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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, July 12, 2021

The case against China keeps sprawling—trade, currency, COVID, now SAARS. Understanding China is such a key in global public opinion, it has become a case against Biden that political grandstanding and demagoguery can use without spinning facts. But being a world where all bad press is censored press instead of good press, China won’t understand the trouble it wove itself into.

As if the list of global grievances wasn’t enough, China joins with North Korea in appearances and rhetoric. A Pacific skirmish involving the Chinese would drag in the Norks. That means that NATO allies and India could deal with the world’s menace, help the UK regain Hong Kong, recognize democracy in Taiwan, and unify the Korean peninsula in one move. While China and North Korea see their agreement as a strength, the West sees an opportunity.

China

Biden administration ‘doesn’t understand’ China challenge // Sky News AU

China, N Korea pledge cooperation ‘in face of foreign hostility’ // Aljazeera

China says it will retaliate after US blacklists companies // Aljazeera

China Law Professor SILENCED After Mentioning Organ Harvesting // YouTube @ China Uncensored

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, May 31, 2021

China is in many crosshairs and Taiwan won’t have water trouble tomorrow. A long drought was going to put limits on TSMC’s chip maker in Taiwan. But, some heavy rain over the weekend and into Monday saved the day. While water rationing has yet to be implemented or delayed at press time, things are looking up, including water levels in Taiwan reservoirs.

Water wasn’t Taiwan’s only problem. A small COVID outbreak has put the nation on partial lockdown. Numbers have slowly been creeping down, but Taipei Mayor Ko is practicing for a level-up in security steps if it became necessary. But, then there is the issue of masks and vaccines.

While Taiwanese face their own trouble, they still donate masks to other countries in need. And, while Taiwan’s government seeks the Pfizer vaccine, the president says China is meddling, making access difficult. Reportedly, China signed some regional distribution rights contract with Pfizer, but unless the vaccine is ordered from Pfizer directly, the vaccine comes with no warranty. Given many recent events, including the undetermined origins of the COVID pneumoniavirus, Taiwan is unlikely to place non-warranted orders for the vaccine through China.

As for verifying any Chinese connection to COVID, China has opposed investigations that would stand to vindicate China. Australia called for an inquiry; China responded with sanctions. Them seem like fightin’ words. Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand met over the weekend to discuss this very matter.

China is in many crosshairs, and it took a lot of work to get there. The Chinese probably won’t want to leave any crosshairs anytime soon. But, Western consumers bought from China. So, it was a team effort.

Indo-Pacific

If China rebuilds Kiribati airstrip, it could spy on US Pacific Fleet // Taiwan News

Taiwan

Rain pelts down in Taiwan to provide drought relief // Taiwan News

Taipei to simulate Level 4 COVID alert Sunday // Taiwan News

‘F9’ star John Cena says he loves China after Taiwan remark stokes anger // CNN

Tsai says China’s meddling preventing Taiwan from getting Pfizer vaccine // Taiwan News

Taiwan accuses China for blocking deal with BioNTech for COVID-19 vaccines // Yahoo India

Taiwan criticizes China over Pfizer vaccine deal, and Wuhan lab theory irks Beijing // MarketWatch

Australia

Scott Morrison says Beijing ‘seeking to divide’ Australia and New Zealand // News.com.au

Morrison in New Zealand for talks amid differences on China // Aljazeera

Military Faceoff

Battleship diplomacy: Britain’s new aircraft carrier joins NATO, has message for China // Yahoo India

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Encore of Revival: America, May 17, 2021

The establishment is all out against Trump. They’d have you believe that Republicans were Liberals from the beginning—that Republicans actually thought like Democrats from the beginning—that the Republican Party is the party of getting along with people who will never accept friendship, but only your defeat—that original, true Republicans stand only for getting along at the expense of competence and survival. Somewhere along the line, the Republican Party was commandeered. Now, this minority acts as if they represent everyone; and their marketing seems very convincing.

In truth, we can get along. We should find peace within disagreement. We can keep quality and competence while also being respectful and gaining respect. But, these are not the main drive of this self-appointed group of uninvited spokesmen for the Republican establishment. They tout these universal values as their pass to develop a party that is Republican in-name-only while promoting closet Democratic Party values.

Now that their grand enemy, Trump, seems to be fading in the establishment’s narrative, the COVID virus also seems to be less and less relevant. The only thing that remains constant is the power of the Court, now headed toward a showdown with abortion.

Election

Republican Arizona election official says Trump ‘unhinged’ // Politico

Trump’s grip over Republicans hardens as party cleaves to election ‘big lie’ // Guardian

Law

The Supreme Court is facing a showdown over abortion this week // Vox

Republicans

Ignore the hype of Republicans threatening to ‘break away’ over Trump – Cas Mudde // Guardian

Opinion: Vote against Liz Cheney proves GOP’s only ideology now is revenge // NBC News

Scandal, Graft & White Collar Crime

Rightwingers tried to discredit Trump ‘foes’ with honey trap plot – report // Guardian

Pandemic

‘Today is a great day for America’: Biden removes his mask as CDC relaxes guidance – as it happened // Guardian

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Encore of Revival: America, April 5, 2021

So much for competency. An infrastructure bill is good, but look at the border. A president changes. Presidential policy changes. Then, chaos erupts at the border. Some people can’t figure out the cause.

In the George Floyd murder case, doctors can’t agree on the cause of death—the State can’t even agree on the cause of death. Outrage! But, no one should question the cause of death for COVID deaths. Perhaps if George Floyd had COVID at the time, doctors would have declared it a COVID death, then no one would be able to question it.

In the Trayvon Martin case, prosecution sabotaged their own case by pursuing premeditated murder rather than thoroughly building a case for manslaughter. Since manslaughter was only mentioned as an afterthought in the final moments of the trial, the jury of six ladies couldn’t convict. Who knows what kind of other nonsense will surface in the George Floyd murder trial.

So, we can’t agree on the cause of chaos at the border. We can’t agree on the cause of death with George Floyd. We can’t even figure out that a Florida toxic waste reservoir is in disrepair. Apparently we want things to get worse before we make things better.

Trump

Donald Trump uses new website to rewrite history of his presidency // Guardian

Scandal, Graft & White Collar Crime

Florida’s DeSantis, ’60 Minutes’ clash over COVID vaccine rollout // Axios

News Media, Journalism & Free speech

Glenn Greenwald Robbed at Gunpoint // Mediaite

Foreigners & International Relations

CHAOS REIGNS AT THE BORDER – LevinTV // Facebook

Security & Public Safety

U.S. Capitol Police officer dies after attacker rammed car into checkpoint; suspect also dead // NBC News

Cause of death at issue in Chauvin trial as prosecution questions medical examiner’s findings // MSN News

Markets, Economy & GDP

Here’s what’s in Biden’s infrastructure proposal // CNN

Science, Weather & Health

Florida declares state of emergency as reservoir with millions of gallons of ‘contaminated, radioactive wastewater’ leaks // CBS News

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, December 14, 2020

Hit pieces against China are coming out as if from an avalanche. More dangerous, they are coupled with Western plans of military expansion in China’s back yard. From Xinjiang teens to disappearing journalists to Australian wine to spies in America to colleges—to a global virus pandemic—Western readers have no rest from bad news of China.

The equation has been there and in play. America’s election appears stolen to 75% of Republican voters and 30% of Democrats. Elections require agreement on results in order to function. Lack of agreement on a trustworthy election is unusual as it is staggering. That’s a mandate for Trump to take drastic action, deny Biden’s inauguration, and take measures to remain in office that can’t avoid national inflammation.

As inevitable American conflict in January comes into closer view coupled with such bad press on China, the US strategy in the West Pacific is more and more difficult to deny. China was always the perfect distraction from the mess at home. The problem is that the American populous no longer responds as usual. A national attack may not have the uniting effect it once did—at least not uniting enough to keep any president in office in the face of an election so disputed.

Taiwan continues the role as the “China virus” poster boy. The Taiwanese handle things so well, don’t they. Strict rules on breaking quarantine—punishing a foreigner with thousands in fines for walking in the hallway outside his room for eight seconds—but Taiwanese officials forgot to lock the quarantine door because the world is supposed to believe Taiwan is so careful, right?

At some point, it should become obvious that we are playing a game of charades with who is good and bad—or at least on who is how good and how bad. As China’s role is to be the common enemy for divided Americans and a divided West to unite against, China’s big mistake—over decades and to this day—was to play that role all too gladly. A shoe was made and China chose to fit it.

Indo-Pacific

Britain to send largest warship, carrier strike group to Indian Ocean next year // Hindustan Times

China

Chinese authorities detain Bloomberg news assistant // Taiwan News

China replies over latest wine tariffs as Australia’s Trade Minister lashes out at Beijing // News.com.au

Chaguan – China is doubling down in Xinjiang // The Economist

Eric Swalwell says he did not share sensitive information with suspected Chinese spy // CNN

‘Being young’ leads to detention in China’s Xinjiang region // Guardian

Pompeo warns of Chinese threat to US colleges, says many ‘basically bought’ by Beijing // Fox News

South China Sea: Beijing’s military bases in disputed waters would be very difficult to defend, report claims // CNN

Taiwan

Man fined $3,500 for breaking Taiwan quarantine for 8 seconds // CNN

Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s Carrie Lam faces Japan bank freeze-out as Tokyo says it will abide by US sanctions // SCMP

Exiled Hong Kong legislator calls for action after HSBC bank accounts frozen // Guardian

Military Faceoff

Navy’s Future Light Amphibious Ships Will Be Designed to Operate Off China’s Coast // Military.com

Makin Island ARG Operating in the South China Sea While Beijing Claims U.S. ‘Muscle Flexing’ // USNI News

The US Navy wants to find ships to kill using aerial drones launched from submarines // Defense News

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Encore of Revival: America, October 5, 2020

People need to see their leader. It’s a national security issue. Is the one in charge alive and well? Rumors about Kim Jong-Un’s health often send tremors of doubt through and around North Korea. We don’t want the same doubt in America. Doctor’s, however, have a narrower and more specific perspective.

Presidents get sick. This is something that happens to almost every president sooner or later. Not if, but when it happens, gossip columns circle questions about transitions of power, mostly to capitalize on curiosity from the country.

President Trump’s diagnosis with the pneumoniavirus will lionize him in the minds of the electorate. Now, he is more involved and affected by the virus and is no longer an outsider. He is the victim of China and champion of the people. That’s the political script playing out. It can’t hurt him in the election, only boost his numbers—because of how he responds.

He learns. He stays strong. He takes precautions. He hates the unpopular masks. He defies doctors’ orders—something most Americans love doing. He quarantines himself—something most Americans identify with. He keeps working—because we’re all depending on him. Without this response, he would have hurt his own numbers. He chose to respond with “involved strength”. Everything is okay if we make it okay, and that’s what the president did.

As for the Senate, they found their excuse to step up the suspense and delay of confirming Amy Coney Barrett. Isn’t that a politically miraculous coincidence!

Equally coincidental are China and Biden. Neither can say bad things about a man who is sick in the hospital. That’d be like punching a man with glasses. China has to roll back its aggression in the South and East seas or else be seen as an even greater aggressor by the rest of the West.

It’s funny how things always seem to work out. None of this was planned, not in the least. It was all a miraculous, convenient coincidence. Nothing more.

Russianewsgategate

Mueller prosecutor: If GOP retains House, ‘we need criminal lawyers’ because they are ‘bats— crazy’ // Business Insider

Trump

The worst they can come up with
Trump in Walter Reed Photo-Op Appears to Sign Blank Paper to Show He’s Well and ‘Relentless’ // Newsweek

Hit piece
Walter Reed Covid doctor slams Trump for ‘risking lives for political theater’ as everyone in drive-by ‘must quarantine’ // The Sun

‘Little surprise’
Trump leaves hospital to visit supporters outside gate // RTÉ

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows confirms Trump’s condition deteriorated on Friday // Fox News

Inside Walter Reed where Trump will be treated for coronavirus in a secure ‘Presidential Suite’ // Daily Mail

Inside Walter Reed’s ‘Presidential Suite’ where Trump is staying // NY Post

Trump, stricken by COVID-19, flown to military hospital // AP

Trump Tests Positive for the Coronavirus // NY Times

October surprises already here
Six key findings from the New York Times’ Trump taxes bombshell | US news | The Guardian // Guardian

Election

Lindsey Graham’s Democratic Opponent Jaime Harrison Takes Him to Task From Behind a Plexiglass Shield // Daily Beast

The ‘Yiwu Index’: How a Chinese city could predict the result of the US Presidential election // YouTube @ South China Morning Post

Biden’s negative Trump ads are already deactivated on Facebook. Looks like anything mentioning Trump at all are inactive… // Twitter @oneunderscore__

First presidential debate 2020
Full Debate: President Trump and Joe Biden // YouTube @ Wall Street Journal

Now *iss tests before debates
Biden camp clapback: Trump’s best debate case ‘made in urine’ // Politico

Law

Judge rules Barr violated law in selecting law enforcement panel members // CNN

Amy Coney Barrett confirmation: Inside the White House’s plan to deploy ‘knife fighters’ to defend nominee // Fox News

Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett to US Supreme Court // Financial Times

Will four Republican senators break with their party on RBG’s Supreme Court seat? // Politico

Senate GOP set to vote on Trump’s Supreme Court pick before election // The Hill

Congress

Ron Johnson: Senate GOP’s third positive Covid-19 case threatens quick Barrett confirmation // CNN

White House

Journalists who work at the White House are testing positive for Covid-19 // CNN

Rank & Defense

New high-speed Army satellites accelerate attacks on enemy tanks // Fox News

Radical Extremism & Terrorism

Inside ISIS’ new capital as terrorists carry out beheadings and take sex slaves // Daily Star

Science, Weather & Health

Chris Christie tests positive. Former governor checks himself into hospital as a precaution // CNN

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Encore of Revival: America, August 10, 2020

The pneumoniavirus is scheduled to finish by the end of October—at least that’s what it would seem like from international news. India, Mexico, Great Britain, even the US—October’s end and the pneumoniavirus’s end coincide with a great number of predictions, plans, lockdown spans, and, don’t forget, America’s election season.

Did Trump really lose a donor? Reports that he did come only from people commenting on his side of a single phone call. Remember, no one makes the amount of money under discussion by being offended. We must choose to either be offended or be rich; this donor’s choice was obvious.

There’s no way in money’s green Earth a man who has given so much and made so much more would change his strategy of our political future and security based on a misunderstanding in a single phone call. But, the voters such a rouse is meant to target haven’t learned that. The political establishment class seeks to keep poor people poor by playing on common misconceptions about the wealthy, rather than trying to educate the masses on the easy and simple principles of success. If you want to win, never let yourself get offended. No one is ever as offended as the bull about to die in the ring of a bullfight.

Beirut—there’s too much suspicion. The proximity of the grain storehouses, the fact that half of the shock wave went safely out to sea, why an undelivered shipment wasn’t removed to save the expense of wasted warehousing on prime real estate, and an aloof political class to easily blame—conspiracy theories can’t not fly. It’s not about evidence of conspiracy, but rather circumstances that sing in unison. This tragedy will provide valuable telemetry to indifferent researchers in the context of escalating global tension. What will cities look like when bombs go off? Thanks to this “accident” in Beirut, we now know. Motives and alibis are everywhere.

The yeah-boo is that Lebanese are accustomed to living in a war-ravaged country. They will shine through this smelly tragedy better than most in the West would—with sorrow, perseverance, and well-earned grudges. The West will watch, help, and hopefully learn. Maybe some of us will learn to shine from the Lebanese people.

Trump

Trump would reportedly ‘show off’ the capabilities of weapons systems he was briefed on to impress billionaires // Yahoo News

Trump ‘antagonizes’ one of his biggest donors in ‘heated’ call // Independent

Election

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer met with Biden to discuss VP job, sources say // CNN

Trump’s campaign knocks on a million doors a week. Biden’s knocks on zero. // Politico

51%
Daily Presidential Tracking Poll // Rasmussen

Rank & Defense

US Military Gets 1st Black Service Chief as Gen. ‘CQ’ Brown Takes Charge of Air Force // Yahoo News

US in the UN

France, Germany quit WHO reform talks over US involvement: Reuters // Business Insider

Foreigners & International Relations

‘Most sophisticated tunnel in US history’ discovered between Mexico and Arizona // Guardian

Science, Weather & Health

COVID-19 pandemic unlikely to end before October in India: IIT-Kharagpur study // Down To Earth (India)

Mexico’s coronavirus outbreak could end by October // El Universal

Opinion | The Coronavirus Could Be Controlled by October With the Right Steps // NY Times

Coronavirus: Expert claims, Corona to finish from September-October, vaccine will come until new yr // Pledge Times

“There’s no inconsistency, Congressman.”
Rep. Jim Jordan asks Dr. Fauci if nationwide protests helped spread the coronavirus // YouTube @ PBS NewsHour

Mid East

Lebanon information minister quits in first cabinet resignation since blast // Guardian

Ammonium nitrate that exploded in Beirut bought for mining, Mozambican firm says // CNN

Beirut explosion: Before-and-after images // BBC News

Explained: What happened in deadly Beirut explosion // YouTube @ Sky News

Beirut explosion: UN warns of Lebanon humanitarian crisis // BBC News

In pictures: Beirut rocked by huge explosion // CNN

 

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Encore of Revival: America, July 20, 2020

America is facing a crisis. Powerful forces with big money pull the strings. Had they pulled the strings differently, the world might not be in the situation it is in. Look at the Gates Foundation funding of the World Health Organization. What kind of sway was squandered in that influence?

While an epidemic that seemed to be passing resurges, Democratic voters turn to government guidelines while Republican voters turn to the Republican party. People are distracted with solving the current crisis, in a strong struggle over how.

Meanwhile in Washington, Senator Biden toys with the idea of removing the Senate rule allowing the filibuster—that would require only 51 Senate votes for most laws to pass instead of 60. With Americans—from both sides of the political schism—turning to government to solve today’s problems, a powerful Senate could become the most dangerous tool in the world.

As for Trump’s re-election, we see a massive push from Left-leaning media to paint the election as a Republican failure. Their arguments are based on what is right and reasonable from a Left wing view. But, whether correct or a matter of opinion, elections aren’t determined by what is right or wrong or reasonable; elections are determined by the popular vote. Right now, right or wrong, reported or ignored, Trump supporters are the majority.

We can’t trust surveys to say otherwise because those surveys always forecast Republican failure around this time in every election year. No Republican victory was ever reported as anything other than a surprise by the media, not even Fox News in 2016. So, if a Republican victory looks like it would be a surprise, historically speaking, that only makes it all the more likely.

Biden’s campaign is based on encouragement through difficult times and incompetence of the current president. His ads are long. Without difficult times or incompetence of the incumbent, Biden has no message. His appeals are akin to Jimmy Carter’s in the election he lost.

Trump’s campaign is built on his own competence, campaign promises he kept through laws, orders, and appointments, and resolve to continue pushing. His ads are short and sometimes censored on the internet.

The difference in the two campaigns, by itself, is enough to determine the outcome. As for the Democratic view that Trump was incompetent with the pneumoniavirus outbreak, Trump supporters blame Democratic politicians, Bill Gates, and China. They fear as much as Democratic voters, and they have their reason to keep their Republican vote unchanged. The epidemic doesn’t change votes, it only increases how adamant voters are on not changing their votes.

Unlike Republican voters, Democrat voters know the issues to address, but they don’t know how things happen in the world. So, the inevitable Trump victory in November will surprise them. Then, they will go into rage and possible riots. The Senate could grab for power as could China.

In tough times, people awaken. These are tough times. We will get through them. But, it won’t be smooth sailing.

Election

Even Donald Trump knows he is in deep, deep trouble in the 2020 race // CNN

Congress

Joe Biden signals possible support for ending filibuster that could completely change how US laws are made // Independent

Scandal, Graft & White Collar Crime

Coronavirus update: Florida labs not reporting negative test results, report says // Fox News

Spin control… truth 10%, not 98% …so the Tweet was false?
Florida’s recent record day for COVID-19 might not have been quite that high // wtsp.com

Pandemic

Target, CVS join Walmart in requiring face masks at all U.S. stores // WA Post

A Simple Step to Help Keep You Safe: Walmart and Sam’s Club Require Shoppers to Wear Face Coverings // corporate.walmart.com

 

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Encore of Revival: America, May 25, 2020

The Left’s reckoning is on its way. Many police officers in many states and counties refuse to enforce lockdown orders from governors. It may seem that the reckoning is already here, but we haven’t reached November yet.

While Democratic governors irritate and aggravate the public—thinking it will stir victory in November—some voters may be throwing in the towel. The DNC and mainstream news narrative was that “Trump stole the election”. Democratic voters may be statistically inclined to believe what government and news say, but they are not as stupid as the DNC thinks they are. If Trump stole the election, some might think there is no point in voting in the next election.

Then, there are pneumoniavirus death rates. The Guardian reports that three times as many Black people died as White. If that were true—considering that the DNC prides itself as the party for minorities—that means Democrats lost voters. With Democratic governors and their lockdown orders not having saved Black lives that matter, why would remaining Blacks continue to support Democrats? If indeed “medical murder” were involved as some have claimed… Let’s just say that the more stories that get uncovered, the more it looks like the Democratic Party-news cartel only hurts itself as the only solution to hurting itself.

Then there are lies, then darn lies, then statistics. The press cartel often uses reporting and polling to sway public opinion. But, they make sure to include a few last-page “could-be” stories so that when their false reporting doesn’t change the election outcome as they wanted, they can still claim that they are credible news sources. Harry Enten at CNN looked over polling history of presidential re-election years and found correlations to other re-elected presidents, suggesting that—silent on the matter of Democratic governors having gained such public trust—there is a chance that Trump could be on a pathway to re-election. Ya think?

Russianewsgategate

Andrew McCarthy: Unmasking Michael Flynn — here’s what the FBI was really up to // DNyuz

Election

Trump advisers warn McSally is in trouble // Politico

Zelensky seeks probe over leaked audio of Biden linking US aid to Ukraine prosecutor’s ouster // Fox News

Whitmer says she’s not ready to welcome Trump, but he’s coming to Michigan anyway // Yahoo News

Joe Biden’s phone calls with former Ukraine president Poroshenko released // NY Post

Trump has a real shot of winning // CNN

Val Demings’ stock rises on VP shortlist // Politico

State & Local

Morning Parking Ban to Crush Chicago Churchgoers: Entire Neighborhood Gets No Parking/Tow Warning // Wirepoints

Alderman: Mayor’s Office Bans Parking On Ravenswood Streets Near Church That Plans To Hold Sunday Services // CBS Chicago

Undercover agents enforcing state health rules at restaurants, bars // MSN News

Texas salon owner travels to Michigan to back defiant barber // Yahoo News

Republicans

Long-suffering California GOP sees revival in rare House win // Yahoo News

News Media, Journalism & Free speech

Just anti-Trump
Trump threatens to permanently pull funding from WHO and ‘reconsider’ US membership // CNN

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins spars with Trump after video shows her removing mask in WH briefing room // Fox News

Security & Public Safety

Senate confirms Ratcliffe as next director of national intelligence // Fox News

Science, Weather & Health

A majority of coronavirus deaths in the US were in disproportionately black counties // The Verge

Black Americans dying of Covid-19 at three times the rate of white people // Guardian

 

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Encore of Revival: America, May 18, 2020

Democrats are in full-swing takeover mode and they aren’t sneaking past anyone. Their Regressive-Feudalist base knows it and supports it. The Conservatives know it. Trump knows it. It is an act of desperation from the Democratic Party machine that seeks permanently-dependent classes—and now, apparently, permanently-dependent States.

Polls argue that Trump is ahead in Michigan. But, Michigan residents will likely blame Michigan’s current disaster on Gretchen “Whitless” Whitmer, who is the Democratic VP Nominee Apparent. Biden needs her from such a battleground because he doesn’t stand a chance any other way.

The word is out about Bill Gates’s plans for depopulation—AKA mass genocide. Germans have had enough of uneeded lockdowns. One man held a sign adopted from the Tarantino film “Kill Bill” overlayed with a picture of the Microsoft Bill. The public will not go quietly into the night. Americans who oppose the lockdowns are by no means alone.

While Pelosi seeks to change election rules to accommodate for a virus, she clearly hopes to push this current crisis through November.  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, May 11, 2020

China must brace itself for war. Regardless of any plot from America being true or false, how Beijing handled Wuhan—or rather mishandled—will not be overlooked by the free world. Regardless of how different governments handled the outbreak, the West will see an outbreak that wouldn’t have happened if China had followed the same forthright standards that the West does. The West thought China was on its way to following standards. But, Confucian Communism knows no standard except its own authoritarianism.

How did China get this far? There is so much in China to be desired, including the Bible-based government Dr. Sun Yat-Sen started over a century ago. Chinese medicine addresses many matters of health that elude Western pharmacy. Politeness, indirection, family, and respect—these are virtues the West could have learned from China. Except, just look at what’s happening now.

The term kowtow came from Hong Kong Cantonese. Bowing and placating the bully emboldens the bully.  · · · →

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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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Encore of Revival: America, April 27, 2020

America is under a failing attack from Regressive Feudalism. They have been called “progressives”, but with the economic pandemic caused by Democrats in State governments responding to a controversial virus, we now know their true goal. They don’t represent all Democrats—such as the public-funding-minded Democratic voters. Specifically the “progressive Liberals” have not been seen until now for the “Regressive Feudalists” they actually are. This includes many Democrats in power, along with the under-40 Democratic voters who support so-called “SJWs” and “snowflake” activists.

It’s failing, the attack. While a sometimes-seen-as “fake virus” took center stage, the Regressive Feudalists saw their opportunity. They couldn’t resist confining each serf to a manor. Enter Michigan Governor Gretchen “Witless” Whitmer. For her valiantly failed attempted return to feudalism, she likely cooked her own goose twice. As the hero to the Regressives, she may have earned her vice presidential candidacy with Joe Biden, who can’t win, along with having sealed her own fate as a one-term governor.

Regressive Feudalism has permanently failed because it tried to assert itself at a time and in a way that damaged the economy. As Clinton years wisdom says, “It’s the economy, stupid.” Republicans in the Federal government have been calling for a lift on the bans, so those Republicans will claim the economic results, which will sway the election.

But, failure never stopped Regressives before. This time, an opinion writer in the New York Times has twisted the harmless nature of the controversial pneumoniavirus into a call for targeting people with no symptoms. If many, many, many people have the virus, but don’t have symptoms, then the virus must not be as bad as it is purported. But, with the Regressive worldview that everyone is a pathetic serf in need of protection from the Holy government establishment, even good news is a reason to panic.

Just the same, Sky News finally stopped hiding reports of empty hospitals after weeks of global media censorship and deleted Facebook and YouTube videos. Their spin: Empty hospitals prove that everyone is in more danger of a virus that is so dangerous that most people will never know they had it.

Somehow, all good news chalks up to all bad news for the Regressive Feudalists, now on the march. Make no mistake: They will fail just as surely as they will keep marching anyway. They want to fight; that’s why they are Feudalists.

Trump

Trump prepares to hit the road // Politico

Election

Meghan McCain: No surprise on her pick for President // CNN

State & Local

Spain lets children play as US states move at various speeds // AP

Experts worry ‘quarantine fatigue’ is starting // Stamford Advocate

On the road to Las Vegas, rural residents think coronavirus fears are overblown // Yahoo News

Lockdowns ease amid promising drops in virus deaths // Yahoo News

Democrats

Gov. Andrew Cuomo: ‘We’re not going to make America great again; it was never that great’ // ABC News America

Human Rights, Civil Liberties & Privacy

300+ views
If we don’t take our freedoms back they may not come back: Napolitano // YouTube @ Fox News

Prices, Rates, Oil & Food

International oil prices rebound following Trump warning // Financial Times

Science, Weather & Health

A call for more testing…
Most Americans Who Carry the Coronavirus Don’t Know It // NY Times

Five Gee Dangers presented before commite by Dr Sharon Goldberg // YouTube @ Didi Vanh

The Isles

Finally reporting empty hospitals
Coronavirus: The hidden health crisis // YouTube @ Sky News

Mid East

Trump tweets order to destroy harassing Iranian gunboats // AP

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Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, April 20, 2020

Just when we thought China couldn’t make itself more unpopular, China made itself more unpopular. Perhaps it was charity. Perhaps it was delusion. We don’t like thinking bad things about others, especially if we sacrificed our jobs and economies to have our stuff made more cheaply by them. Saying bad things about China was as politically incorrect as blaming the Karan for militants wanting to kill their enemies. Thinking bad things about China made Americans feel almost as guilty as thinking that voting against Obama wasn’t racist. No one wanted to say that China might be up to no good.

Why governments and global economy jockeys supposedly didn’t see it coming remains unexplained. But, all of a sudden, China is global enemy number one. The Western press has been educating the world about Taiwan in almost every Taiwan news story for the past decade. Anybody who is anybody at least asks, “What’s the relationship between China and Taiwan?” To Western taxpayers and voters, no acceptable answer will be in China’s favor. These days, China is damned if it does and more damned if it isn’t.

Governments are paying factories to dump China’s manufacturing. But, that’s not the biggest problem for the Chinese.

No one gives as much money to the World Health Organization as the US, behind that is Bill Gates, then the UK. China is among the smallest donors. So, why is so much Western money being used along the propaganda points of such a puny donor as China? If so much money is being usurped, the US would be obligated to pull the plug. And, that’s what it looks like, especially with the WHO siding with China on the matter of Taiwan. While Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHO indicates bias, Western countries are concerned about the WHO helping cover up what happened in China.

With president Trump now calling for investigations in China about the pneumoniavirus, other problems could come up, such as the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. China won’t allow that, not even to regain control of all that US money in the WHO. The world won’t have it. Global hatred toward China is only beginning.

Great Pacific

‘Suppress and lift’: Hong Kong and Singapore say they have a coronavirus strategy that works // Science

Singapore’s Ho Ching thanks ‘friends in Taiwan’ after quibble over masks donation // SCMP

Trade & Tech

Coronavirus: American Factory boss says pandemic will change China’s role in global supply chain // SCMP

Huawei founder to leave board of Shanghai Huawei Technologies // Taiwan News

China

National coronavirus updates: Trump says US wants investigators to go to China // Seattlepi.com

Trump warns China over Covid-19 outbreak as Europe approaches 100,000 deaths // Guardian

Navarro: China went from net exporter of protective equipment to net importer // YouTube @ Fox News

As Coronavirus Fades in China, Nationalism and Xenophobia Flare // NY Times

Coronavirus: China’s economy shrank for the first time since 1976 in first quarter // SCMP

Nancy Pelosi calls Zoom ‘a Chinese entity’ // CNBC

Taiwan

Good news: Taiwan reports zero new coronavirus cases // Taiwan News

Hong Kong

US and UK condemn arrest of Hong Kong democracy activists // Guardian

More than 1,000 Hong Kong homeowners could see loans exceed value of properties in first quarter // SCMP

Cathay Pacific to lay off nearly 300 cabin crew in US, calling bases in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles ‘no longer viable’ // SCMP

Korean Peninsula

North Korean defector becomes first to win South Korea parliamentary seat // BBC News

 

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