Supplies to buy if China takes Taiwan

[andrewOz]

Good question, like do they have a use by date if sitting in storage?
I also wonder about if the grid goes down, I don't have a battery for the solar but I think they are around 25K. If an EMP went off, would that just wreck all solar equipment anyway?

Needs a longer answer, but the basics are:
Off-grid electrical systems often have a lot of electronics to optimally control them.
There are even some electronics which must "modulate" the voltage level of solar panel voltages into batteries, though admittedly I do not know all of the details. So, an EMP might destroy the controlling system, but the solar panels and batteries might work.

BUT, there is something called MPPT (maximum power point tracking) which is often part of a caravan solar panel system (and perhaps a fixed location system as well). I do not know whether there are any integrated circuits in such a system which can be destroyed, but my first inclination is to say "yes". DYODD (do your own due diligence)
An alternative to MPPT is PWM (pulse width modulation), which is not as efficient as MPPT for caravan use, but I do not know whether that is true for fixed-installation use, nor do I know whether it too uses integrated circuits. DYODD

 

[rainingcatzanddogs]

Living in Australia, I am wondering about what supplies I should buy if China is to move on Taiwan, cutting off supplies to Australia as the shipping channels are closed.
I'm thinking things like light bulbs, batteries, bird netting, zip ties, shoes, medicines and so on. I would like to have a comprehensive list so I can go to the hardware store as soon as it happens and get the extra stuff, just don't want to miss anything. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

I just looked up what your major imports are from China and it looks mostly to be electronics. But, I also ran across and watched this video yesterday from Australia, in which it talks about how, should China go after Tiawan, the first target will be the US bases in the Pacific, not excluding Hawaii.
If that is the case, then you can probably add any goods you import from both the US and Japan as well.
They talk about the problems of supply lines in Australia at the 35 minute mark.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I'd be fine if we stopped importing anything from China. It might hurt some people for a short period of time but other countries would pick up manufacturing the same cheap crap that China does now. Anything important we'll begin making here in the US, like we used to.

 

[GaRp58]

I imagine it will be something small that I overlooked that will cause issues.

Hi, walk yourself thru a nightmare and make a list of everything in every drawer, shelf, box and corner. Look a every tool with which you could not live with or replace easily. Check every spare part, drive chain, sparkplug, filter, oil, lightbulb, connector, cable, blade, handle or lid from every machine.
All the rubber bands, paper clips, cotton swabs, toothbrushes, shoestrings, paintbrushes, lighters, knife sharpeners, can openers, beltbuckles, spare glasses, welding rods, fuses, batteries and charger, etc, etc, walk thru and look at simply everything and make a list of what to get slowly...or what, quicker.

 

[user 7691]

I just looked up what your major imports are from China and it looks mostly to be electronics. But, I also ran across and watched this video yesterday from Australia, in which it talks about how, should China go after Tiawan, the first target will be the US bases in the Pacific, not excluding Hawaii.
If that is the case, then you can probably add any goods you import from both the US and Japan as well.
They talk about the problems of supply lines in Australia at the 35 minute mark.

Great, thanks so much, I'll watch it soon.
Anything we import from Asia, not just China, will be stopping if the shipping stops so that will be pretty much anything at our hardware, fishing and camping stores as well as shoes and clothing and medicines. All I can think of off the top of my head that we import from USA are Leatherman tools and Berkey filters! We are So dependent on Asia.

 

[user 7691]

Hi, walk yourself thru a nightmare and make a list of everything in every drawer, shelf, box and corner. Look a every tool with which you could not live with or replace easily. Check every spare part, drive chain, sparkplug, filter, oil, lightbulb, connector, cable, blade, handle or lid from every machine.
All the rubber bands, paper clips, cotton swabs, toothbrushes, shoestrings, paintbrushes, lighters, knife sharpeners, can openers, beltbuckles, spare glasses, welding rods, fuses, batteries and charger, etc, etc, walk thru and look at simply everything and make a list of what to get slowly...or what, quicker.

Thanks very much, that's a common sense approach. I suppose if it's something I will need then I will already have it and it's about being able to replace what I already have when I need it. Though I suppose my way of doing things would be to buy an extra mower, for example, rather than buying spare parts for my current one. To have a back up of each thing I will need. Maybe not an extra car though...

 

[user 7691]

I'd be fine if we stopped importing anything from China. It might hurt some people for a short period of time but other countries would pick up manufacturing the same cheap crap that China does now. Anything important we'll begin making here in the US, like we used to.

That's nice.

 

[Proud Prepper]

Thanks very much, that's a common sense approach. I suppose if it's something I will need then I will already have it and it's about being able to replace what I already have when I need it. Though I suppose my way of doing things would be to buy an extra mower, for example, rather than buying spare parts for my current one. To have a back up of each thing I will need. Maybe not an extra car though...

For a prepper. Two is one. Three is two. One is none!

 

[andrewOz]

I'd be fine if we stopped importing anything from China. It might hurt some people for a short period of time but other countries would pick up manufacturing the same cheap crap that China does now. Anything important we'll begin making here in the US, like we used to.

I think you are underestimating the extent of the products China produces.
For instance, there are many electronics devices (even some US military hardware) which depend upon components from China as the sole source.
It might be difficult to replace all those sources, as many of them will require extensive product-specific knowledge.

 

[rainingcatzanddogs]

I think you are underestimating the extent of the products China produces.
For instance, there are many electronics devices (even some US military hardware) which depend upon components from China as the sole source.
It might be difficult to replace all those sources, as many of them will require extensive product-specific knowledge.

The US government stopped buying anything from China in the way of critical electronics some time ago. My husband deals with many military contracts for computer hardware components in his job.

There are only two facilities in the world that all military/ US government chips are allowed to be manufactured at. One is in South Korea, the other, is Tiawan. Even where the parts are assembled and by whom, is closely restricted. That is why Tiawan is so crucial to us and any other military that does not want to increase the risk of Chinese sabotage and/or cyber crime.

 

[user 7691]

For a prepper. Two is one. Three is two. One is none!

I only have one wife...

 

[Bacon112179!!]

People around where I live are a bit different; no prepper mindset, always thinking everything will be fine, not seeing the signs, obedient to .gov and pretty oblivious to world affairs, ie, it's so far away it won't affect me... I do have extra supplies of most things but if it was going to be years until they were available again then I'd want more. Though what you say is true for me to an extent, as in I can always find more stuff that I hadn't thought of that may disappear quickly. We did have crazy runs on toilet paper during the scamdemic...

Just make sure you have plenty of bullets because those that aren't prepared will become desperate over time.

 

[user 7691]

Just make sure you have plenty of bullets because those that aren't prepared will become desperate over time.

All good

 

[user 7482]

I only have one wife...

So your´re single?

 

[user 7691]

So your´re single?

Ha ha!

 

[Proud Prepper]

I only have one wife...

That's the only exception some would successfully argue one to many.

 

[lonewolf]

if you have the right wife one is more than enough.

 

[Bacon112179!!]

That's the only exception some would successfully argue one to many.

Unless your polygamous

 

[user 7691]

if you have the right wife one is more than enough.

Wouldn't want any other

 

[Oddcaliber]

Getting anything not made in China is almost unavoidable. Start by buying domestic products and than start reading labels. I'll get things from other countries if possible. China can't produce everything.

 

[user 7691]

It's really more about the shipping lanes being closed rather than "made in China". Shoes from Asia, underwear, socks, anything plastic or metal. Bird netting, pots for plants, it's almost everything used daily. Australia doesn't make much.

 

[rainingcatzanddogs]

Unless your polygamous

It's really more about the shipping lanes being closed rather than "made in China". Shoes from Asia, underwear, socks, anything plastic or metal. Bird netting, pots for plants, it's almost everything used daily. Australia doesn't make much.

Is Australia as addicted to cheaply made goods as most in the US? I remember a time when you bought furniture once for the house; usually shortly after you got married. Then maybe you sold the old stuff and bought new simply for style purposes 30 years later, if ever. Most just reupholstered but the frame, webbing and stuffing was still good. Now it is trash after 5years, 10 if you are lucky. Same with appliances, cars and almost everything else.

Use it up, wear it out or fix it up. There will be a lot of people under 40 in for a rude surprise if a war in China happens. Prices and shortages will be like nothing they have ever experienced.

 

[user 7691]

Is Australia as addicted to cheaply made goods as most in the US? I remember a time when you bought furniture once for the house; usually shortly after you got married. Then maybe you sold the old stuff and bought new simply for style purposes 30 years later, if ever. Most just reupholstered but the frame, webbing and stuffing was still good. Now it is trash after 5years, 10 if you are lucky. Same with appliances, cars and almost everything else.

Use it up, wear it out or fix it up. There will be a lot of people under 40 in for a rude surprise if a war in China happens. Prices and shortages will be like nothing they have ever experienced.

Yep, it's just the same here. I really think, having worked with a lot of elderly immigrants (Italian, Greek and so on) over the years, that we were all pretty much the same 70 years ago, same frugal, common sense, independent approach and all that. With globalisation it has all become an homogenous mess of interdependence and dumbing down. As in, this is what globalisation looks like, it's the same all over the western world except for those families and individuals who relish their independence and enjoy actually living like men and women rather than generic consumers. I feel like I have way more in common with my great grandparents than my contemporaries, other than my immediate family. Traditions are really important in that regard, to keep doing what we've always done, it keeps us sane.
We are living in a time where something has to give; the fragile shell of "normality" is about to break.

 

[lonewolf]

we now live in a throw away society, nothing is repaired just replaced.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I agree it is difficult to not buy Chinese made crap. Not everything, but much of what I buy is made in the US. It costs more, which is to be expected, it will also last much longer. Our furniture is over 30 years old, made in the US, and still looks like it's brand new. I have some American Made boots that are over 25 years old, etc. My tractor was made in India but all my implements are made in the US, one snowblower was made in Canada, the other in US.
I admit that sometimes I'm in a hurry and will buy something made in China knowing that I'll end up replacing it.
IF for some reason the US stopped importing everything from China I'd say that would be a good day. Other countries and the US would start manufacturing whatever we now get from China.
I really don't have a problem buying from foreign countries. But I do have a problem buying inferior junk from a communist country which is also our enemy.

 

[lonewolf]

I've never had a problem with buying from China, everything I've bought from China is still working well even knives, but I stopped buying from any foreign country once Covid started and never will again, most if not all of our furniture is second hand .
No the main trouble with China is that just about everything these days seems to be made in China or somewhere else in Asia probably in sweatshops by young kids.

 

[DrHenley]

We are still using the Made in U.S.A. Kenmore Freezer and Amana Microwave we bought when we first got married in the 1980s. My wife always complains about junk made in China, then turns around and wants to buy a new microwave made in China just because ours is old. I ask her why she wants one made in China when we have a perfectly good one made in the U.S.A.

I agree it's very tough to buy new things made in U.S.A. (or England for that matter) but I try.

 

[lonewolf]

its not easy especially to buy British made stuff, thats why our furniture is either second hand or made locally.
China was going to be involved in the building of our latest power station but thankfully they dropped out, but they still have fingers in a lot of technology and it will take time to remove them from it.

 

[Survivor_316]

For clothing and such- buy second hand. That way it doesn't matter if it was manufactured in China or not.

 

[lonewolf]

True, we buy a lot on Ebay and stipulate UK only. a lot of it is second hand.
where we are its easier to buy online and get it delivered to the front door, many stores dont carry the sizes or even the full range.