Thursday, April 21, 2005
CHINA – TESTING THE WATERS
Anyone who hasn't noticed China's increasingly aggressive stand in the world these days is either sleeping or incapable of noticing when others are no longer. It's widely believed that the ancient Asian cultural giant is on a long-term reemergence as world power -- little reason to think otherwise. In itself, we should hardly be bothered by any country joining the modern world, becoming prosperous, or spreading its culture to those who willingly choose new products, services, and creative expression. Changes and progress aside, China is not just "any country," but is still in fact a one-party dictatorship with all the considerable authoritarian trimmings. There are several issues in the world today, particularly in Asia, were China has been testing its newfound sense of prestige, authority, and might. In particular, Taiwan is no longer being dealt with as an issue to be put off indefinitely. Both military buildup and aggressive government statements make it clear that anschluss with “the motherland” will transpire on Beijing's terms or be imposed on Beijing's terms.
Regarding Japan, the issues involving China may ultimately be of even greater significance. There's no question the China seeks to unseat Japan as Asia's dominant power. Depriving Japan a new seat on the United Nation’s Security Council would be the ultimate symbol of China's hopes for a new 21st century order.
The Chinese government wants Japan to show more remorse for its actions in World War II (over 60 years ago), not a completely unreasonable concern but one that is hardly being addressed with reason by the Chinese who have now found cause to tolerate a protest amongst their citizens (we won’t be seeing tolerance for protest against any other issues).
One of the recent gripes by China against its neighbor has been Japan's school textbook’s light treatment of their war government’s actions in China during World War II. For those, like China, who may be unaware, Japan has had several new and very different governments since the end of World War II -- China still has the same government, the one responsible for the great famine (“leap forward”) of the late 1950s, and the absolutely stupid and destructive, "Cultural Revolution" of the late 1960s (a classic leftist rampage), not to mention the Tiananmen slaughter of only 16 years ago. To this day, a single publicly displayed sign calling for free elections (a multi-party state) would warrant arrest by the party’s heavy handed “public security bureau,” yet thousands damaging Japanese property, heaving bottles at the Japanese embassy, and chanting, “kill the Japanese pigs” is just fine in the communist party’s eyes (that’s part of that “tolerance” leftists in general always pride themselves on).
While China demands remorse from Japan for the events of over a half century ago, I have to wonder if they intend to show similar remorse for some of their own more recent ravages. They have sought to completely obliterate the culture of Tibet (I wonder how their student textbooks appraise history?)
China regularly threatens possible military action against Taiwan if that small country dares state what has been ultimately true for several decades -- that they are each separate countries and very separate systems.
China’s violence and threats of violence against close neighbors and its own citizens are described in typical communist style as “internal matters” – like a neighbor who abuses their family behind closed doors, I guess.
China's expansion and influence in America's backyard should be of some concern -- at least to Americans. Buddying up to Venezuela's (obviously Marxist) Hugo Chavez ultimately has all the historical charm of Castro's "friendship" with the former Soviet dictatorship. (Castro and his sidekick, Che had pleaded with the Soviets to launch a nuclear strike on the US in the early 1960’s and said if it had been their call it would have happened).
Some Euro-Socialists are now open to the idea of ending their embargo on selling military hardware to China so it can confront Taiwan (and the United States) from an enhanced position. For some Euro-Socialists, selling a soul to the devil is valid cost to reduce the “hegemony” of American culture and strength -- plus, Euro-Social-land, like America's Democratic Party, has always been rather partial to left-wing dictatorships, if they can reduce Starbucks franchises, all the better.
There would certainly be nothing wrong with publicly saying "no" to some of China's recent incremental claims to authority. Even with a surging economic expansion, China in many ways has only advanced to cardboard on the paper tiger scale, at this point. For those weary of China's new boosts in self-esteem, it's unfortunate that the waking dragon has discovered the simple key to any nation’s success -- capitalism. Virtually every country that has opened their economic system to human nature's desire to innovate and flourish, has advanced considerably in historically short time (no, Russia is not an open economic system). China is on track, it’s gaining the money, the power, and prestige to state its claim on the world theater of the absurd. An open and free powerhouse on the world stage is good for everyone -- a communist dictatorship in the same position is not.
Decisions in the West will largely determine how far China will go in its current upward momentum. There’s still time to hold it accountable to standards of open, and therefore more responsible, government. As long as those in the West who are setting such standards are socialist bureaucrats and anti-US weasels with axes to grind, the standards set will be meaningless and detrimental to all in the long run.
As usual, "progressives" and their various kin would take issue with the apprehensions expressed here, but not out of "concern for justice" or opposition to "oppression." Such claimed sympathies have little to do with their true stance in such matters. China is simply still ruled by the Communist Party and that's all a socialist of any stripe needs to know when taking sides (and, rest assured, they do take sides). The Noam Chomskys and Michael Moores among us will use the emerging horror show to merely remind us that the US is ultimately the worst country to have ever graced the pages of history (they’re always a lot of help).
The growing strength and cocky vengeance of the waking dragon is cause for considerable concern. We can continue to assume the best intentions of communist dictatorships and even sell them the rope they would hang us with (as Lenin so aptly put it). I say, let sleeping dragons lie – and definitely don’t give into their demands, threats, or premature tests of self confidence.
Regarding Japan, the issues involving China may ultimately be of even greater significance. There's no question the China seeks to unseat Japan as Asia's dominant power. Depriving Japan a new seat on the United Nation’s Security Council would be the ultimate symbol of China's hopes for a new 21st century order.
The Chinese government wants Japan to show more remorse for its actions in World War II (over 60 years ago), not a completely unreasonable concern but one that is hardly being addressed with reason by the Chinese who have now found cause to tolerate a protest amongst their citizens (we won’t be seeing tolerance for protest against any other issues).
One of the recent gripes by China against its neighbor has been Japan's school textbook’s light treatment of their war government’s actions in China during World War II. For those, like China, who may be unaware, Japan has had several new and very different governments since the end of World War II -- China still has the same government, the one responsible for the great famine (“leap forward”) of the late 1950s, and the absolutely stupid and destructive, "Cultural Revolution" of the late 1960s (a classic leftist rampage), not to mention the Tiananmen slaughter of only 16 years ago. To this day, a single publicly displayed sign calling for free elections (a multi-party state) would warrant arrest by the party’s heavy handed “public security bureau,” yet thousands damaging Japanese property, heaving bottles at the Japanese embassy, and chanting, “kill the Japanese pigs” is just fine in the communist party’s eyes (that’s part of that “tolerance” leftists in general always pride themselves on).
While China demands remorse from Japan for the events of over a half century ago, I have to wonder if they intend to show similar remorse for some of their own more recent ravages. They have sought to completely obliterate the culture of Tibet (I wonder how their student textbooks appraise history?)
China regularly threatens possible military action against Taiwan if that small country dares state what has been ultimately true for several decades -- that they are each separate countries and very separate systems.
China’s violence and threats of violence against close neighbors and its own citizens are described in typical communist style as “internal matters” – like a neighbor who abuses their family behind closed doors, I guess.
China's expansion and influence in America's backyard should be of some concern -- at least to Americans. Buddying up to Venezuela's (obviously Marxist) Hugo Chavez ultimately has all the historical charm of Castro's "friendship" with the former Soviet dictatorship. (Castro and his sidekick, Che had pleaded with the Soviets to launch a nuclear strike on the US in the early 1960’s and said if it had been their call it would have happened).
Some Euro-Socialists are now open to the idea of ending their embargo on selling military hardware to China so it can confront Taiwan (and the United States) from an enhanced position. For some Euro-Socialists, selling a soul to the devil is valid cost to reduce the “hegemony” of American culture and strength -- plus, Euro-Social-land, like America's Democratic Party, has always been rather partial to left-wing dictatorships, if they can reduce Starbucks franchises, all the better.
There would certainly be nothing wrong with publicly saying "no" to some of China's recent incremental claims to authority. Even with a surging economic expansion, China in many ways has only advanced to cardboard on the paper tiger scale, at this point. For those weary of China's new boosts in self-esteem, it's unfortunate that the waking dragon has discovered the simple key to any nation’s success -- capitalism. Virtually every country that has opened their economic system to human nature's desire to innovate and flourish, has advanced considerably in historically short time (no, Russia is not an open economic system). China is on track, it’s gaining the money, the power, and prestige to state its claim on the world theater of the absurd. An open and free powerhouse on the world stage is good for everyone -- a communist dictatorship in the same position is not.
Decisions in the West will largely determine how far China will go in its current upward momentum. There’s still time to hold it accountable to standards of open, and therefore more responsible, government. As long as those in the West who are setting such standards are socialist bureaucrats and anti-US weasels with axes to grind, the standards set will be meaningless and detrimental to all in the long run.
As usual, "progressives" and their various kin would take issue with the apprehensions expressed here, but not out of "concern for justice" or opposition to "oppression." Such claimed sympathies have little to do with their true stance in such matters. China is simply still ruled by the Communist Party and that's all a socialist of any stripe needs to know when taking sides (and, rest assured, they do take sides). The Noam Chomskys and Michael Moores among us will use the emerging horror show to merely remind us that the US is ultimately the worst country to have ever graced the pages of history (they’re always a lot of help).
The growing strength and cocky vengeance of the waking dragon is cause for considerable concern. We can continue to assume the best intentions of communist dictatorships and even sell them the rope they would hang us with (as Lenin so aptly put it). I say, let sleeping dragons lie – and definitely don’t give into their demands, threats, or premature tests of self confidence.
