Symphony

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

Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, December 13, 2021

China responds with propaganda. A lot more keeps happening more. It’s too much for China to track. But, when the US pontificates about democracy, China leaps to opine first. The problem is the vibe. It’s not about what we say, but about the vibes created by our actions.

Perhaps both the US and China labeled it wrong. It’s not democracy that won; it’s freedom. Freedom in the market, freedom in speech, freedom in religion, freedom in family—all these are valued by one country and despised by another country. So, the free country gets hate from the opinionated country.

As for other zingers China can’t track, Guatemala, Honduras, and now Germany plan only stronger ties with Taiwan. Nicaragua switched for China this week, making it a three for one to the Confucian Communist team.

You see, that’s the sneaky thing about China’s own problems. Russia is simply Marxist to the core. China always has and always will ever love Confucius more than Marx. Confucius was the greater hater of freedom. That’s why Russia poses a real threat while China just threatens and poses.

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

Japan set to increase military spending // Taipei Times

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

Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, June 21, 2021

China is facing massive resentment against its own Communist Party from inside its own borders. Members of ordinary society stab Communist Party members and are regarded heroes. The party of self-importance on the world stage isn’t only hated by the rest of the world, but also by the people it oppresses at home. CCP does not have the support it claims. That’s just another lie.

Taiwan is having to pull staff from its Hong Kong office. The Hong Kong government wouldn’t give work visas to the Taiwan government without them agreeing to the “One China” policy—which apparently was not part of an agreement from 2011. Hong Kong didn’t agree with Taiwan before adding the new requirement. Not having work visas on this account, Hong Kong told the Taiwan office workers to leave for not having work visas. The puppets in Hong Kong’s government never had the gonads to say that they kicked out Taiwan for not agreeing to CCP’s desire to redraw the world map against the will of the world. Those Taiwanese are heroes.

Taiwan’s pandemic is calming down. After Pfizer’s fling with the mildly popular CCP became the excuse to deny Taiwan its vaccines—and after 49 people died after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine, the US boosted its donation of Moderna vaccines from 700k to 2.5M. Rest assured, the CCP will show the world more of its loving attitude in response.

China

Revenge Attacks! China’s Mass Stabbing Crisis! // youtube.com

Now NATO
Beijing tells Nato to stop hyping up China threat // BBC News

Taiwan

US envoy to Taiwan posts vaccine-love photo
美國在台協會 AIT – ??美國在台協會期待明天即將抵台的250萬劑莫德納疫苗，此批疫苗由美國政府捐助，數量包含了6… // Facebook

U.S. to deliver 2.5 million doses of Moderna vaccine to Taiwan Sunday // Focus Taiwan

COVID-19: US sending 2.5 million Moderna shots // Taipei Times

Seven officials recalled from TECO Hong Kong // Taipei Times

The world relies on one chip maker in Taiwan, leaving everyone vulnerable // Mint

President of Taiwanese pro-China group dies from COVID // Taiwan News

Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, January 11, 2021

Let’s look past the fact that Chinese state media doesn’t know what it means to be “cowardly”. Pompeo rejecting Chinese Communist preferences on US policy with Taiwan is not “cowardly”, at worst it would be “foolish” or “over-confidence”; but “cowardly” would mean letting someone else tell the US what to do. Likewise, China is not “cowardly” either; it is “foolish” and “over-confident”. But, the Chinese don’t know the difference, just how they don’t know this decision on Taiwan is meant to provoke China to commit strategic folly. Let’s look past all that.

What is Trump doing? Biden’s strings held by China were well known before they were secluded by the socialist-minded media in the US. By lacing up ties with Taiwan, Trump forces any future White House attempts to let China dictate policy to be seen for what they are. No president or secretary of state would be politically allowed to back down on Taiwan relations without being exposed as a Chinese manchurian candidate.

In the past, socialist media in the US—which is nearly all media in the US—acted as mouthpieces for Communist Russian propaganda. Now, they act as Communist Chinese tools to install a president owned by China—Biden—all the while publishing bad news about China. From the US perspective, there is a pregnant need to protect the US government from saboteurs—shoes which fit Biden and the primary failure Harris perfectly. Trump taking action that would force Chinese-owned saboteurs to tip their hands only makes sense. But, that still doesn’t explain what is going on.

We must not assume that America is in a peaceful transition from one undisputedly elected president to the next. But, of course China hoped for that. The bipartisan-orchestrated chaos in Washington and state capitals comes as a surprise to the Chinese. If they knew what was coming, they wouldn’t have wasted their time snuggling up to Biden last month. So, because they think this capital chaos was a surprise to them, it was therefore not part of a rouse to make them think America is weak. But, that still doesn’t explain what is going on.

Follow the money. Who makes money off China thinking America is vulnerable? Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics. They don’t need to be part of any conspiracy; only a few stakeholders do—perhaps not even shareholders, perhaps only suppliers of suppliers. However things play out in the dual-fated cities of Washington and Taipei, it will happen that American weapons contractors make the most profit. We are looking at a short and costly skirmish where neither those weapons contractors’ customers are defeated, nor are their profitable enemies. The South Sea is the perfect place. And, China is the perfect dupe to take the bait.

China

The Latest: Scores test positive in China’s Hebei province // AP

China orders military to be ready for war ‘at any second’ as Brit aircraft carrier prepares to sail to South China Sea // The Sun

WHO Covid team blocked from entering China to study origins of coronavirus // CNN

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma suspected missing after calling for economic reform: report // Fox Business

Taiwan

Chinese state media blast latest Pompeo move on Taiwan // AP

Officials welcome Pompeo’s decision to lift restrictions on contact with Taiwan // Taipei Times

US ends limits on Taiwan contact // Taipei Times

Korean Peninsula

South Korea New Aircraft Carrier: Looks Like Royal Navy Carrier // Popular Mechanics

Military Faceoff

UK says aircraft carrier strike group is ready to deploy. China’s already watching // CNN

Marines and Japanese troops train together to capture islands, coastal areas // Stripes

Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, August 24, 2020

These days, Taiwan is the perfect poster boy in China bashing. Yes, China needs to be confronted. No, China can’t own the world. Yes, China wants to own the world. Yes, China responds to anything and everything like a friendless student carrying a Grandiosity complex. But, that doesn’t mean mindless China bashing will help.

We are engaged in mindless China bashing.

Learn from Germany. WWII developed because the free world punished and insulted Germany after WWI. We need healing, gentle leadership, and grace. Trouble maker countries must be coached and guided, not merely insulted and smeared. Whatever conflict we see with China on the horizon, it will only grow back with a vengeance if we fail to handle it correctly now.

In the China bashing narrative, Taiwan is the perfect innocent—the victim everyone pities. Poor little Taiwan struggles to stay afloat with the tsunami of Chinese conflict. But, as part of that narrative, don’t deify the poster boy.

Taiwan has many of its own problems that go unreported. It’s people are friendly in many ways, but also oblivious. Success with the pneumoniavirus developed a Royalty complex, where Taiwan has a higher regard for itself without understanding the foreign nations that struggle with relations, investment, and trade in these times. There is a growing reputation Taiwan’s government continues to set for itself and Taiwan will need to face that sooner or later.

Taiwan’s troubles are not uninvited. But, when we over-simplify global conflicts, brainwashed thinking wants pure villains attacking pure victims. There is no such thing. And, a peaceful future requires us to stop living a news narrative of fantasy.

China

China’s Communist Party is a threat to the world, says former elite insider // CNN

South China Sea: Asean states set course for Beijing’s red line // SCMP

Why Did a Chinese Diplomat Walk All Over People on a Pacific Island? // NY Times

Former CIA officer charged with spying for China // NBC News

China’s Xi Jinping facing widespread opposition in his own party, insider claims // Guardian

Taiwan

Destroyer makes Navy’s 10th trip through Taiwan Strait this year // Stripes

Basketball star Jeremy Lin has obtained Taiwan passport // Taiwan News

U.S. Tries to Bolster Taiwan’s Status, Short of Recognizing Sovereignty // NY Times

US boosts Taiwan’s status without recognizing sovereignty // Taiwan News

Taiwan to alter emergency energy guidelines amid escalated cross-strait tensions // Taiwan News

Hong Kong

Blamer mode at its finest:
Is the US encouraging murderers and rapists to hide in Hong Kong by suspending extradition treaty? // SCMP

US suspends Hong Kong extradition treaty over new security law // CNN

Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, August 17, 2020

The ability to attain and maintain peace is special, especially these days. It’s what government should do, but doesn’t always know how. The police in Kalamazoo, Michigan did the right thing by being close enough to act if needed, but not being the “main event”. The role of the police is to preserve the peace, not to prevent the consequences of a radical group choosing to provoke another radical group. Conflict only lasted 10 minutes, then quickly calmed down. Less could be said for other parts of the nation.

Our president’s brother passed away at 71, God rest his soul. As the family grieves, business in the nation continues.

Israel now has formal ties with the UAE, which could mean direct flights between Dubai and Jerusalem. The Palestinians aren’t happy; the world isn’t surprised. This affects the Unites States on the international stage as well as the election. Foreign relations help at the ballot box.

Biden has all but formally announced the VP nominee. It won’t matter because he doesn’t stand a chance of winning. Headlines about the Democratic ticket doomed to fail do little more than distract Democratic voters who don’t know they have been duped by the media into a false hope based on false fears and slanted polls. But, those lies sure do sell newspapers!

Trouble is on the rise. It comes in spurts, but it is growing. People are moving out of Californian cities. Protests continue in Portland and Seattle. The trouble is complex, much of it is deserved, and much of it is necessary for our nation to confront the issues that keep us from healing from our past. The only way out is through. To do that, we’ll need to listen to each other.

Russianewsgategate

Former FBI lawyer set to plead guilty to altering email during Russia investigation // CNN

Trump

Robert Trump, the president’s younger brother, dead at 71 // Yahoo News

Election

Fox’s Baier pushes back after Pirro says Biden might not be on Democratic ticket // The Hill

Biden picks Kamala Harris as VP nominee // Politico

‘It sends a strong signal’: Black voters respond to Kamala Harris’ nomination // Guardian

What Kamala Harris Means for Feminism // The Atlantic

Kamala Harris and the New Democratic Party Coalition // The Atlantic

On record:
How Donald Trump has already handed Joe Biden a debate win // CNN

On record:
The Republican Senate nightmare is coming true // CNN

Joe Biden VP rankings: The *final* list // CNN

White House

What are the 4 new executive orders for COVID relief? Here are the details you should know // CNET

Activism, Unrest & Protests

Seattle police arrest 3 after property damage on Capitol Hill // Seattle Times

Seattle Police arrest 3 in Friday night protest // KOMO News

Seattle BLM protesters demand white people ‘give up’ their homes // NY Post

Portland protest declared riot; police, protesters clash // KGW8 Portland (NBC)

Protesters skirmish, fire pepper spray in Portland // KOMO News

Portland protest declared riot Saturday; afternoon counter-protest ends in reports of gunshots // The Oregonian

Fights erupt, police report multiple injuries as protesters clash in downtown Kalamazoo // WWMT West Michigan (CBS)

Proud Boys, antifa clash in downtown Kalamazoo // Detroit News

WOOD news coverage
Proud Boys, counter-protesters clash in Kalamazoo // YouTube @ WOOD TV8

Street violence in Kalamazoo – Antifa & BLM attack Proud Boys // YouTube @ Cincy32

Raw Fight between Proud Boys vs Antifa BLM in Kalamazoo Michigan // YouTube @ nico bellic

Human Rights, Civil Liberties & Privacy

NPR fires weatherman for comparing Seattle riots to Germany in 1938 on his personal blog // Watts Up With That?

NPR station boots weatherman off air for comparing Seattle riots to Kristallnacht in Nazi Germany on his personal blog – American Thinker // American Thinker

NPR Weatherman Fired for Accurately Describing Dystopian Seattle // Rush

Security & Public Safety

Speculation grows over pardon for Edward Snowden after Trump remarks // Guardian

Prices, Rates, Oil & Food

Leaving California: Is LA Doomed? Is It Time To Flee? (Pt. 3) | Bryan Callen // YouTube @ The Rubin Report

US seizure of Iran fuel bound for Venezuela was largest confiscation of its kind ever, DOJ confirms // Fox News

Science, Weather & Health

Rolling Power Outage Triggers Oakland Estuary Sewage Spill: 50,000 Gallons Discharged Into Waterway // CBS San Francisco

Flown for ‘EGLE’ by Hunter King ‘…maybe it did not like its name being misspelled’… Only in Michigan!
Bald eagle attacks state’s $950 drone in U.P., sends it to bottom of Lake Michigan // MLive.com

Greenland’s ice sheet has melted to a point of no return, study finds // CNN

Trump unveils new Covid adviser who backs reopening schools // Guardian

The new national medical voice:
Dr. Scott Atlas on new role advising White House, fate of college sports amid COVID pandemic // MSN News

Mid East

How did Israel and the UAE get to normalising relations? // Aljazeera

Explained: Israel and UAE normalise relations; here’s what it means for the Middle East // India Express

Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, August 10, 2020

China received two-and-a-half slaps in the face this week: financial sanctions against a few Chinese and Hong Kong leaders, who don’t have money in the US anyway, and the first formal diplomatic visit from America to Taiwan in over 40 years. To add “insultlett” to insults, the purported reason for the US visit was to discuss health and disease cooperation in the face of the Wuhan-famed pneumoniavirus, with Taiwan being the safest place in the world from the disease.

All of these actions from the US are perfectly understandable.

Countries should visit each other. The US is wrong for not having visited Taiwan over the last two score, just as North and South Korea are wrong for their tensions. The world needs people to talk to each other, whether in government, religion, or otherwise. At least Taiwan and the US seem to be getting along much better than Democrat and Republican voters in America.

Sanctions over Hong Kong’s turn of events are also understandable. Beijing doesn’t have jurisprudence over the world, but certain people in Beijing seem to think so and aren’t afraid to put their opinions in ink and law. No, Americans shouldn’t do business with such folk; no one should, no matter what country they’re from.

As understandable as US actions are, they are nonetheless provocative. We can’t expect Beijing to be happy. America found the perfect storm, and bet the bank that people in the Pentagon know what’s going on. But, something seems different in this week’s volley of cross-Pacific insults: Beijing didn’t pop a hernia like it usually does.

Could the Chinese Communists be learning to not feed taunts from the US? Or, more likely, has Beijing read the clear message of actions and decided to quietly plan retaliatory “messages” of action in ways other than rhetoric? The next few months will tell us.

Great Pacific

China increasingly worried about ‘losing face’ as Japan bankrolls exodus of firms // SCMP

China

China seals off village after bubonic plague death // Independent

South China Sea on knife-edge after Chinese fighters swoop low over disputed islands // Express

Taiwan

US begins highest-level visit in decades // Taipei Times

Foreign students in Taiwan cry out for help over quarantine // Taiwan News

US health secretary to arrive in Taiwan Aug. 9 // Taiwan News

China opposes US military drone sale to Taiwan // Taiwan News

US announces ‘highest level’ visit in decades to Taiwan // Yahoo News

Hong Kong

China urged to avoid retaliation over US sanctions on officials behind Hong Kong security law // SCMP

‘Shameless and despicable’: Hong Kong decries US sanctions on officials over national security law // SCMP

National security law: Hong Kong says it ‘strongly deplored and opposed’ US consulate statement // SCMP

Korean Peninsula

North Korea working on ‘miniaturized’ nuclear devices: UN report // CNN

Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, January 27, 2020

Trying to be polite or indirect while not taking no for an answer does not give anyone a right to make trouble. When someone gives a decisive, "No," decent people accept that answer, then move on somehow. But, China doesn't seem able to do that. In Beijing's thought, relentlessly pushing forward, no matter how many more thousands hate them by the day, China is being polite to Hong Kong. They are being indirect. By not giving up, the Chinese Communists believe they have very politely told Hong Kongers how things will be, thereby justifying whatever manslaughter China chooses to invoke.

It's not as if China has a lot of time to worry about telling other people what to do. Hong Kong was designed in its Basic Law to be largely autonomous. That means that Hong Kong can take care of itself, should China need to put energies into other matters—such as stopping the African swing flu or the Wuhan coronavirus.

China's choices led to a landslide re-election for the de facto independence president of Taiwan. She says there is no independence to declare because Taiwan can't possibly be any more independent than it already is. Some in Beijing might think that means Taiwan has reached its limit; but anyone in the West knows that means Taiwan already has the fullest measure of independence as defined. Yes, many in Beijing might not know that.

Vietnam reached a similar vague point in gearing up for military strength in ASEAN. Buying boats from India is also on Vietnam's agenda—yes, India is another country China has managed to aggravate.

Why do things unfold this way in China's back yard? It's not that China is so much evil as it is immature. But, we tend to stay immature when we age, if we won't open up to the outside world. Rather than helping China learn, the West just dumped money and emboldened a brat, all so we could save a few pennies on our stuff. Who is really being the most unfair to who? Friends know when to accept a no because friends know when to say, "No."

Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, January 13, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1mYwT8NUFk

The Iranian government's alibi—or "explanation", rather—of how it shot down a passenger jet from Ukraine is entirely believable. Barring some grandiose conspiracy, there would be no imaginable motive for any government—friend or foe, even a terrorist sponsor like Iran—to use government assets to kill civilians.

The Iranian military's story is believable to any Westerner who has spend more than three years in a first-world or second-world country. Sadly, poorer parts of America have similar cultures, poorer White communities as well as minorities. Any autocratic, bossy, domineering culture can easily make severe miscalculations. They do it in Sunday morning congregations all the time.

According to CNN, according to Iran, their government was on high alert, then misidentified a plane from Ukraine as it turned toward a Revolutionary Guard base. In sum, that led to a snap judgment, what Iran calls "human error". The Iranian government wants to put systems in place to avoid such miscalculations in the future. In the West, we call that "growing up"—learning how to not make rush judgements.

While Iran's story is believable to any Western expat with experience in a developing country, most Americans don't know the degree to which immature people run many governments of the world. Part of being a first-world nation means that people in the government need to be mature.

Iran learning from its mistake could be the most significant turning point where Iran's government learns the "confident humility" needed to govern with maturity. If that happens, Sec. Mike Pompeo's goal of Iran behaving "like a normal country" will come true. Iran claimed that their military was on high alert in the first place because of tensions surrounding the strike in Iraq. In short, killing Qassem Soleimani helped Iran.

Now, the task is for Americans to understand other people enough to understand why being immature cost the lives of 176 people. Whether at home, the office, or in government, immaturity is the source of much injustice—a lesson which Americans will learn, eventually.

Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, December 30, 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=604GfnuPNGg

We are headed toward a massive inquisition of police. It could be known as the "Hong Kong Trials", where each police officer who served since June is combed over and evaluated for every step taken at every single protest, then tried under international law. It's not immediately around the corner, but the current powers governing Hong Kong are doing everything they can to make that day inevitable.

Over the holidays, neither protestors nor police took a break, except for a brief moment on Christmas at midnight, when protestors were the adults in the room to pause for a moment in honor of something greater. Many had Christmas dinner away from their families, largely due to East Asian culture's dogma toward older family members. Authoritarianism generally drives away people who are self-motivated and take initiative, family being a least exception. Older generations in Hong Kong don't understand that. Neither does Beijing. This Christmas, many middle aged and elderly parents faced the question posed by empty seats at many a dinner table: Do you love your children more than your desire for compliance? To some extent, families will be reconciled in due course; parents who refuse will lose even more.

Taiwan had its own drama over the holidays. An accused Chinese mole, formerly in Taiwan's military, is being hung out to dry for purportedly recruiting more moles. Former president Ma is accusing the Control Yuan of interfering by questioning the judge who let him off scot-free. That stands to reason since the Control Yuan was effectively shut down during his tenure, which, unbeknownst to most, gave even greater rise the Sunflower Movement of 2014. As if Taiwan hadn't its fill of holiday joy, US Congress is now working on a bill that will formalize the US envoy to Taiwan as a full ambassador—requiring presidential appointment and Senate approval. That is about as close to recognizing Taiwan as a country without recognizing Taiwan as a country as a country can get. China won't be happy, but the Taiwanese sure thought it was a very Merry Christmas!

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