as the United States into Iraq

[Shinya Maki]

Hello, everyone.

The following is a passage from an article titled “China: how threatening, and to whom?” in an English newspaper.

For its part, Beijing would not regard military action against Taiwan as an invasion -- as the United States into Iraq -- because it views Taiwan as a historic part of China and thus not as foreign territory. Even so, any significant military action across the strait would work dramatically against the mainland's carefully cultivated image as a power on a "peaceful rise," and, of course, gravely complicate if not poison relations with the West, especially the U.S.
（the 11th paragraph of http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?eo2005073 0tp.htm)

I am wondering what “as the United States into Iraq“ means in the first sentence. Do I understand that the unabridged version of this is as follows?

as the United States would not regard military action into Iraq as an invasion

Any comment would be appreciated.

Best regards,
Shinya Maki

[Rusty]

Hello, everyone.

The following is a passage from an article titled “China: how threatening, and to whom?” in an English newspaper.

For its part, Beijing would not regard military action against Taiwan as an invasion -- as the United States into Iraq -- because it views Taiwan as a historic part of China and thus not as foreign territory. Even so, any significant military action across the strait would work dramatically against the mainland's carefully cultivated image as a power on a "peaceful rise," and, of course, gravely complicate if not poison relations with the West, especially the U.S.
（the 11th paragraph of http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?eo2005073 0tp.htm)

I am wondering what “as the United States into Iraq“ means in the first sentence. Do I understand that the unabridged version of this is as follows?

as the United States would not regard military action into Iraq as an invasion

Any comment would be appreciated.

Best regards,
Shinya Maki

"For its part, Beijing would not regard military action against Taiwan as an invasion -- as the United States into Iraq -- "

Paraphrase: Bejing would not regard its (Bejing's) military action against Taiwan as an invasion--the same as the United States' invasion into Iraq.

[Shinya Maki]

Hello, Rusty.

Thank you for your reply.
Two more quick questions.

(1) Is this natural English?
(2) If it is, which (1 or 2 or 3 below) does “as” in “as the United States into Iraq” belong to, grammatically? I felt it belongs to #3.

1: for instance <various trees, as oak or pine>
2: when considered in a specified form or relation -- usually used before a preposition or a participle <my opinion as distinguished from his>
3: in the way that someone says or that something happens, or in the condition something is in< He did not need to keep moving house as his father had.>

Any comment would be appreciated.

Best wishes,
Shinya Maki

[Rusty]

Hello, Rusty.

Thank you for your reply.
Two more quick questions.

(1) Is this natural English?
(2) If it is, which (1 or 2 or 3 below) does “as” in “as the United States into Iraq” belong to, grammatically? I felt it belongs to #3.

1: for instance <various trees, as oak or pine>
2: when considered in a specified form or relation -- usually used before a preposition or a participle <my opinion as distinguished from his>
3: in the way that someone says or that something happens, or in the condition something is in< He did not need to keep moving house as his father had.>

Any comment would be appreciated.

Best wishes,
Shinya Maki

For its part, Beijing would not regard military action against Taiwan as an invasion -- as the United States (invasion) into Iraq -- because it views Taiwan as a historic part of China and thus not as foreign territory.

2. The two invasions are being compared. "As" is a preposition introducing the phrase "as the United States invasion into Iraq."

I have inserted "invasion" which was omitted but understood.