Here's a scenario to consider:
1. Xi Jinping decides the time is right to invade Taiwan.
2. With many US forces concentrated in the Middle East, & cruise missiles & smart bombs in reduced supply, the US can’t respond effectively.
3. The invasion of Taiwan, successful or not, cuts off US access to advanced chips (90% made in Taiwan)
4. US tech stocks are wiped out, the US economy goes into freefall.
5. US becomes Russia 2.0: a failed state with a mad dictator, nukes & an economy in shreds.
@cstross If “the other place” is a listserv beginning with P, what I posted here was what I originally posted there (complete with speculation about a Taiwanese chipocalypse ), starting the thread. You replied to a reply to my post that had been edited to remove the Taiwan angle, so your follow-up duplicated my original suggestion. Great minds, and all that.
But maybe you had some other Other Place in mind?
For the record, I don’t REALLY think Pooh Bear will invade TW today … but who knows?
Angus McIntyre
Charlie Stross