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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, January 10, 2022

Lithuania has become the “Taiwan of Europe”. Since WWII, Americans never again struggled with the concept that a problem abroad is a problem at home. This is how we Americans can vote to interfere around the world that we know so little about. We think every squeal from another continent indicates a personal assault on our freedom to watch Netflix.

Europe wasn’t quite there, but not anymore. While Europe watches Lithuania sustain hostile diplomacy from China, Europe is getting the same idea as America. France—oh, the French!—just came to Lithuania’s defense. It’s hard to disagree when the French take sides. They say they aren’t sure why China is angry at Lithuania—okay. But, they make a very good point. China should not have a special group of 17 states it communicates with concerning Europe; it should have all 27. Lithuania was a great opportunity for France to say so. Bravo for French math!

So, now Lithuania is to the EU what Taiwan is to the US; to China, both are bad press.

A recent election in Taiwan’s central city of Taichung gave one more legislative seat to the progressive DPP party—this is the party that doesn’t bow to China’s passive aggression, nor to China’s aggressive aggression.

Yes, that party just got stronger. China won’t be happy. But, what’s new. Just look at Lithuania and do the math.

China

China lashes out at U.S. over support for Lithuania over Taiwan // NPR

Lithuania: The European state that dared to defy China then wobbled // BBC News

France eyes quick anti-China action to bail out Lithuania in trade war // Politico (EU)

China targets Lithuania over Taiwan, hits global supply chains // Hindustan Times

Taiwan

DPP’s Lin wins Taichung vote by 52.3 percent // Taipei Times

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, November 8, 2021

China tripped the alarm. Revelations of a US aircraft carrier -shaped target in China’s Taklamakan Desert doesn’t exactly resemble a friendly trick-or-treat visit. Congress is upset, calling this the closest we’ve ever been. Washington tries to use calm rhetoric, saying they don’t foresee problems until 2024—it used to be 2025. But these days, they leave more and more room to avoid being wrong should a scuffle go ballistic in the Pacific.

The tech industry certainly is paying attention. Intel is building at five sites, three in the US, one in Ireland, and one in Israel. At the same time, the US government is questioning chip makers about their supply chains. One of those is TSMC, in Taiwan. Now, Congress wants to spend $52B on subsidies for chip makers inside the US. The message is clear: America is getting ready for a China-initiated disruption in the chip supply chain, the largest part in the world of which goes through Taiwan.

By the look of it, 2025 is the year when China will both be militarily dangerous and, for the chip industry, will no longer matter. While some news outlets cast China’s economy in a positive light, others show deep reasoning to sound the economic alarms. It looks like China is getting into a tighter and tighter pinch, and China’s economic response is the same as its response to political disfavor: marketing.

This week, the EU says it has unanimous support to strengthen relations with Taiwan—specifically because of China’s aggression.

Trade & Tech

TSMC Withholds Customer-Specific Data in Answering U.S. Request // Yahoo Finance

How Intel plans to catch Samsung and TSMC and regain its dominance in the chip market // CNBC

China

Is It Really a Bear Market for China Stocks? // Morningstar

Xi Is Running Out of Time // Foreign Affairs

China Builds Missile Targets Shaped Like U.S. Aircraft Carrier, Destroyers in Remote Desert // USNI News

China triggers growing fears for US military // The Hill

China trade: export growth above expectations in October // SCMP

China urges families to store basic supplies in case of emergency // BBC News

Locking Guests Inside Disneyland Shows China’s Extreme Covid Tactics // MSN News

Taiwan

‘EU agrees on cooperation with Taipei’ // Taipei Times

Bill seeks US-Taiwan disease center // Taipei Times

Japan

 

 

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, November 1, 2021

China has been told, then told again. This week, China was told again again again. The EU gave a blistering rebuke to China’s unsolicited three cents about what other governments call their offices. Specifically, Taiwan is labeling it’s representative office in Lithuania as “Taiwan”. China recalled and expelled diplomats with Lithuania in wake of the matter.

Moves like this show the disturbing psychology guiding the Chinese. Reducing communication does not improve China’s position; it diminishes China’s position. So, why would China do that for anything other than histrionic reasons? The recall of its office in Lithuania resembles Napoleon storming out of his own cabinet meeting just before he fell from power. Moreover, analysis such as this does not cause the Chinese mind to reconsider; the Chinese see the warnings as conjured propaganda without substance.

As if the EU’s response over Lithuania wasn’t enough, US Secretary of State Blinken told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang where the bear crapped in the buckwheat. China’s been aggressive; that’s bad. Single-sided—AKA “unilateral”—action to alter the status quo with Taiwan—AKA “invasion”—is unacceptable. The US will intervene. This may be news to the ears of those in China’s echo chamber where selective listening is the norm. Yes, China may be unaware that the US plans to respond if China invaded Taiwan, even after all that has happened. China’s frame of mind could come partly from three decades of countries letting China push them around. But all of a sudden, a fresh wind blew through the G-20.

Taiwan

Blinken warns China against unilateral action regarding Taiwan // Yahoo Finance

Blinken and Wang warn against fuelling Taiwan tensions // Yahoo News

Blinken raised concerns about Taiwan with China // Yahoo News

EU slams China’s moves in Taiwan office dispute // Taipei Times

Ties with US ‘rock solid’: AIT head // Taipei Times

Taiwan’s TSMC calls for innovation of semiconductor sector // Taiwan News

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, September 6, 2021

Taiwan! Taiwan! Taiwan! Europe can say it enough. In fact, Europe talks about Taiwan almost as much as China does. Taiwan doesn’t need formal diplomatic relations to live rent free in the minds of global leaders around the globe—especially living rent free in the minds of Beijing leaders—especially in the mind of Xi Jinping. Don’t forget Japan.

Europe doesn’t want to be bullied by China. Every response from China is interpreted by the EU as a reason to disagree with almost anything China says. China is so hated, we are almost to the point where China could use reverse psychology to get what it wants. If China disagreed with everything it wants, the world might agree with everything China wants, just to spite China’s rhetoric. But, we are only 98% of the way there. The world doesn’t hate China quite that much. There’s still room for more.

But, look closely at what is happening in Europe. Lithuania deepens ties with Taiwan while the EU pounds the table. It is almost as if Europe is testing China by watching what happens with Lithuania. If that were so, none of the European rhetoric about Lithuania or China is real, yet. They’re just saying things to gauge China’s reaction. In other words, Europe is experimenting with China as the lab rat. That’s got to make shame-phobic leaders in Beijing feel great about themselves.

Indo-Pacific

If Taiwan is lost, US loses, too: Craft // Taipei Times

China

EU cannot remain silent on China, top official says // Taipei Times

New Chinese maritime law could be ‘time bomb’ // Taipei Times

Taiwan

EU legislators back Taiwan office // Taipei Times

EU lawmaker urges invite to ‘Taiwan leader’ // Taipei Times

EU group advances Taiwan proposal // Taipei Times

Japan

Military Faceoff

Air force eyes assorted US missiles // Taipei Times

The U.S. ground war in Afghanistan is over. Now it’s the Navy’s turn. // Politico

A New Era of Aircraft Carrier Fighter Jet Attack Is Here. // National Interest

Latest Pictures Of China’s Third Aircraft Carrier Display Its ‘Staggering Success’ To Challenge US Naval Might // EurAsian Times

 

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, June 14, 2021

The snowball of worldwide hate toward China is past the growth knee. It was slow going, but now it’s gaining unstoppable momentum. China’s self-importance has reached embarrassing levels. G7 wants stability, introducing an alternative plan to China’s tightening Belt Road. The EU wants stability in the South Sea—rules agreed to and honored by all countries. Japan wants to back Taiwan by name in the written G7 agreement.

But, then China responds by saying that “small groups do not rule the world” and issued a statement: “We always believe that countries, big or small, strong or weak, poor or rich, are equals, and that world affairs should be handled through consultation by all countries.” That statement comes from China. Does that mean that China has reversed its position? Will China now agree with the EU for bilateral rules in the South Sea?

Essentially, China’s own propaganda is getting to a point of grotesque and overt self-indictment. More importantly, China doesn’t see the contradiction of its own statements. This is comparable to John Kerry’s famous remark “I voted for [it] before I voted against it.” You see, that actually made sense to Kerry. That’s the crazy world Washington politicians live in. And, apparently, China’s CCP lives in an even crazier world. And, the rest of the world isn’t just waking up to China’s craziness; the rest of the world is wide awake and on the march. It’s been growing slowly, but that global anger is moving faster and faster and is about to enter an all-out blitz.

Hungarians in Budapest are irate over construction plans for the Chinese Fudan University from Shanghai. The city of Budapest even renamed streets to “Dalai Lama Road” and “Free Hong Kong Road”. The Chinese embassy responded with its own propaganda again, but there is no sign that China’s anonymous words had more sway on Hungarians than China’s consistent actions. In fact, they didn’t have any sway at all. If anything, China only made Hungarians more angry.

China is entirely unaware of anything in the rest of the world. It’s histrionic. The CCP believes they only need censor information within their own borders, say what they want others to parrot, and then both public opinion and the past will automatically change throughout the rest of the world. They are in for a humiliating shock.

China

Flashback: “I actually did vote for [it] before I voted against it.” – John Kerry
Kerry discusses $87 billion comment – Sep 30, 2004 // CNN

Will S.China Sea issue become setback in China-EU relationship? // Global Times (China Govt)

Opposition forces Orbán into U-turn over Chinese campus plan in Budapest // Guardian

G7 summit: China says small groups do not rule the world // BBC News

G-7 Leaders Rally to Biden’s Call to Challenge China // MSN News

Massive Protests Erupt in Mainland China // YouTube @ laowhy86

Exclusive: Amid accusations of genocide from the West, China policies could cut millions of Uyghur births in Xinjiang – report // Yahoo India

Taiwan

“Japan… backed mention of Taiwan in the final statement”
G7 pushes back against China, supports Taiwan // Taipei Times

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, April 26, 2021

The world is starting to realize that China is just going to ignore everybody. Talking won’t work. Action won’t work unless China loses, then China still won’t listen.

This isn’t new. China has never listened. The only reason China respected international laws in decades past—including its own treaties—was because China was forced to. But, China never wanted to. And, China never will.

The EU is in blaming mode. The Philippines are on high alert. Australia is on high alert and warns Taiwan. Taiwan has always been on high alert because Taiwan may be the only country that never misunderstood China—neither its psychology nor its intentions.

But, it looks like this scuffle isn’t building up in Myanmar or Japan or even Taiwan. The flashpoint is staged at the Philippines. Anything else could serve as the fuse. But this time around, the Philippines hold the payload. Here we go.

Trade & Tech

China is going after tech companies. Tesla is trying to keep out of the way // CNN

China

EU blames China for endangering peace in South China Sea // Yahoo Canada

Xi Jinping says ‘bossing others around’ won’t work as US ups pressure on China // CNN

Analysis: Xi Jinping’s culture war comes to China’s campuses as Communist Party prepares to mark 100 years // CNN

Taiwan

Australia does not rule out China conflict over Taiwan // Taipei Times

Why the world should pay attention to Taiwan’s drought // BBC News

Many aim to form travel bubbles with Taiwan: bureau // Taipei Times

Philippines

Philippines Duterte latest victim of China’s South China Sea battle // News.com.au

Philippine coast guard holds drills in disputed South China Sea // Bangkok Post

Military Faceoff

China’s overseas naval base is now big enough for its aircraft carriers, a top US commander says // Business Insider

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Encore of Revival: America, February 22, 2021

Drama and theater! The veil is lifting. Tech giants are useful, but they seem driven by parasites. The same can be said of legislative bodies, entertainment giants, and prosecutors going after the January 6 Capitol Insurrection.

Jessica Watkins has an interesting story to tell. Her defense of January 6 could convince the public that the prosecution is over-stating its case, looking to hang anyone and everyone possible as payback for the Capitol being breached. In acquitting those who occupied their legislative floor in 2014, Taiwan’s dignity far outshines that of America’s. To the US Supreme Court: You have a higher bar to reach, so to speak.

Social media takes a bumpy turn for the better. Australia’s social media law is somewhat vague, but mainly forces dialog. As understood by the Times, the Aussie law, along with the infamous ‘Articles 11’ of the EU law, aren’t aimed at the normal guy nor the pundit. Instead, they aim at huge tech giants who use AI to aggregate enormous numbers of new stories as one more added feature of their already behemoth-sized tech services. The infamous EU ‘Article 13’ law banning memes is another story. While Europe wants to tax links on Apple and Google, then ban memes for nearly everyone, Australia just wants Facebook and Google to have a conversation when they re-post part of a news story.

While the giants fight, originality steps up. In the approaching shadow of it becoming illegal to use any old music on YouTube, the need for original music spikes. Such laws were lobbied for by big entertainment companies; ironically it is big entertainment that now faces its fiercest competition from billions of ‘little guys’—who used to be their customers.

So, to the tech giants, tech-phobic lawmakers, copyright mongers, and prosecutors: Keep overreaching. Just keep overreaching.

Trump

Sen. Lindsey Graham says he spoke to Donald Trump after his acquittal and the former President is ‘excited’ about 2022 // CNN

State & Local

Michigan restaurants push for increased capacity limits // WOOD NBC 8 Grand Rapids, MI

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of energy emergency in MI // ABC 12 Flint

Liquor licenses suspended at Michigan bar violating 25% capacity, 10 p.m. closing rules // MLive.com

Satirical billboard south of Michigan border calls Whitmer ‘Indiana businessperson of the year’ // MLive.com

Republicans

Trump-McConnell rift threatens GOP’s Senate hopes // Politico

The Birthplace of the Republican Party Buckles After Trump Nearly Blew Up the GOP // Politico

Trump declares war on McConnell, vows to back MAGA challengers // CNBC

Trump rips McConnell in lengthy statement after being acquitted in impeachment trial // CNN

Violence, Radicalism & Terrorism

Alleged Oathkeeper says she was protecting VIPs at Trump rally // CNN

Soc Media, Cybersecurity & Tech

What is Article 13 and Article 11? // IT Pro

Australia news code: What’s this row with Facebook and Google all about? // BBC News

Google and Facebook: the landmark Australian law that will make them pay for news content // Guardian

Facebook restarts talks over Australia media law // Politico (EU)

News Law – Facebook Australia // australia.fb.com

Space

Mars landing team ‘awestruck’ by photo of descending rover // Phys.org

NASA Mars Perseverance rover has successfully landed // CNN

Mid East

US sanctions inflicted $1 trillion damage on Iran’s economy: FM // Aljazeera

NATO Focus

UPDATE 1-White House says U.S. not inviting Russia to G7 // Yahoo News

U.S. enters NATO meetings: China and Russia threats, Afghanistan war drags // CNBC

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, September 21, 2020

Taiwan has become the center of China’s conflict with the world. One economy at a time, one government at a time, China has managed to insult the world. The Chinese have done such a good job of losing friends and alienating voters of foreign countries, not even Russia can afford the political cost of siding with China, not even to manipulate China behind a mask of feigned friendship. Don’t expect Moscow to take center-stage at China’s aid quite yet.

While the world hates China more and more every day, that hatred finds a way to express itself in love for Taiwan. Taiwan is now the grand alternative! Taiwan is the adorable poster puppy everyone should have sided with from the beginning. Taiwan needs military help, but most of all sympathy, compassion, and understanding, perhaps even grandstanding. Nothing sends the message that a nation is fed up with China like siding with adorable, cuddly Taiwan, especially on the most trivial things like medical masks or forcing Taiwan to call its team “Chinese [what the heck] Taipei” at the Olympics. Trivial things, after all, are what China loves to claim as some of the greatest threats to Communist-controlled national security.

It’s almost to the level of being an election tactic in Western democracies. Do or say something that couldn’t even hurt a fly, then China squeaks and bellows and throws such a fuss, voters love whichever politician China hates. Nothing is as adorable and benign as kindness toward Taiwan. So, that’s the story of how Taiwan became the world’s new favorite.

Trade & Tech


China Says It Will Act If U.S. Persists on WeChat, TikTok Ban // Bloomberg


China’s ByteDance aims to keep majority stake in TikTok in Oracle deal // MarketWatch

China


US spy planes posing as airliners ‘serious threat’ in South China Sea // SCMP


This Solomon Islands province is so frustrated with China’s presence that it is considering independence // CNN


Exclusive: Anthony Klan shares details on China’s Wuhan lab operating ‘covert operations’ in Pakistan // India Today


US issues new travel warning on China, Hong Kong // Taipei Times

Taiwan


Taiwan has once-in-a-lifetime chance to forge new alliances // Taiwan News


China Sends Warning to U.S. and Taiwan With Aerial Drill // NY Times


US holds its second high-profile visit to Taiwan in two months as Beijing escalates military pressure // CNN


Trump Administration readies major arms sale to Taiwan // CNN


As Europe’s China scepticism grows, a glimmer of hope for Taiwan // Aljazeera


Chinese warship sails past Taiwan’s east coast // Taiwan News


Taiwan Aims to Help Foreign Air Forces Fix F-16 Fighter Jets, a Stab at China // VOA

Hong Kong


Hong Kong Is a Troubling Case Study in the Death of Democracy // Wired

India


Chinese navy escorts Indian oil tanker in dangerous waters amid strained ties // Global Times (China Govt)

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, April 27, 2020

China is under global attack from all sides. It’s not just the government, but a sizeable portion of the Chinese people who cooperate with that government. We don’t know how many in China are part of the problem or the solution. Reports from China remain silenced and Chinese culture is beaten down and overtly compliant even to tyranny. While Chinese students at Western universities volunteer themselves as mouthpieces for Chinese Communist propaganda, they join the party deemed guilty by the jury of the world.

African governments are in panic about Chinese government gentrification of their own nations. China is seen as the villain who covered up information vital to the EU. Great Britain is fed up with China, claiming the Chinese don’t just lack or hide information, but lie about it. Trump has been warning the world about China since before he was president—arguably that got him elected.

Then again, there’s Taiwan again. Former US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, has a petition for Taiwan to be admitted to the WHO. Even in a recent scuffle over some infected Navy sailors who walked around in Taiwanese public, there still are no new person-to-person virus cases in Taiwan 14 days later. The staggering success is largely accredited to Taiwan’s miraculously brilliant and swift handling of the situation. It’s all based on a germ-phobic population, slow and steady sectional school closing protocols, but it started with immediate and utter lockdown against the since-become world villain: China.

Taiwan has foresight. Maybe that’s why China wants Taiwan out of the WHO. And now, the truth isn’t hiding anymore.

Great Pacific

“Rebel from the outside”
Bookseller urges external HK resistance // Taipei Times

Kaohsiung police hold three over HK bookseller attack // Taipei Times

Bookseller who fled Hong Kong attacked with red paint in Taiwan // Yahoo News

China

Virus Outbreak: China tried to block EU criticism // Taipei Times

DOMINIC LAWSON: We’ve been far too cosy with China, but a Tory revolt is fighting back // Daily Mail

China Vs Foreigners Blacks & Africans!!! This Is Why Multiculturalism Doesn’t Work!!!? // YouTube @ American Curlss

US and UK propagandists put their Chinese rivals to shame // SCMP

Coronavirus: two congressmen want Americans to be able to sue China for ‘deaths, pain and suffering’ // SCMP

Taiwan

Petition by Nikki Haley backs Taiwan’s WHO bid // Taipei Times

Survived another oops: Taiwan stays clean
Virus Outbreak: No local infections for 14th day: CECC // Taipei Times

It’s actually under discussion!
Virus Outbreak: No lockdown needed in Taiwan: Chen // Taipei Times

Taiwan’s navy ship outbreak threatens its coronavirus success // Straits Times

Hong Kong

Hong Kong leader replaces five top officials // Taipei Times

5 Hong Kong ministers replaced in cabinet reshuffle // HKFP

Korean Peninsula

US monitoring intelligence that North Korean leader is in grave danger after surgery // CNN

Military Faceoff

US aircraft passes south of Taiwan for 12th time // Taipei Times

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, February 3, 2020

https://youtu.be/Q3gk8j6_ksY

The world is fed up with China's Communist Party, including people in China. The Wuhan virus is a blame-blaming scandal of a magnitude greater than Chairman Mao. It could crack the foundation of Xi Jinping's rule and party confidence along with it.

Top down leadership ties the hands of first responders. So does propaganda-driven speech censorship. Of course an outbreak will breakout where people aren't allowed to respond or warn without permission from the central bureaucracy. For China, it was only a matter of time.

And, the world is fed up. Now Hong Kong, severely underprepared for an outbreak, faces a strike of 6k medical workers and growing—if CEO Carrie Lam doesn't completely close the Hong Kong border to China. Simply not having the resources to handle an outbreak should be enough for Hong Kong to to close its border. Not doing what simply should be done begs more questions of whether Beijing's top down leadership is preventing Hong Kong from responding to the Wuhan outbreak, which would be yet another violation of the Basic Law and a breach of China's treaty with Britain that allowed Hong Kong to return.

Shameless in the face of its mismanagement in Wuhan then Hong Kong, China then asked the EU for emergency medical supplies. The EU would be wise to respond that giving medical supplies would require proper oversight, including an end to the bureaucratic methods of centralized control that delayed containment in Wuhan and keeps Hong Kong in danger. Also, the EU should require China to stop politicizing Taiwan's need to join the World Health Organization.

Argument could be made that Taiwan and the West are capitalizing on the Wuhan crisis to get more international recognition for Taiwan. But, then it could also be argued that China created that need to capitalize on a crisis to do something that should have been done long ago. In light of the Wuhan outbreak, Canada, Japan, and the EU now sponsor Taiwan's request to join the World Health Organization as an active participant, not a mere observer. A viral White House petition snowballed past the threshold over the weekend, effectively making the same request of President Trump. Now that Trump has a massive petition to respond to, China won't be able to claim "interference" when he responds. But, China may try to anyway because, in Confucian Communist thinking, petitions of the people should be ignored.

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, February 25, 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pN7H-n22FU

Nations and peoples of the free world are reaching toward each other. The EU reached out to Taiwan and Taiwan was grateful. Taiwan reached out to CNN and CNN did an interview. Kim Jong Un is likely on a train headed through China to Vietnam to meet President Trump. President Trump met with the Vice Premier of China in the Oval Office to discuss trade. And, China "rightly" oppresses an estimated two million Muslims in internment camps, who inhabit the hope-to-breakaway province of Xinjiang, through which China's "Silk Road" passes to reach other nations with trillions of dollars in trade.

Taiwan's position in the world only stepped up. In tech, it's the multinational victim of China. The EU's unanimous statement of support for Taiwan and condemnation of China's military activity in the Taiwan Strait is anything but positive PR for China. Taiwan has the support of Europe; that doesn't count for nothing.

China's latest shenanigans include Hong Kong taking a serious look at redefining extradition laws so that Taiwanese in Hong Kong would be "extradited" to China. This does far more damage for Hong Kong's popularity with its electorate at home than it does for Taiwan, raising international sympathy for both. Remember, meddling in Hong Kong's government is a "must not" as the condition of Hong Kong not remaining under Britain. Nothing would indicate Chinese meddling in Hong Kong's government more than such a sure-to-backfire anti-PR move like Hong Kong is making by even entertaining such a revision.

The fingerprints of Beijing damaging Hong Kong where British interests remain, all in order to damage Taiwan, goes against the wisdom of courting favor with the masses across Europe. Then, there's Huawei.

As if international scandals implicating China weren't enough, Huawei's founder made the narcissistic comment that "the world can't live without Huawei". In Chinese culture, that might make enough people feel compelled to comply. But, the God-fearing West will take the self-absorbed claim as a challenge, much how God took the challenge when "experts" said He couldn't sink the Titanic. Huawei just might take its place in the hall of sunken fame. No, the West does not. Not too many years from now, when a finance guru claims that a company is "too big to fail", the public will respond, "Remember Huawei."

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Encore of Revival, America, December 17, 2018

Every accusation against Trump so far sets a precedent to indite James Comey for refusing to prosecute Hillary for worse crimes. Trump's actual crime was unwritten, that he threatened the comfortable cash cow machine run by a parasitic establishment accurately referred to as "the swamp". These increasingly petty, evermore numerous, and parabolically dramatic accusations will not end in turning votes against Trump, but toward him. The only turnings against will be the masses revolting against the establishment for its attacks against Trump and a revolt against the media that reports the attacks as "fair". The public will see this as quite unfair because of greater priorities going unmentioned, including a multi-million dollar hush-slush fund in Congress.

So, the swamp's machine attacked a dirty lawyer and sentenced him to prison. Now, that lawyer has suddenly turned to saint because he wants to get out of jail by speaking against his own client—a president hated by the same swamp. Can a lawyer that the DOJ has worked so hard to imprison as a sleeze bag suddenly be deemed a credible witness without any ill motives? Connect the dots. The swamp always wants everything both ways.

The swamp is indeed ramping up the assault against Trump, but not because of any new position of strength; the swamp is on attack because the swamp is desperate. What we're about to see in the next two years will be Kavanaugh all over again, only this time it will push Trump to re-election, better than before.

Then we have the Brexitexit. Questions needs to be asked about what connections nay-voters in Parliament have to Brussels. British politics work differently from American. Prime Minister Chamberlain allowed Hitler to rise in power while Parliament kept Winston away. Once the feckless mess grew intolerable, the king had to intervene. After Winston won the war—with the help of some extremely profitable former colonies in America that the Britons claim they carelessly misplaced—the Britons ousted Winston after his warnings that Russia was a rising danger. No doubt many in Great Britain will forget their frustration with past attempts to unite Europe, or the recent attempt—the EU—in squandering British tax dollars on socialist promises to solve self-made problems, such as more recently seen in France.

One of the few wise prime ministers, Margret Thatcher, said, "The trouble with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." Now, the EU has run out of the Britons' money and "will allow" the Britons to stay in if they want—and some Britons are actually talking about staying in. The American way—which defeated the Nazis for the British—would be for British Parliament to pass its own terms first, giving the EU the ultimatum. If May wants to keep her job, she should tell Parliament, "Give me whatever terms you accept, then I will defend them before Brussels." But, that would require the strong spine of a cowgirl, not the tender skin of true gentlemen. There are many smart people in Great Britain, just not any that we can see from the decisions being made right now.

The way things look, America will need to come to the rescue of our British brothers yet again. Given America's improving situation, it looks like we'll be able.

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, February 20, 2017

Keeping 70 years of war on the books is not only a bad idea, it is a hazard. That period is longer than copyright laws and ten times longer than debts can be collected and taxes audited. At some point, old debts are better to be sold off to keep the books clear of overdue accounts receivable. China has its reasons to want Taiwan, just as the Taiwanese have their reasons not to want China’s flag flown on their soil. But, keeping the discussion unresolved has resulted in growing opposition, not for Taiwan, but for China.

China’s “One Belt One Road” project in Europe is under investigation for legal compliance. Just the investigation is an insult and, even if it ends in China’s favor, that investigation could be reopened at any point in the future, even after the railroad has been completed. The two main points to note in the deal are that the government of China is negotiating in the manner of a private business entity and that China is consistent in wanting singularity in more areas than just maps.

The US has sent carrier group USS Carl Vinson to what it is calling “routine operations” in China’s backyard. Without 70 years on the books, not so many changes could be so easily chalked up to “routine”. Now, India wants in on the game.

When resisting Beijing control, many will cite Communist States like North Korea or Cuba. People don’t want their country to change in a way that introduces the need to join the government or military in order to have hope of a stable future. Taiwanese see smog in China’s air and feces in China’s streets and they think that more territory would make life even worse on an already strained government.

But, then there is what happened in Hong Kong. Regardless of which side of the issue people are on, media mogul Jimmy Lai, students, police, government, and businesses in Hong Kong saw quite a disturbance in Central during the “Umbrella Movement” occupation. But, Taipei’s “Sunflower Movement” only lasted three weeks and ended voluntarily, not three months only ending by forced eviction. Taiwanese elect whomever they want and they are happy.

Hong Kong’s theater and controversy, on all sides of the biases, can’t happen in Taiwan as the island’s situation now stands. If China’s flag flew over Taiwan’s, that would change and ways of life that are as subtle as they are constant would be up for grabs.

Chinese have their reasons for wanting to reclaim Taiwan. Taiwanese have everyone’s way of life in Asia as their reason for wanting the countries to call status quo what it is. Regime change would be a disruption, no matter who makes it.

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, January 30, 2017

The conflict in the Pacific is turning into a brick wall at the speed of sound. Trump vowed to deny China access to islands that don’t exist on household globes and maps. China is run by a party that has never lost—or won—a battle in its 70 years of existence. Beijing wants Washington to recognize “one China”, but that “China”, regardless of which claimant defines it, is engaged in a publicly-funded military war between two political parties. There are two versions of “China”, officially, and no one knows which version to believe since neither waring party has declared victory in their 70 year war. Given the outstanding ambivalence, Trump may have just declared his own definition of victory for them.

When London meets a spontaneous cloud of smog, the comparison is to China. We all know who Londoners are thinking about and what they are thinking about them. So, while Trump makes headlines in China, China made headlines in London. Just as “election recount” is linked to US Democrats and “unfair press” is linked to US Republicans, four topics link to China in the Western mind: pollution, economics, military, and territory claims.

To compound China’s precarious position, the EU is making demands about a lawyer’s human rights. The lawyer was reportedly tortured. In rare form, the EU is demanding that he be released and the situation investigated. The “tortured lawyer” report comes in the midst of a Chinese crackdown the VPNs Chinese people use to connect to social media banned by Beijing. China can’t maintain battles on so many fronts, not with a new Sheriff in the White House who isn’t afraid to make orders of his own. That deal where the Chinese were going to pour money into Hollywood—it’s had a few wrenches thrown into its gears. It’s funny how the Chinese block media in their own country, then their investment in American media also gets blocked, in a more round-about way, of course.

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