position the US holds about Taiwan and making it rain “hellfire from drones” tells you all you need to know. They just last month let Ukraine use HIMARS in Russia, and Ukraine took Kursk.

        Chinese troop numbers are down, their equipment isn’t doing well in Ukraine and their pilots are using solid fuel from missiles to cook hot noodle on cold days.

        Now if this article was about the Chinese “third navy” I’d understand the rhetoric but it isn’t.

          • HomerianSymphony@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            Yes.

            Not a single government (not even Taiwan’s government) has ever said that Taiwan is not part of China.

            I understand why you’d think otherwise if you get your understanding of the situation from online discourse. But here’s the thing: Most online discussion is coming from people who don’t know what they’re talking about.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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              5 months ago

              And not a single government, not even Peru’s government, has ever said that Peru is not part of Swaziland.

              Strangely, that’s not the same thing as all nations agreeing that Peru is part of Swaziland.

              • HomerianSymphony@lemmy.world
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                5 months ago

                From 1945 to 1971, China was represented at the United Nations by the government in Taipei, with almost universal recognition. It would be very odd for any country to say that Taipei (and hence Taiwan) was not part of China at that time.

                And if Taiwan was part of China from 1945 to 1971, surely it must be part of China now, because there have been no significant political changes in China since then.

                Both the government in Beijing and the government in Taipei recognize Taiwan as being part of China. Each government claims to be the rightful government of all of China, including Taiwan. (However, the government in Taipei only has effective control over Taiwan and a few islands, while the government in Beijing has control of the mainland.)

                Since 1979, the USA has had a policy of “strategic ambiguity” where they do not say that Taiwan is part of China, but they clearly recognized Taiwan as part of China up until then, and they have not made any statements changing that position.

                • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                  5 months ago

                  if it’s ambiguous, how can they recognize it as part of China at the same time? That’s the opposite of ambiguous.

  • RangerJosie@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Dude. Don’t pretend to be bad now. Our best drones are regularly being shot down by goat herders. Lol.

  • Hexbatch@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Can the USA just not get entangled in more wars?

    I would like this money going to repair local infrastructure, instead of this bothersome corporate welfare that helps keep prices high ( I know it’s a jump from a to b but it’s true in my mind)

    • andrewth09@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Yes. Defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion that threatens their sovereignty. One that is continuously threatened by China and one Taiwan actively prepares for.

      • exanime@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Yes. Defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion that threatens their sovereignty.

        Yes. Defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion that threatens their sovereignty the USA access to the main semiconductor manufacturer in the world

        FIFY

          • exanime@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            no, you are right… track record shows USA is interested in defending other countries for the sake of freedom, liberties and the American way… not at all for self interest

            • andrewth09@lemmy.world
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              5 months ago

              No country takes action based on moral grounds. They only take action for their self interest. This is international relations 101. Sometimes these align! Sometimes… not so much.

              What Taiwan has done is made the “good” outcome (Taiwan remains free and independent) align with the US’s self interest (having computers and a tech based economy).

              The US will always exert power over Taiwan, so will China. That’s just what great powers do. However, China doesn’t need to threaten an invasion to do this. There is no reason China can’t relinquish their claim on Taiwan and just build a casual trade relationship with Taiwan.

              • exanime@lemmy.world
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                5 months ago

                However, China doesn’t need to threaten an invasion to do this. There is no reason China can’t relinquish their claim on Taiwan and just build a casual trade relationship with Taiwan.

                Not justifying China’s methods or intentions at all, but you know what you are claiming is impossible

                The USA can (and has before) forbidden third parties to run businesses with other countries… As they have already done to China itself.

                It would be completely naive for China to assume they won’t be cut off from the very valuable industry Taiwan has once the USA establishes itself as the sole/mayority buyer

      • cecinestpasunbot@lemmy.ml
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        5 months ago

        I’m not so sure. A majority of people polled in Taiwan disagreed with the US’s approach of a military forward strategy of ensuring Taiwan’s political independence. I believe the reasons the US has not pursued a diplomatic solution is largely because it wouldn’t serve their geopolitical interests. By pursuing a militaristic strategy, they’ve escalated the stakes at the expense of the Taiwanese people and I think Taiwanese people generally understand that.

      • aodhsishaj@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        This is always the correct response in a system where food scarcity is a matter of economics and not supply. Some years we burn more corn than we feed folk with.

    • MehBlah@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Is the ‘we’ you are referring to china? If so, then yes you are. Bunch of cry babies who can’t accept that Taiwan is not theirs and never was. The government of Taiwan predates their government.

      • cecinestpasunbot@lemmy.ml
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        5 months ago

        I’m not sure you want to stake the validity of Taiwan’s independence on the fact that Chiang Kai-shek’s fascist dictatorship predates the PRC. lol

          • cecinestpasunbot@lemmy.ml
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            5 months ago

            I suggest you admit that the age of any particular government is irrelevant to its legitimacy before defending fascists. It’s not that hard.

  • LarmyOfLone@lemm.ee
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    5 months ago

    They can’t wait to start another proxy war, this time with China. They are encircling China with military bases and outposts and then constantly harp on “China’s aggression”. Fucking disgusting.

    • ManixT@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Chinese aggression like ramming ships in international waters where they are making imperialistic claims to territory that doesn’t belong to them? Yeah.

      • Woht24@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        And the many many ‘shipping ports’ they’ve built for poor nations with contracts that state they will gain control in the event they can’t pay. Just a coincidence all those ports are also capable of docking war ships.

      • werefreeatlast@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        And checking out the global warming level to see if they can melt the ice cap so they can ship temy products via the northern seas? Yup

    • Fades@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      moron alert

      Couldn’t possibly be because Taiwan’s TSMC plant holds significance… NO! It is instead all about proxy wars!! EnCiRcLeMeNt!!!

    • Xenny@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      If any countries need to have an eye kept on them and a contingency plan for them should shit go south it’s fucking China and Russia.

      • LarmyOfLone@lemm.ee
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        5 months ago

        List the number of wars, conflicts or proxy wars China was involved with the last 50 years. I wonder what it is about those people that makes you think they are so untrustworthy and dangerous? Like contrary to actual historical facts of who is dangerous and kills people and destroys countries.

    • ultramaven@sh.itjust.works
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      5 months ago

      Did you know that Trump was never actually President? Hillary was President and he whole time. She actually still is.