Tag Archives: United States

Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, October 12, 2015

China didn’t make any friends this week. Beijing spies on every street corner with a service literally named “Skynet”.

The Pentagon wants a strong Taiwan. The US Navy plans to challenge China’s man-made military airport-seaport islands. Most people don’t know exactly where the islands are since they aren’t listed on many maps. But if you happen to have a recent Chinese passport, the islands would fall within the nine-dash line, along with Taiwan, parts of the Philippines, and a number of other territories we thought belonged to other countries.

Local Pacific politics are another big question mark this week. Malaysia’s PM is having “royal” trouble, literally. Taiwan’s failing KMT-Nationalist party seems to be cannibalizing their own Presidential front-runner. Who knows what will happen or even if it will matter.

Old guard and Establishment parties are facing the masses en masse. It’s not just happening in the Pacific, but also in the Americas and Europe.  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, September 28, 2015

The unstated reason Chinese Pres. Xi snubbed Zuckerberg is probably for his age. Chinese think a man can’t do business until he’s at least in his 40’s and “is old enough to grow a mustache”. Whatever the reason, China having a Facebook page that Chinese can’t see, arriving in America with CEO’s fawning over him, it’s clear that China’s culture hasn’t changed and Xi is deeply entrenched in it. That should scare Americans because Chinese friendships can easily be used as fronts to get what they want, with unapologetic and total deception.

Zuckerberg’s Mandarin has terrible pronunciation. The crowd that applauds him is not giving a warm affirmation of quality and appreciation as an American audience would, but are “being polite”, giving the response they “should” when someone displays even the smallest attempt at their mother language. The more “happy” the crowd seems, actually, the worse his performance. If Zuck’s Mandarin was really good, the crowd would have been silent and wide-eyed.  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: September 7, 2015

China’s pushing into the water. Beijing celebrated America’s victory over Japan in 1945. The Communists who took over China four years later seemed to take much of the credit. And, they are still angry that, even after 66 years, they don’t control Taiwan. A “victim of its own propaganda”, Beijing believes Taiwan doesn’t want to fly the Communist flag from lack of “communication” rather than, perhaps, Communism being communicated all to well. So, Communist China’s PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) is going to Alaska where Russia has more interests than China. So, is China a victim of it’s own propaganda—or of someone else working behind the scene?

China also seems to be having trouble on the money front. Even as its currency plummets, the world’s currency doesn’t. G-20 only loses trust in China.

Respect for Russia, however, is unchanged. Russia is playing some of its own games that will echo in the Pacific waters.  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, August 24, 2015

North Korea does it’s annual late summer saber-rattling while the US and South Korea run their annual pre-autumn laps on the peninsula. Everyone’s in an uproar and “this time” it could be dangerous—again. Back to school.

China’s market slows while it’s naval activity rises. Chinese business is no longer the talk of town, though banking is as Beijing goes liquid. 400 deep pockets lost $182B USD to China’s sinking tech.

Taiwan’s election season continues to heat up. In this week’s episode of old school v democracy, DPP Mayor William Lai threatened to close the KMT-Nationalist-controlled Taiwan Control Yuan if the Control Yuan tries to close him, but not Speaker Lee who was found guilty in a lower court of buying the votes that gave him his speakership. Apparently, the Control Yuan is not even a Constitutionally legal entity. China does is own gossip among Americans about the DPP. So, it’s clear how important the Taiwan 2016 election will be.  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, August 17, 2015

Chinese marketing, Taiwanese elections, and new military toys. Both Taiwan and China have been touting their military equipment. This goes a bit beyond the usual saber rattling; it’s more like sabre “show and tell”.

China launches a recruitment video for it’s Navy (PLAN). Though, China is facing an aging labor force and lacks the resources to make the Navy in the video become a Navy much father from its own coast. Perhaps it’s lack of range is why China seeks to build new islands. The video of dropping bombs does not ease concerns that China wants to expand in other territories. But the fact that it’s marketing has gone to such lengths does provide some reason for confidence that it’s dreams are only dreams.

Taiwan’s elections are heating up and it’s nothing the international community should ignore. While an old pro-unification third party (PFP People’s First Party) candidate, who helped persecute the Taiwanese’s own native language, is slightly rising in the polls, Taiwan’s own “game of thrones” politics could offset the balance.  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, July 27, 2015

Propaganda. Taiwanese students protest “rewriting” history curriculum. Taiwan’s Ministry of Education responded on cue: police to arrest protesters—as well as three reporters. Notwithstanding Mark Twain’s “Never argue with people who buy ink by the barrel”, taking action against the students will fall into the playbook MLK used in Birmingham. Had the police not responded, there might not have been any news. The backlash will whack the Taiwan party that caves to China—just before an election. And, the stories reveal that freedom of Taiwanese’s own press in their own country is as bad as it is in China. Reportedly, the press aren’t allowed to cover a protest unless the government invites them.

Chinese TV shows a simulated assault on the Taiwan presidential palace. This raises questions about whether China has also simulated the vast mountain range and beach landing necessary to reach Taiwan’s presidential palace. China’s propaganda within its own borders could backfire—not that the international world should be concerned with whether China tells the truth to its own people, but if the public gets unhappy with the Beijing bullhorn, it would create another battlefront, on top of the other battlefronts expanded under Xi Jinping.  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, July 13, 2015

With China’s economy failing, the Chinese KMT-Nationalist party living in exile at Taiwan may have made a mistake in trying to merge the fates of the New Taiwan Dollar with the Chinese Yuan. Election time in Taiwan could mean a political “pay day”. China is in financial crisis.

Weapon sales from the US to Taiwan have stalled during the tenure of Obama and Ma, Taiwan’s president. Both elections are in 2016 and analysts are wondering why the US won’t deliver on its sales to Taiwan. The obvious answer seems to evade experts and pundits. Even with America’s failed negotiations with China, the Pentagon doesn’t seem stupid enough to sell weapons to a nation run by leaders who don’t know how to explain their own foreign policy. The Pentagon delivery service will deliver once Taiwan clearly announces which country should appear on the shipping label.

In the meanwhile, China’s bad economy seems more scary than Greece’s.  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, June 29, 2015

China’s economy is tanking if you look at sales reports, or, no, wait, it’s going up if you ask the Chinese. China is also losing in the battle for Vietnam’s alliance: Moscow is now buddy-buddy with Hanoi.

Taiwan’s internal politics are all over the map with a presidential election schedule running near-parallel to the US 2016 election. Both countries look like they will elect a leader that wants to “deal smart” with China—against Beijing’s de facto policy of demanding that the world allow itself to be annexed by Beijing. Beijing has already rejected what looms in 2016 like a slave owner rejecting a slave’s desire to “normalize relations”.

Speaking of slavery, China is now an expert on human rights, lecturing the US. It is almost comedic, not because of the gross difference in numbers, but because China has so consistently told the US that countries should mind their own business. It seems Beijing has reversed that precedent with a new one.  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, June 15, 2015

Tension and thought. China plans to dispatch drones to watch disputed islands in the Pacific. The US is set to introduce a new war ship. Oliver Stone says viewing China’s activity as dangerous is dangerous. A co-founder of Qunar (Chinese travel agency giant) says it’s never been a better time to start a company in China, as long as you’re not a “foreigner”, then it gets more complicated.

Pundits seem to be making headlines more than policymakers. Other than a few hums and crackles, all quiet on the surface this week. Sometimes a large ebb in the tide indicates an approaching tsunami.

China

Chinese military considers using drones to patrol seas contested by Japan

China plans to build coast guard base near Senkaku Islands: sources

China says its anti-artillery radar, to be used near Myanmar border, can lock onto enemy cannons in eight seconds

There’s Never Been A Better Time To Start A Company In China: Qunar Co-Founder

Oliver Stone warns US about danger of seeing China as a threat

…He commented in HK while finishing his new movie, Snowden, supporting China’s actions in the region.  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, June 8, 2015

A week of political campaigns. Imagine if John McCain were under review to be kicked out of the Republican Party for not supporting big money enough, there was no strong Republican Candidate, Hillary was already the Democratic nominee, and McCain said, “If the RNC orders me to, it would be my duty to run for President.”

That’s what happened in Taiwan this week. Wang Jin-pyng, Speaker of Taiwan’s puppet Legislator (which cannot introduce its own legislation) is hated by party bosses of his own KMT-Nationalist party. And he offered to run if the party asks him to, which, of course it won’t. That party never supports any good ideas, especially good ideas that would win favor with the people. They have been too interested in winning the favor of the Beijing Communists. Wang would be the best candidate since the party has destroyed itself with all the footsie-footsie games it played with China over the years, especially over the last decade.  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, June 1, 2015

Everyone is writing a lot of papers to each other, just like before WWII. Much of this has to do with who claims what territory, which affects how one nation identifies another, which affects peace and stability. Letters can change all of that.

By not normalizing relations with the government it expelled, China has kept a war on the books for over 65 years. This defines China’s military and government as an occupying force. They could end that war and legitimize their claim to the mainland, but they want to keep the war going until they control all land they have ever claimed. No one knows how long that will take.

War games happen in stages, time limits, and windows of opportunity. The times are shifting and, once China has the chance to take some of the islands in the Pacific, other factors will have changed, thereby outdating their battle plans.  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, May 18, 2015

It all happened in a week. Man-made land isn’t sovereign land says UN. 12 nautical miles is “sovereign”. US Navy to park inside 12 miles of China’s man-made islets in the making; a volatile military standoff is inevitable. A US invitation to Beijing for annual Navy practice must also invite Taiwan! Beijing rebukes.

Taiwan’s controlling, Beijing-friendly KMT-Nationalist party has no strong Presidential candidate; opposition DPP has one front-runner with party-wide support. Beijing won’t be happy.

US unveils new multi-purpose drones. China enacts old multi-warhead nukes. Japan was never a better friend to the US, says Kerry.

Kerry and Xi smile for the camera in a series of meetings resemblant of pre-WWII Europe; USA Today reports Xi describing the situation as “stable”, a description that wouldn’t necessary if it were true.

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US House passes RIMPAC Taiwan rule

…If Beijing practices with US Navy, so can Taiwan, Beijing won’t be happy. And…

China Making Some Missiles More Powerful

…NY Times, diagrams and explanation of MIRV and timeline

What’s Going On with President Ma?  · · · →

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, April 27, 2015

Nepal needed immediate help after an earthquake, but Nepal turned away Taiwan’s aid from fear of Beijing; India, China, and Pakistan were invited to the party. Russia agrees to sell missiles to China, setting off alarms, some too loud, others not loud enough. Eyes are turning to Taiwan.

Some claim that the West would not defend Taiwan if attacked by China because Taiwan isn’t important enough. But, others explain that losing Taiwan would encourage Beijing to go farther. Regardless, China’s growing reputation precedes it more and more. And more eyes turn to a growing shadow that creeps toward Hong Kong and Taiwan.

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Don’t Let China Swallow Taiwan

…It would only encourage China to continue. Know why!

China

Hundreds of Chinese Cities Don’t Meet Air Standards, Report Finds

Iran backs pipeline to China under ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative: ambassador

ASEAN avoids confronting Beijing

…Taiwan was ready to help Nepal in the aftermath of the recent earthquake, but Beijing said no.  · · · →

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