Chinese leaders' repeated calls for the PLA to be ready to plan, fight, and win wars is an ominous sign.
“We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully—not because we are naïve about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear,” President Obama said in his second inaugural address.
How exactly does the international community “engage” hostile states? Take China, for instance.
Xi Jinping, named Communist Party general secretary in November, reflects a new militancy. On Tuesday, he delivered a hard-edged speech to the Politburo in which he effectively ruled out compromise on territorial and security issues. His tough words were in keeping with the ever-more strident tones of his messages to the People’s Liberation Army about being ready to plan, fight, and win wars. Chinese leaders have traditionally addressed the army and urged improvement in general readiness, but, as veteran China watcher Willy Lam notes, Xi has put a special emphasis on it. Moreover, his calls on preparing for conflict go well beyond those of his two predecessors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao.
In the past, the military’s war talk contrasted with soothing words from senior civilian leaders. Now, with Xi, the aggressive comments from flag officers are consistent with what he, as top leader, is saying. Worse, as the Financial Times notes, Xi’s words of war are now “being bundled” with his rhetoric, which seems calculated to “fan nationalism.”
In this environment, Chinese military officers can get away with advocating “short, sharp wars” and talking about the need to “strike first.” Their boldness suggests, as some privately say, that General Secretary Xi is associating with generals and admirals who think war with the U.S. might be a good idea.
China looks like it is taking one of its periodic wrong turns. Is it because Xi Jinping is a nationalist who wants to lead the country down a path of high profile force projection? Or is he succumbing to pressures from elements inside a regime increasingly in disarray?
Most analysts think the People’s Army remains firmly under the control of Beijing’s civilian leaders. Sources, for instance, are increasingly reporting that General Secretary Xi is personally directing Beijing’s provocative intrusions into Japanese water and airspace. Moreover, Rand’s Scott Harold perceptively notes that Beijing’s civilian leaders can turn off the tough talk from military hawks when it is important for the Party to present a peaceful front, such as when Hu Jintao visited the U.S. in 2011. “All of a sudden, bam, these guys got turned off,” Harold told Reuters, referring to the more talkative officers.
Nonetheless, there are increasing signs of a military breaking free of civilian control. Last year, there were two sets of coup rumors that circulated around China, one in January and the other in March. The stories may not be true, but that’s almost beside the point. These rumors went viral in China not only because they were sensational but also because, for many Chinese citizens, they were credible. They were credible because top leaders had conditioned the Chinese people over the last several years to believe the top brass had assumed a central role in Beijing politics.
Kim’s Uncle
An aggressive China is the most likely outcome for China's future because China's society and culture is so closed minded. Since Chinese Communist leaders are not very well read are not open minded and unable to learn the lessons Japan's militaristic past, Sino Nazi Regime will follow the path of aggressive war in order to seize natural resources. What they don't understand is that Japanese militarists sought to secure natural resources from her neighbors through military means ended a miserable failure cause much suffering to the Japanese people. Japanese today reject military dictatorship is because of the past suffering and humiliation when the whole country is taken hostage by a clique of military officers that plunged the Japanese nation into futile wars of aggression. Modern Japan is peaceful and civilized and learn the lesson of aggressive war very well. That's why Japan is respected today and can secure natural resources through trade and commerce and not through primitive military adventure. Commie Chinese are unable or unwilling to take the lesson of Japan's past. So all the ingredients are there for the Sino Nazi Regime to follow in the footsteps of Tojo's Japan. China is a crude dictatorship as was Imperial Japan. China has xenophobic brand of nationalism as did Imperial Japan. China is building up its military and feel self-confident enough to use it as did a rising Imperial Japan. If Sino Nazi Regime in China follows Imperial Japan footsteps then she took will be humiliated at cost of suffering to her own people.
Jean-Paul
@ Kims uncle and Gordon Chang
Really well written article that helps to shed light on all of the things that I and many other posters have been saying all along, China really is going to start WW3 and Japan will probably be its first major victim. As much as I commend Chang for writing such an honest article, it really scares me to the core of my being. I honestly cannot believe that a country of 1+ billion people can let themselves be run by such a corrupt, disgusting war mongering regime, do Chinese citizens have no sense of peace and responsibility?
This regime is a total loose cannon, Kims uncle your comparisons to nazi germany and imperial japan are spot on, people are blinded by the "peaceful rise" propaganda that they cannot see the evil in the chinese culture. Please for the sake of peace and prosperity this regime needs to be put down like a sick rabid dog, quickly and as efficiently as possible. USA for the love of god use your pre-emptive strike option immediately!! The world is with you!!!
ACT
@Jean Paul
is the CPC really evil, though? i'd argue no; evil is all a matter of perspective, best assigned by historians who will be alive well after we have faded from this earth. With this in mind, would you mind toning your comments down somewhat? i know you're supposed to be the other side of the coin vis-a-vis John Chan, but still; i've noticed your comments getting increasingly xenophobic and bombastic as time goes on, and that's not a good thing.
John Chan
Gordon Chang is notoriously unreliable and a China hater; he has been calling for “collapse of China” in the last 30 years despite China’s economy has been growing from nowhere to soon will surpass the USA as the world largest economy. His books and articles show he has troubling relationship with China; therefore nobody should take his fallacious narrative with an ounce of seriousness.
For example the author is fabricating that PLA is out of control, yet PLA is nowhere to be seen outside of China, meanwhile the USA military is all over the world carrying out war crimes; the fact that the USA military has gone amok around the world proves either it is either out of control or the USA civilian administration is the accomplice of those war crimes. Yet the author cannot distinguish which military is out of control from such simple and obvious facts, it proves again the author’s judgement is very questionable just like his erroneous judgement on “collapse of China.”
It seems The Diplomat has called in reinforcement for Minxin Pei in the battle of demonizing China, probably Peter Navarro and Greg Autry will be next in line soon.
Cyrus
@JC
Firstly you need to recognize that the United States is a hegemonic power and a hegemon in the world stage. It's Military has global reach and is there to keep order and maintain the status quo.
Let's examine how the United States became a World Power it was in World War II when it embargoed its oil from Japan who attacked China and because of the Nanking Massacre. With Japanese Oil running out, Imperial Japan had no choice but to attack the United States and secure its resources from South East Asia. American Rise to pre-emminence as a hegemon who once was controlled by Europe was in the context of saving People. It seek to free the people conquered by Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. After World War II it helped the war ravage countries to rise up again and it further cemented its role as a world leader, especially taking the reins in establishing the United Nations to maintain peace in the Earth.
Now lets go to China, which is seeking to be a hegemon and a World Power but it is setting itself as a bully by bullying its weaker neighbors especially in South East Asia and yet is hesistant against the Pacifist Japan who is at par or stronger in terms of Military Strength. How would the world respect a State who seek to rise at the expense of weak states, it is the in the same League of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan who set out first by conquering its weaker neighbors.
John Chan
@Cyrus,
As you admitted, USA is the world predatory imperialist hegemon; it has been maintaining its hegemony thru bombing and killing of hapless nations on the fabricated evidence e.g. mirage WMD, thuggish blackmail e.g. “you are either with me or against me,” and gang pressed lesser nations into its thug group with military occupation.
On the other hand China shows the world how to establish an harmonious world; all nations should be treated as equal and their sovereignty should be respected; demonizing others on the moral high ground for insidious purposes like what the USA is practising should be banned because it is hypocrisy; Liberty, equality and justice should not be hijacked by anyone regardless its national strength.
joezhifu
I agree
John Chan
@Jean-Paul,
France was a collaborator of Nazi Germany, and the behind kisser of the Nazi master; are you saying that France is ready to provide the same services to China?
Errol
Generalizations is a trap JC. France was a collaborator? Do your history record that it was Vichy France that collaborated with the Nazis and the Free French opposed them from overseas? That when D-Day finally happened, the Vichys were rejected by the French people? But I guess that doesn't matter since it's inconvenient for your logic. Meh.
John Chan
@Errol,
“Generalization is a trap,” what a surprising news, I didn’t realize you have such virtue. This site is nothing but generalization and simplification when it comes to demonizing China.
neretva
yes, France was collaborator. There is so many accounts of it that only ignorant can deny it.
Loic
a little childish to assume he's french just because of his name…
but not surprising considering the posts I've seen by you. You are just a provocateur, a troll in modern parlance that contributes little the discussion other than stoking emotions and animosity for the sake of inexamined pride.
Anon
Actually, not only do you sound like a raving lunatic, you have also chosen to ignore the fact that it is ONLY China preparing for the Air Sea Battle War that many in the Pentagon of the Rumsfeld persuasion have been salivating over for a long time.
What if China started preparing an "Air Sea Battle Plan" to take out targets deep inside the US? How will the Americans respond?
Americans will be outraged and will demand that their defense spending should go up and to start to treat China as the potential aggressor.
Sane readers of the Diplomat should ponder the machinations of Andrew Marshall and the implications for all of us sane people of the world, including Chinese. Of course this leaked report could also be another gambit to force China and the Asian region to spend all of their hard-earned wealth on weapons, preferably Made-in-US weapons that would go toward balancing the deficit and pay off some debt!
USSR 2, so to speak, spend till they're broke.
I wonder why seemingly intelligent spooks would underestimate the Chinese ability to study and understand History, and to write their own Art of War?
Such Neo-Con thinking has brought about the tragedies of Iraq and Afghanistan and made the country broke, hostage to the MIC and plutocracy. Amazing that Americans have not discredited these destructive tendencies, but pursue them with a greater vengeance.
The usual sock puppets pls refrain from any replies, only genuine readers and thinkers, please.
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-08-01/world/35492126_1_china-tensions-china-threat-pentagon
A former nuclear strategist, Marshall has spent the past 40 years running the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment, searching for potential threats to American dominance. In the process, he has built a network of allies in Congress, in the defense industry, at think tanks and at the Pentagon that amounts to a permanent Washington bureaucracy.
While Marshall’s backers praise his office as a place where officials take the long view, ignoring passing Pentagon fads, critics see a dangerous tendency toward alarmism that is exaggerating the China threat to drive up defense spending.
“The old joke about the Office of Net Assessment is that it should be called the Office of Threat Inflation,” said Barry Posen, director of the MIT Security Studies Program. “They go well beyond exploring the worst cases. . . . They convince others to act as if the worst cases are inevitable.”
Marshall dismisses criticism that his office focuses too much on China as a future enemy, saying it is the Pentagon’s job to ponder worst-case scenarios.
“We tend to look at not very happy futures,” he said in a recent interview.
China tensions
Even as it has embraced Air-Sea Battle, the Pentagon has struggled to explain it without inflaming already tense relations with China. The result has been an information vacuum that has sown confusion and controversy.
and
http://www.globalresearch.ca/obama-s-geopolitical-china-pivot-the-pentagon-targets-china/32474
http://larouchepac.com/node/23547
Back in January, Executive Intelligence Review published an article providing evidence that the 91-year-old Andrew Marshall, the director of the Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment since 1973, was the guiding force behind President Obama's so-called Asia Pivot, with the ultimate objective of a nuclear showdown with China. This was, in part, based on the fact that the public discussion of Air Sea Battle, a component of the Asia shift, has been guided by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a Washington, D.C. think tank founded and largely made up of retired officers who were indoctrinated in Marshall's office at some point during their military careers.
….
ACT
@anon
it's not terribly bright or convincing for your argument to poison the well beforehand. Besides, why do you think that the U.S is somehow unique for having a strategy department that attempts to predict future military challenges? it's not as if most other major nations don't have one; what entity do you think guided the PLA to develop systems to counter U.S armaments? It's clear, anon, that you're not looking for intelligent comment or criticism; you're looking for people who agree with you and your notion that the U.S' actions make it uniquely evil amongst all the empires that have existed.
Anon
@ACT
Come on now, is the hypocrisy of condemning China for preparing DEFENSIVE plans to fight off aggressors in RESPONSE to the US developing Air Sea Battle OFFENSIVE plans to strike deep into China not apparent?
The problem with Gordon Chang and various China bashers is that such INCONVENIENT FACTS that contradict their assertions (that China is a threat and aggressor) are always left out. This leaves THINKING people of the world wondering WHY such lopsided and incomplete accounts are allowed to flourish on "News" (i.e. not Propaganda) sites.
This is why they are dismissed as NOT genuine critics, but "bashers".
The same with all the "Free Tibet, Mongolia, Uigyurs" trolls. I asked them to provide a COMPARATIVE factual indicators of % population growth, % native vs settlers' composition on native lands, language and culture retention, of "evil genocidal" China vs the bastion of freedom, Japan, the US, Australia, etc. and they're unable to.
They have little interest except in "bashing" and posting ad nauseum about 50cents armies.
I am not interested in more low-IQ bashing, but would like to question genuine citizens of the world what they think of such Neo-Con plans for more wars?
How can anyone take Andrew Marshall lightly when his proposals for the Neo-Cons' Project for a New American Century were implemented to the EXACT detail with disastrous results in Iraq and Afghanistan and to the tune of trillions in debt and hundreds of thousands in lost lives?
Even sane Americans, eg. WashingPost, are questioning the wisdom of following his instructions to "pivot" to China, with plans for Air Sea Battle, and then start lighting fires around China as if ready to provoke another Gulf of Tonkin.
It is only fair for citizens of the world, especially those on the receiving end of such Air Sea battle plans, ie. the Chinese, to question such hostile motives, and to prepare for the eventuality of the US once again pursuing its Neo-Con agenda, like it bombed and invaded Iraq for non-existent WMDs after playing up the "Iraqi Threat".
If you're not merely an ACT, and if you do have direct and honest answers, post them. Otherwise, pray refrain from replying, with due respect to the other readers and posters.
nirvana
It is very difficult to have a debate when your opponent sets a prerequisite "IQ level". Do I have a sufficient education to disagree? Do I have enough self-esteem not to reply? What a dilemma!
May be I could risk some random thoughts about the use of the term "DEFENSIVE". Since Sun Tzu, Machiavelli and more recently Mao, it is often quoted that "the best defense is a preemptive offensive". For example, in 1979 Deng assembled 400,000 men to launch an "active defense" against Vietnam. If the national security of China was not threatened, why sacrifice 60 thousands young men indeed (in 30 days)? G. W. Bush too had to make a preemptive strike against Saddam Hussein, because no US president can survive another 9/11 (even when France, Germany, Russia and others told him not to worry about Iraq WMD). China also needs an aircraft carrier because without such a formidable tool to project force, it would not be able to defend the fishermen shelters the PLAN has built on the submerged reefs more than 1000 miles from Hainan. And sure you need an anti-satellite weapons to defend against reconnaissance satellites. You need to build stealth attack jets, precision guided long range cruise-missiles, …
I learned that in the art of war, "the threat is more important than the move". So while a leak on the Internet of the Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile is just a new concept, it fully justifies that the Pentagon pays a (91 year old) think tank to design an "Air Sea Battle", which concept is also leaked to the Internet. And this "hurt the feeling" of the Chinese people in the streets, on Weibo.
And of course I was told that as part of your "defense" is to swear that you will never use your weapons for offensive purposes, UNLESS your "core interests" are in danger, of course. And since they are core interests, you would be naive to explicitly tell what they are. As usual the best defensive move is opacity. Let your enemy guess.
Forgive me guys for spamming this site with such "low IQ" rubbish !
joezhifu
driving up defence spending drove Russia into trouble. Could it happen again but with another country
Cyrus
Yes the US is a Hegemon I do not think anyone here denies that very fact. What I am trying to point out is the United States became a Hegemon unlike the rest of the past Hegemons it helped it's neighbors and doesn't go out and conquer territories for itself (after WWII when it became a Hegemon). It doesn't bully smaller states in fact it does the opposite by protecting the smaller South American States who just obtained their independence by telling Europeans that they cannot reclaim their past colonies in the New World.
Now, what has China did? Expand from the Original Qin Empire to what it is now, bully its neighbors into submitting to its will that the West Philippine Sea is a Chinese Pond.
ACT
@anon
i think Nirvana put it correctly; is the AirSeaBattle plan offensive? yes. But it is–in and of itself–a response to a wave of diplomatic, paramilitary and military aggression on the part of the PRC against the "allies" of the united states. So the question should be asked: why is the PRC upgrading its military capabilities to meet or surpass those of the United States when, of the fourteen nations that are its neighbors, only three are capable of mounting anything like a serious military challenge (India, Russia, Japan), and of those three, one is unable to launch offensive wars, and has not for the past 68 years? At most, China needs to guarantee its energy security, but those seas are already patrolled by the USN, whose mission it is to guarantee such security, both for itself, for its allies, and for China as well.
I spent some of my time perusing that article you linked last night, and while some of the author's points were legitimate, i have a hard time believing–and it would be immensely counter-productive–that the U.S would from the very outset be planning the fragmentation of the PRC, both for economic reasons or otherwise; the instability such a maneuver would bring–to say nothing of the economic chaos–would be a greater danger to the U.S or its allies than any other move the PRC could make short of nuclear war. Furthermore, the article was also terribly biased, and you would have done well to find and article that supported such a strategy as well, rather then lambasting it, at least to provide a counterpoint.
Another point of contention i should bring up is the nature of the diplomacy that has been conducted; it makes it very hard to bring up any mention of joint development when the PRC has effectively designated all of the SCS, and a good chunk of the ECS as its sovereign territory; i can think of no better way to be insufferably arrogant as well as to discourage talks over maintaining the status quo for the purpose of economic development than to announce to friend and foe alike that due to ancient history–much of which is unverifiable–you are now claiming all of an ocean save for the 12 mile national waters mandated by modern national law, and that you are then proceeding to build military garrisons on many of the geographical features within that sea. That's not defense; that's offense: defense would be upgrading your capabilities within the territories you already legally own, not the attempted seizure of international territory to which there are already multiple acknowledged claims. I, myself, will do more research into this when i have the time, but suffice it to say that i find it terribly disingenuous, anon, to insult the intelligence of everyone on this forum while using information that amounts to conspiracy theories and hearsay with regard to the intentions of the United States, as well as your attempt to make it appear as though–and this you have still not addressed–the position of the United States makes it uniquely evil. To which my response has, and will always be, do you honestly expect that any empire–or china, when it attains that position for that matter–will behave any differently; nations are above all self-serving interests.
Anon-no-trolls-pls
Still doesn't address my question, which is MORE OFFENSIVE & AGGRESSIVE, a plan to ATTACK or a plan that addresses and prepares for such PLANNED ATTACKS?
Which is the party taking the initiative to strike first? Without even the basic honesty to answer such a question, everything else is rubbish and propaganda. Of course many would lie through their teeth and declare PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKES are actually PEACEFUL, black is white, etc…This sort of Orwellian tactics assuming the citizens of the world are actually as apathetic as TV-Xbox-drugged American Sheeple are useless, really, against THINKING PEOPLE.
Until China actually attacks another sovereign nation (NOT disputed territories that are frequented by both parties to the dispute, any idiot will know the difference….oh wait…), the way the US-NATO has attacked Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, etc. UNPROVOKED, all propaganda about the "China Threat" is the same old PsyOps stuff.
As the the well-being of compatriots, please…first spare a thought for your fellow citizens who were lied to to go to war in Vietnam, in Iraq, etc., the ultimate sacrifice demanded from them.
Would YOU die in combat under a False Flag in order to "stop Vietnam from turning Communist"? It DID turn Communist after all, and no one is worse off for it. In fact, it is a US ally today.
Were all those lives sacrificed over Andrew Marshall's (and his Neo-Con Pentagon cabal) mistakes and miscalculation about Vietnam worth it?
Americans thought they got rid of the "crazies" when Bush left the WH, unfortunately, the little man behind the curtain is still pulling the strings and plotting the next great disaster that only profits the MIC.
Anon-no-trolls-pls
@ACT
Biased? You're joking right??? These are not opinion pieces, facts are laid out, who is behind the "Pivot", what other plans had been set in motion by this cabal of NeoCons and their Mentor, what are the steps taken to implement the new war against a rising power, China. This only leaves the question – if this cabal has been so wrong, so ruthless, so dishonest to the American people, why would they be RIGHT this time?
Brad
Cyrus, you took the words out of my mouth (in regards to your original post). The U.S created its hegemony and influence through good and just means (even saving China from Japan in the process). China seeks to at least match the U.S or surpass it, but does it through bullying, outlandish territorial claims that do not jive with international law. It is why China is now surrounded by America's "ring of fire". Japan, South Korea, lets be honest here with Russia, India, Vietnam, the Phillipennes, some Central Asian countries, Taiwan, Australia, and don't forget the United States.
John Chan, I want you to add up the GDP's off all those countries and compare it to China. A classis and accurate predictor of war is to see out of the total what each alliance has for GDP, and then each sides percentage of the total is the percent chance they have of winning the war. So John Chan, you can add North Korea and China, Vs. the above mentioned countries, and see who wins.
nirvana
To complement ACT's point on the sea lanes and energy security for China, just Google the origins of China oil import. Find out the increase in Saudi's, Angola's, Oman's, Canada's energy exports to China, from 2001 till today. Then ask yourself if there is a faintest indication of US trying to "contain" China? Look at a map, andfigure out if somebody wants to embargo China, where would he best deploy his naval and diplomatic assets?
And Google how much Vietnam and Philippines produce in crude oil. Compare this with the total amount produced from the SCS (by Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia and China). Compare this to the total amount of China import in crude oil. You MUST admit that Vietnam and Philippines is irrelevant in this geopolitical game.
Thirdly, ask yourself whether the US military alliances in Asia-Pacific were created during or after the Cold War, before or after 9/11, before or after the "pivot". Ask yourself: did the US increase or reduce its military bases in Asia-Pacific after the Cold War? Ask yourself: did China "pivot" militarily when the US was withdrawing its military presence in Asia-Pacific?
Cyrus
@Brad
Yes and that is why the Filipinos are resisting China though they will always portray the disturbance and rallies perpertrated by the Leftist (the Legal Front of the Communist Party of the Philippines [CPP]) to mean the will of the Filipino people, we all know the will of the Filipino people are, if they are dissatisfied it will be like EDSA.
John Chan
@Kim,
I didn’t know Japanese has bent this low before the Korean, they even have to take up Korean’s name is disguise. Anyhow Japan is an unapologetic Fascist Militarist war criminals, its war crimes has not been punished, the shielding of the godfather of Fascism is weakening, one day Japan will be made to face the judgement day and answer to the victims for the harms it had done to them.
JohnX
@John Chan.
Typical Chinese Poster response. Go to Global Times, you will fit right in.
If a person makes a post in support of a nation that China has a dispute with, Chinese posters accuse them of being a poster from that nation hiding under a false name.
It just shows the ignorance of their posts as most don't need to hide anything as where you come from is not as important as what you have to say.
Jugular
Ow come on JC youve been ranting about that Japanese rise to power Imperial Navy world war 2 antique thing again. And the thing about the China these days its become the WW2 Japan. Chinese Imperial Army. Its become a land grabbing nation which seeks to resolve these disputes militarily, its all over the net so your "Peaceful rise to power" . And don't say it isn't doing it youve got your ships so close to PH even claiming the whole South China Sea to yourself as if you own it excuse me sir if the basis of China was the old maps then its not a valid argument, because if you did not develop the area when you claimed it its not a valid basis. What did you develop over the past years in Spratleys and Panatag Shoal nada…..dont claim Mischeef Reef which you "STOLE" from us "developed" you stole it from us its on ourr 200 miles EEZ were closer to that area and you have no right to claim it Malaysia perhaps and Brunei have those rights you don't your 800 miles away .. Also our fishermen who go to panatag shoal are being chased away by your boats not to mention a standoff with the PN Navy. Does this look like "China's peaceful rise to power" hell no. And why should the world trust China, our past Leader GMA agreed to "jointly explore" Spratleys and what did China do after the exploration, you didnt share your data on the find instead that's when you declared your Nine-Dash so after confirming the oil deposits YOU DIDN'T SHARE the data. That my friend is a stumbling block to the relationship with this country, so why should we trust China, also with regards to corruption, your state owned company had the knack of paying off high level government officials just to get that National Broadband project going. You paid off Cambodia just to keep their mouth shut last time ASEAN was discussing the code of conduct in South China Sea. So why should we trust China at least in this part of the world.
Jugular
And what has China to hide anyway each region involved in such disputes has something to say about Imperial China's rise to power like if it isn't enough to say all these. So its just right for countries involved to "gear up" to these declaration by China and should not be ignored, you let your guard down and this is what will happen to you a bully on your doorstep ready to divest, rape, steal and land grab and violate UN law. A law that their own country signed.
intellectual merc
@kim’s uncle, can they actually pull it off? I mean with their own brand of nationalism i mean it might just work don’t it? I mean the army is a broadsword not a scalpel, but with enough rhetoric, i mean wwII wehrmacht was alright with jewish extermination due to years of anti-semitic propaganda by the nazi party.-except a select few. I mean, a population would generally eat it up. But no military junta has ever succeeded has it? What do you guys think?
gnosis
Erhm, little correction
1. Japan has not learned a thing, they still refuse to live up to WWII truth in history textbooks. That's reflected on the Japanese government; run by heirs of the deceased empire. Much to the pain of Japan's victims and the children of the victims.
2. Your analogy is horrible. You conflate the contemporary maritime territorial disputes with the wars of foreign nation invasion undertaken by the Japanese.
Though I must argue in defense of Japan that most of those foreign nations they invaded were Western oppressed exploited colonies then. So what Japan did, really, is switch the ownership of the colonies from the West to themselves.
Nonetheless, Japan has committed heinous atrocities and crimes in this Japanese-style Lebensraum campaign for which they haven't showed remorse, unlike Germany.
3. Don't overlook U.S. going through primitive military adventures to secure resources. Your whining is completely disproportionate because U.S. has already invaded and bombed nations to do just that. It's unrealistic to expect from the Chinese a deal that is not 100% beneficial to China for disputed territory they actually have rights on. It's their right. It's the very opposite to little fascist America invading foreign nations and murdering millions.
Cyrus
Correction: They have no right on the Territories in South East Asia because by UNCLOS it is in the EEZ of various South East Asian Nation. China has in no way any right in Scarborough Shoal as it is not an island even an islet but a shoal.
Especially scarborough Shoal wherein it was handed back to the Philippines, the Empire of Spain gave all territories under its jurisdiction and the Scarborough Shoal then was called Bajo de Masinloc in Spanish because the Spanish Empire exerted control and administration of the Atols as a fishing grounds of local fishermen in the 1500+.
gnosis
You have to research better. China (PRC and ROC) has the rights to the nine-dash line.
nirvana
@gnosis,
>>"China has the right to 9-dash-line"
And that's why we keep telling you that there is a problem. Only China has this concept of "sovereignty by dash-lining". Can I draw a line in the sky so that one day, I can claim the Moon? Oops no, Mars or Venus because Armstrong put an American flag on the Moon in 1969.
SC Lai
Didn’t some ones said Chinese claim based on history ground was absurd?
nirvana
It is absurd to claim that Kubilai Khan's astronomer made measurements of the sun on 5 tiny rocks of some 800 miles from Hainan
It is absurd to declare ownership of everything within an undefined line, with an undefined meaning.
It is absurd to negotiate from a position of "indisputable" rights. If something is indisputable, no discussion is allowed, full stop.
.
Yes, it is absurd. Otherwise it would be wiser to bring the dispute to the ICJ.
SC Lai
Do you know how far the Falkland is from Scotland?How come western people' together with the colonized minds always have different standard when it comes to China?If the Americans can occupy 2/3 of the Pacific based on the same reasons,why Can't China have !/10 of it?Do you know that Huangyuan/Scarborogh was already claimed by the Chinese in Yuan Dynasty,after the renown scientist Guo Soujing was despatched there to do a a survey,after which it was published in their official map as their Ban Tu(territory),until present time?.Be it ROC or PRC,the Chinese normally treat this island as their southern border (Nan Jiang) part of the Nansha (Southern Sand).The 9 dotted lines were not the creation of CCP nor PRC,it was drawn by ROC while it was still in power and ruling the whole China,pre-1949.
JK
1. Because the Falklands were British before Argentina was even a country.
2. Because Falkland islanders want to be British.
3. Because Argentina tried to take them by force and LOST, like China will if it goes against any other country.
Cam
@SC Lai,
One is either retarded or a Chinese nationalist doesn’t care right or wrong, could say something like you. Here is the china 9 dotted line map for you to look at it again.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:9_dotted_line.png
Now tell me what people should call it? It is a crazy absurd claim or what? Never in history, has a nation claimed the entire sea as its own lake. Either commie PRC or loser ROC, they are all Chinese robbers. The Phil took this robber to the international court but the robber refused to go because afraid of embarrassing in front of the whole world.
nirvana
@ Sc Lai,
Did you read what Guo Shoujing wrote or did you you just recite what you have been told? Did you look up the pictures of the rocks in the Scarborough SHOAL?
Cyrus
Okay so this is about a historical claim? Then the SCS should belong to Mongolia is it not right that Kublai Khan was Mongolian?
SC Lai
@JK,1)bcos Nansha was Chinese before Pillipines was even a country2)Bcos most of the islands were not suitable for human living,however,the one suitable,the Taiping Dao,was returned to Chinese ROC just after the WWii,3)Whoever wants to take those islands by force,be Chinese's guest..@CAM,Ask yourself and be frank,if it was US or other western nation making such a claim,would you make such a fuss?@it's truly absurd for Mogolia to submit such a claim,but it's ok if PRC or ROC maintain such a stance.as they are the authentic inheritants of the China nation.The Chinese based their claim on first discovered,first occupied,first claimed.one may ague that Phillipines also claim,but they were quiet for 1000 over years until recently.
gnosis
Erhm, little correction
1. Japan has not learned a thing, they still refuse to live up to WWII truth in history textbooks. That's reflected on the Japanese government; run by heirs of the deceased empire. Much to the pain of Japan's victims and the children of the victims.
2. Your analogy is horrible. You conflate the contemporary maritime territorial disputes with the wars of foreign nation invasion undertaken by the Japanese.
Though I must argue in defense of Japan that most of those foreign nations they invaded were Western oppressed exploited colonies then. So what Japan did, really, is switch the ownership of the colonies from the West to themselves.
Nonetheless, Japan has committed heinous atrocities and crimes in this Japanese-style Lebensraum campaign for which they haven't showed remorse, unlike Germany.
3. Don't overlook U.S. going through primitive military adventures to secure resources. Your whining is completely disproportionate because U.S. has already invaded and bombed nations to do just that. It's unrealistic to expect from the Chinese a deal that is not 100% beneficial to China for disputed territory they actually have rights on. It's their right. It's the very opposite to little fascist America invading foreign nations and murdering millions.
ACT
so many mistruths and little lies in your post, gnosis. tut-tut-tut. O how hath thou lied? let me count the ways:
1. Japan has apologised once every seven years, approximately, to the various nations it wronged, and issued a blanket apology in 1995 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan. wow, just look at all those statements of apology!
2. Japan actually has acknowledged its crimes in its school textbooks; the controversy has been when they tried to dumb it down: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_history_textbook_controversies#New_History_Textbook look through that entire list as well as the references.
3. Yet despite the military adventurism–which, i might add, every empire in history has done–The United States has not in modern times encouraged the immigration of its citizens into ostensibly autonomous territories to prevent them from gaining independence; it has not, since the 1960s at least, actively suppressed the cultures of the native inhabitants of its territories via a calculated policy of the above mentioned as well as police raids, etc; the united states has not since the dawn of the 20th century falsified its own history in order to lay claim to minor islands that its predecessor governments never considered to be their territory. Furthermore, the United States does not have an educational policy that deliberately re-writes its own history to promote hatred of a certain set of nations and a culture of nationalistic victimization.
Kim’s Uncle
@gnosis
I can feel deep anger and emotion in you, why? Is it because of hurt pride? I sense you have some kind of deep seated prejudice towards Japan and Japanese. The fact remains Japan is in everyway a modern, constitutional liberal democracy not a militaristic dictatorship unlike the PRC. I have said this before I don't hold modern Japanese and democratic Japan for the sins of their ancestors because modern, democratic Japan has been a peaceful and responsible neighbor that has not wage open, aggressive wars toward anyone (ok, maybe against Godzilla). Sorry, could not help myself. he.. he.. Seriously, that is just plain and simple fact. Modern Japan is an example of a PEACEFUL RISE!!!!! I don't see the same situation in Neo-Maoist China.
Let's argue on a factual basis:
1) no military adventure since WWII
2)huge financial reparations to afflicted countries, China one of the main recipients not to mention ODA funds
3)endless apologies by various governments of Japan
4)revisionist history? no I don't think so. Only a few textbooks are at issue. Other posters have proved balanced historical accounts in balanced history books are used in Japan.
Like I said, if I were China I would learn from Japan and Germany's history of military adventure and the ultimate price those dictatorships paid very, very well. No need to follow in their footsteps. I don't understand the blindness Chinese have in not learning how counter-productive it is to have a dictatorship. It is far easier to make war in a one party dictatorship because there is no accountability, no counter opinion, no checks and balances, no opposition, no voice of reason to counter the primitive impulses for war and jingoistic nationalism, no constitutional procedure for war, etc.
The fact that you refuse to acknowledge these safeguards of an open society and plural society shows your closed mindedness and willful denial of facts.
Modern Japan became rich through trade and commerce not by waging wars to acquire land, resources and dominating her neighbors. It is an example of "peaceful, harmonious rise" is it not? The territorial disputes Chinese are engage in today are based on securing natural resources. It is blatant. Like I said learn from Germany and Japan. There is no need to follow the plans of the CCP. There is no Nazi Party in Germany today to cause havoc among her neighbors. There are no Japanese militarists in power today to cause Asian nations to fear. Why do Asian countries fear neo-Maoist China? They fear it because of the political system which breeds blindness, arrogance, obtuseness, and hubris. A system that does not foster any kind of introspection, self-reflection and goodwill. China has been humiliated enough so if Communist China tries to redress her past humiliation by inflicting it on others because of "hurt feelings", then I'm afraid she pay the price as did Japan and Germany. Why don't you ask Japanese today and German today if being a dictatorship was worth the price and waging aggressive wars were beneficial to their society and image?
I don't know why but China's thinking is always 2 centuries behind. People keep telling them not to do certain things but they hear but do not listen!!
gnosis
@ACT
Yet, Abe and his cabinet are the risen policymakers of the Imperial Japan incarnated in new bodies. Japan never really come to terms with WWII crimes where they did human experimentation on the population of the invaded nations.
And Tibet enjoys a much better life now than before the theocracy, that's a given if you are not bigoted. Also, U.S. in modern times has steam rolled over Hawaiians to annex Hawaii.
@Kim's Uncle
You are a troll with racial issues concerning Southeast/East Asians. I know you will have a heart attack after China reclaims the 9-dash line.
But Gordon Chang has daddy issues.
ACT
@Gnosis
Hawaii was in the 1870's. Tibet is still going on today. Furthermore, you cannot say that the tibetan theocracy would never have tried to raise the standard of living for its citizens, because the assumption that tibetans are doing better under the rule of the CPC assumes that Chinese culture is somehow inherently superior. Futhermore, when signs such as these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Police_notice,_Tibet,_1993.jpg
are needed near internet cafes, and when Han citizens of the greater PRC visit only Han owned shops and restaurants–depriving ethnic Tibetans of much needed funds–one could imagine that something is wrong.
JK
China will have imploded long before it gets any more territory from countries around it. It daren't even flinch at causing conflict because its a ridiculous paper tiger that the world laughs at.
Cyrus
Okay, lets follow the theory of historical discovery. Then it means Taiwan up to Madagascar must belong to the Malay because of our Polyponesion Ancestry being the first ocean going race. We discovered all this first by the Ethnic Population found on this countries that have the root in Polyponesion Language.
Now what does China have to say? Should we of Polyponesian decent also carve out multiply lines saying this are our territories due to historical discovery?
James
Reply to Cyrus about Polyponesians. First of all, if you are Malay, that means you are a priveleged "first class" citizen of Malaysia or bumiputra, and not a "second-class" member like the 50% of other non-Malay Malaysian citizens. You spelled "Polynesian" wrong which shows how much you know about the inhabitants of South Pacific countries and their languages and cultures which I suspect you would find inferior. I know one Polynesian language and have tried to learn Malay, so know that a speaker of Malay does not understand Polynesian languages automatically, and vice versa despite the two languages being placed in the same language family by linguists "Malayo-Polynesian". What this has to do with the rise of militarism in China I do not know.
Cyrus
@James
Now, there is where you are wrong, I call myself Malay because my ethinicity is Malay. Not because I am from Malaysia or of Privileged birth. I am Filipino and a middle class to boot.
I was only saying that since Chinese really love to claim the South China sea because of "Discovery" then following that logic then I would used our ancestors who discovered it first.
Jugular
Just shows how textbooks, how everybody in your country is made, duped and invented history. Blocked from the outside world. nice try though, you'd be perfect for some fiction writer.
nirvana
In my opinion this is a bad article on a well-known, intriguing question: why are there recently so many hawkish outspoken military commentators on China's state TV, media and high visibility events? The article by journalist David Lague is better documented (Google, "David Lague general Ren Haiquan").
I think there are several possible explanations:
1) The PLAN and PLAAF have become more confident that they have a POLITICAL role. They want to put the civilian authority under pressure.
2) The CCP does not wish a war but it needs to "save face" because of the (to much publicized) US "pivot" and an increasing legitimacy crisis.
3) The CCP is using the uniform pundits on TV shows to prepare its public opinion for war (therefore the striking analogy with Hitler and Imperial Japan propaganda machines)..
The first explanation is the same reason that led General Mc Arthur to lead his adventurous "hot pursuit" beyond the 38° North parallel in Korea. The second is what I called the "Mandate of the Heaven Syndrome". The third, and most worrying, means that the CCP would have decided that it has exploited all it could with the present "pacific coexistence" post Cold War environment.
The truth may be a certain mix of all three.
loic
I remember when you could read intelligent and thought provoking comments on this site. The current state of dialogue is no better than fox news and xinhua…
ACT
@Kim's Uncle
incoming fire from the 50-center platoon! TAKE COVER!
@all
but i digress. I agree with the author's point that if the generals are being allowed to say what they are, it is because it is close to, or directly tied into the objectives of the civilian government of the PRC–this was something i noted over in the article on America's pivot. And it's not just the generals; the media has been flooded with "war, war, war", which suggests–to me–that the CPC (And Xi Jinping) may be planning something that they expect will result in a clash. The nature of the training is also concerning; amphibious assault is being emphasized by PLAN units. I sincerely hope for all of us that all this hot air and nothing more; otherwise, the world may be having a Neville Chamberlain moment, and judging by the course of military modernization that has paralleled rhetoric coming from the PRC, the situation is not promising. As Vulgor Schneke pointed out, however, no one here has moral authority and–if anything–the PRC is replicating the behavior of the US circa the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries.
American Patriot
@ ACT
Well written post friend, however there is one point where I must STRONGLY disagree with you. When you say: "As Vulgor Schneke pointed out, however, no one here has moral authority and–if anything–the PRC is replicating the behavior of the US circa the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries."
Of course the US has moral authority, especially when it comes to a power like China which is a total free rider and usurer of the current international system that the US has built for the world. I mean sure vietnam, iraq etc…..were all wrong doings by the US, I fully admit that. HOWEVER, at least the US has also contributed greatly to progress and overall development. The US fully rebuilt western europe and japan, which are now prospering thanks in large part to US financial aid. It built South Korea into a first world economy, it helped fund and develop the now rich gulf arab states like the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia. It provides aid to countless nations, even now eastern europe is being rebuilt under the NATO umbrella with Poland especially benefitting, Canada has also been a huge beneficiary of US industry and investment.
It has also been historically proven that there are, on average, less wars than there was before the US became a superpower and this is in large part thanks to the US military being so strong, that no other nation would dare to become too overly aggressive or expansionist.
Compare this to China, how many nations has China managed to pull from total destruction and poverty into first world status? How many billions in aid has China given to the developing world vs the US? How much progress in engineering, medicine, and science has been made in China vs the US? I mean really when talking about morals there is no comparison!!!
John Chan
@American Patriot,
1. Self-proclaimed moral authority is the symptom of totalitarian, because it no longer can tolerate criticism anymore, so you admit US is a totalitarian openly.
2. Fabricating excuses to justify and gloss over the wrong doings what the US has been carrying out all over the world is an abuse of Straw-man fallacy to the extreme.
3. Take credit of other nations’ hard work and achievement is a sign of moral bankruptcy. USA is in the business of imperialism, not in the business of charity, your claim on USA’s benevolence over the world cannot be reconciled by the harm it brought to the world in 2008 world financial meltdown which is still ongoing and a lot while to go too.
4. The world needs peace and prosperity, not lesser misery than the worst, your justification for the USA causing lesser misery to the humanity is a sign of psychopath and no sense of humanity.
Cyrus
"1. Self-proclaimed moral authority is the symptom of totalitarian, because it no longer can tolerate criticism anymore, so you admit US is a totalitarian openly.
2. Fabricating excuses to justify and gloss over the wrong doings what the US has been carrying out all over the world is an abuse of Straw-man fallacy to the extreme."
Talk about shooting oneself in the foot, now is it not the PRC here who cannot take a constructive criticism and denies any argument not coinciding with it's revisionist history? Blabering about this and that without factual basis and refuses civilize debate because they know they can't win? The PRC who refuses ITLOS because it cannot stand being asked to defend itself in an international arbitration regarding its much taunted 9 dash claims?
Observer
From the article "…he effectively ruled out compromise on territorial and security issues…"
So when china and chinese will take back the vast land that Russia took in 1858 by slaughtered chinese like sheeps? Still yellowing cowardice as before….oppps, compromising, right? LOL.
Where are all the big bold talk of "teach them a lesson" or "smash around" or "undisputed territories"? Full of shame and humiliation. Forever and always.
ACT
@observer
war is not necessarily necessary; from what i've heard, there have been a lot of Chinese immigrating into the region that Russia took in 1858 (the area around Vostok), and it's apparently a major concern for local Russian Federation officials. Although, at least one or two posters on here have been on record in the past as saying that the PRCs modernization of land forces is geared at Russia, not the U.S. Who knows what will happen? so long as we are not in the "halls of power" we can do little but stand back and watch.
John Chan
@Observer,
Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan all have to respect China’s territory, if they don’t they will be taught a lesson regardless what has happened between China and anybody else, be it USA or Russia.
intellectual merc
@john chan – what lessons does us lesser nations need to learn mr. Chan? So far all we’re learning is that china is well on its way to commit the same atrocities and crimes that the west and japan committed in the past which you gladly list down for everyone in almost all the discussions. If you look at the historical maps, your 9 dash line can already be compared to wwII japan and nazi germany’s occupied borders. The west doesn’t exactly have a clean record the way see it, china’s more than glad to follow its example and sully its own record.
John Chan
@Intellectual mere,
The lessons the lesser nations must learn is that they cannot take advantages of China by selling themselves to the predatory imperialist hegemon of the world as its barking dogs; China will defend itself regardless the cost, quieting those barking dogs down is a necessary step to tell the hegemon to be reasonable.
China’s integrity must be respected by the hegemon, the lesser nations and whoever; disputes must be resolved thru peaceful negotiations; self-righteous claims are nothing but disguised aggression.
JK
"self-righteous claims are nothing but disguised aggression"
POT KETTLE
Cam
What do we all expect from the famous "sick man of Asia"?, erratic violent and destructive behaviors for sure. China needs to learn the consequences that Germany and Japan faced when they were hell bent on imperial path of robbing other lands.
Jugular
@JC then by "declaring" this your saying your country is Indeed the Imperial China everyone thinks you are. Ignoring ITLOS ignoring UN Law declaring without legal proof that you own my frontyard and without even going to the International Courts to contest this baseless claim. OW your scared sir coz you got no legal means…thats why your using your newly developed weapons and powerful economy to Claim whats not yours. IMPERIAL indeed. So much for your trust rating for the whole world.
Cyrus
Mr. Chan the Philippines has taken the issue to the ITLOS now why does China doesn't follow suit? Maybe because it's claim is so weak that it cannot defend itself in the International Stage?
ACT
looking over the FT article, i get an increasingly clear sense that the PRC is very much in the stage of "rich country, strong army" that Japan adopted in the late 19th century and early 20th century, a process which allowed it to fight Russia–then a respected western power–to a stalemate in 1905. if we look at the major components of that plan, according to wikipedia
(1) An active role for the state in the development of the economy;
(2) import substitution for industries that would compete with imports
(3) adoption of Western technology to increase production of sophisticated products;
(4) export development
(5) avoidance of relying on foreign loans.
then one has the realization that the PRC is following along EXACTLY the same path. So, will Japan be to China what Russia was to Japan?
ACT
adding to my comment:
i think it should also be worthy of note that in the months before the both the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 and the 1905 Sino-Japanese war, Japanese generals and politicians of note were very much just as fiery in their rhetoric as certain members of the CPC and PLA are now…..
ACT
ahem. that should read "russo-japanese war of 1905, not "Sino-Japanese war of 1905"
applesauce
this entire article consists of rumors this, rumors that. and to top it off its written by Gordon G. Chang a consistent anti-PRC writer and doom predictor, how this guy is even allowed to be published in this website is beyond my understanding, his points arent even good and hes been consistently wrong.
Xi tells the military to be ready, so what?, unlike what mr. Changclaims, Hu did this during his term as well just look up "hu tell military" on google. the PLA didnt invade anyone in Hu's time as cmc boss did they? the rest of the article consists of him mentioning some hawks. as though there is no hawks in the Us or Europe or any other country
then there is this line "“Militant nationalism is the only possible substitute for ex-communists who seek to retain power.”" funny cause i thought these chinese politicians are still communists, and if they're not, they seem to be doing well holding on to power through economic growth for…a few decades now and if you'll note there hasnt been a real war for the PRC since vietnam. hardly a sign of Militant nationalism in addition, military spending even with cia(high) estimates are half the US as percentage of GDP and even lower in absolute numbers and in fact is broadly in line with overall GDP growth, again hardly a sign of the party turning to militant nationalism. his only evidence is some dry speeches that party leader in china gives all the time and some examples from soviet union and other past communist countries, which if you know anything, is vastly different from china at this point.
klee
Mr Gordon Chang predicted China would collapsed by 2006; again in 2011, he said it definitely would collapsed by the end of 2012. Again, has China collapsed yet?? He again said China's growth is actually zero.
What credential Mr. Chang has. You can tell how good his comments and understanding of China are. Commentators can say and predict all things they want, but if you get wrong over and over again. Their analyses are worth nothing.
JohnX
@Klee.
I don't really care who G. Chang is as he may be right 50% of the time. But I do read posts, Chinese, American, Filipino, Taiwanese, Singaporean etc.Now if you take each of these and you put them into the mix, then it all adds up.
China had and has its opportunity to promote a peaceful region and everything says its failing. Doing Business, yes it is. Making friends with those with guns, no it isn't.
For me, its Mischief Reef and some day I might even explain that to you. But the truth is China failed. Can it rebuild itself as a friend to the region? Yes. Can it do so while being nationalistic? No.
We remember Japan, and China is a bigger, uglier version of Japan and we wont accept a repeat of history.
intellectual merc
@ klee
Imperial Japan
Soviet Union
Nazi Germany
Roman Empire?
All those who didn’t play nice with others… patience mr. Klee, China’s time will come.
JK
Even more mass butchery against the native inhabitants no doubt.
Kim’s Uncle
@applesauce, you only have to hear the rhetoric emanating from CCP mouthpiece and read the post from Chinese forum. Chinese childish jingoistic nationalism is oh so real. CCP no longer talks about communism because its doctrine was pile of dung! What other accomplishment has the PRC accomplish except economic growth at the low level of industrialization? Other Asian countries accomplished that decades ago and without bloodshed! What other issue CCP has to divert issues like pollution, corruption, graft, ethnic riots, inequality, workers rights, etc.?? Han nationalism! What better way to unite people and tell them that people need not question CCP rule is to play the crude nationalist card!!!
David
Whenever I read an article by Gordon C. Chang I always prepare myself for a paranoid fear-mongering anti-chinese diatribe, and this article is no exception. To be clear though, no country can rule the entire world. The Chinese leadership, who have studied the faults of the Soviet Union and the Japanese Empire know that any such maneuver would lead to a ridiculous level of defense spending and stiff resistance. The reason behind their increased military spending,which is inline with their GDP growth rate, is to modernize and expand their aging fleet so that they are less dependent on the United State's protection of their vital sea shipping lanes. This is all being done in accordance to their level of economic development, so that increasing military budgets does not become unaffordable and threaten economic growth (unlike the US). But leave it to Gordon Chang to take something that is perfectly reasonable, and in fact necessary for the Chinese, and turn it into a fear mongering article filled cherry-picked anecdotal evidence to "prove" his point that the PLA is out of control. While it is obvious that Gordon Chang hates the CCP, China's military modernization is good for China in general, and whatever government takes over form the CCP, if their is ever a political transition, they will inherit a stronger military backed by an independent military industry that is capable of safeguarding their national and international strategic interests. China is well on its way towards becoming the most globalized nation in the world, building a large navy is absolutely in China's best interest based on this reason alone. Failure to do so would be a very stupid mistake on behalf of China's leaders.
intellectual merc
@ david -You do know mr. David that nazi germany and imperial japan stated the same. “Asia for asians,” “the true leader of europe” redefining their borders a little bit here and there… to promote their “strategic interests” abroad. The love stops at the money no? No one outside of china can imagine living in a world where the CCP can be considered as a world leader.
Vulgor Schnecke
@intellectual merc
ever heard of "America for Americans"?. thats the mocking motto of latin americans regarding the monroe doctrine.
ACT
@Vulgor
you actually make a good point; the United States has total hegemony over all of the Americas, and tends to remove–to put it politely–South American governments that it does not like at will. This is by no means, however, an excuse for the PRC to do the same with its own backyard, nor is it in any way their right.
John Chan
@ACT,
Don’t be absurd, which government in Asia or in the world for that matter has PRC removed or interfered? Linking PRC’s actions of protecting its territory to the USA’s hegemonic behaviour surly is a new way for the predatory imperialist to justify its meddling of other nation’s internal affairs self-righteously.
ACT
@john chan
i was referring to the future, as well as to present actions on the part of the PRC–not in terms of assassination, etc, but in terms of interference and hegemony. the PRC has failed to live up to its policy of non-interference on multiple occasions; don't fool yourself into thinking that this has not been the case.
John Chan
@ACT,
You need to separate conjecture from reality; condemning with conjecture is insidious, but condemning with reality is frank and upright. Future is conjecture; historical records are facts and reality.
You need to read the comment posted by aristeon below to realize how absurd your as well as all the anti-China bloggers’ arguments are.
AmericanPragmatist
@ACT
Slight correction: America hasn't invaded or covertly toppled any Latin American governments since, I believe, 1983, when we invaded Grenada. And, mind you, this was in the context of the Cold War. Yes, we do have hegemony in the Western Hemisphere, but if we were really acting the part of the aggressor nowadays, we would have toppled the Castro brothers after the Soviet Union fell, assassinated Hugo Chavez, and refused to relinquish the Panama Canal in 1999. Giving up the Canal was a huge mistake, in my opinion, considering we directly allowed for Panamanian independence from Colombia and built the Canal, but I'm totally against taking Chavez out and, as a young American, actually want to normalize relations with Cuba, unlike my parents and grandparents. As for the rest of the region, we have excellent relations with Canada, Mexico, and most Central and South American nations, and I believe that we should ally with Brazil and contribute to its own rise as a Great Power in the near future.
intellectual merc
@vulgor schenecke – hey! Ever heared of latin americans claiming up US borders? Neither have I.
Vulgor Schnecke
@ ACT
I think you are right, but that wasnt my point, but maybe i should have phrased it differently.
@ACT and American Pragmatist
American Pragmatist: You're kind of saying what I meant. What the US did in Latin America is basically Economic or Monetary Imperialism, and many countries didnt like it. However, as you can see, many countries arent too shabby. Brazil as a member of the BRICS countries is growing steadily, and considering the circumstances under which they started, that's quite an accomplishment. There are projections that within the next 40 years, the BRICS countries will be responsible for more than 50% (or 70%? dont remember correctly) of the total economic growth worldwide. Not that bad. Whether the US had a negative or positive influence on these developments, I dont know, Im not not familiar enough with Latin America. What I want to say is that all these "analogies" to Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan are ill-advised. Its simple to make these comparisons, however most of the time they fall apart especially when you consider history and socioeconomic circumstances at that time. Even the fact that it was 70 years ago makes a big difference. We live in a globalized world where global interdependences are more important than ever. That was not the case 70 years ago.
Nobody was hating on the US for not wanting to give back the Panama Canal to Panama when clearly the canal is on Panama's continental territory. With China we are talking about small little islands in the Pacific. Not saying what China's doing is right, IMO if China cant prove the Senkakus belong to them, these island have to stay with Japan simply because they are part of Japan's territory right now. However I think the outcries and the projected consequences mentioned by some people here are absolutely exaggerated.
@ John Chan
You are out of your mind
Cyrus
@ACT you do have a point but we must not forget what China did to Tibet and Vietnam when it tried to attack Vietnam to effect change but was unable to do so since the Vietnamese Leadership just hid. When it attacked and conquered Tibet and toppled it's Government.
ACT
@John Chan
when a nation announces international territory as its sovereign territory in spite of the disputes there, and when a nation has a past history of behaving in exactly the same manner that the U.S does now (forcing other nations to trade with it or face military aggression, etc), then it its all to easy to predict how it will behave when it re-attains that status.
Andao
Military spending is increasing a lot faster than GDP growth actually. It's estimated between 25-35% of US spending and growing, with a GDP per capita of about 20% of the US. To me that's the real kicker, increasing military spending when they still have a LOT of poor people to clothe, house, and feed. The US certainly spends too much on defense, but the average American is doing a lot better than the average Chinese.
Drive by
Which country's government doesn't want its army to be ready for war? Maybe a banana republic. There is absolutely nothing wrong for China's government to request the PLA being ready for war. This is what a responsible government that wants to maintain its sovereignty must do.
Kangmin Zheng
I said this before "China is the Nazi of this 21st century". I hope I was wrong but I wasn't. Now is the time the U.S. and its allies ready for war with China.
I am looking for the day China initiates the war. China will collapse within days. Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia will be free at last.
John Chan
If a war starts, Japan will collapse with days, Ryukyu Kingdom, Ainu, Burakumin, etc. will be free at last.
Cyrus
@JC Would love to see if that happens, sadly I do believe China would be the one at a disadvantage.
Vulgor Schnecke
@ Kangming Zheng
I wonder how much you actually know about Nazi Germany…..
Kangmin Zheng
@Vulgor Schnecke
Nazi Germany was very racism – same as China today.
Nazi Germany made increasingly aggressive demands, threatening war if they were not met – same as China today.
German nationalism was one of the key points of Nazism. Chinese nationalism is pretty much the same. CCP brainwash Chinese people for so long. Look at Chinese posters on this forum (John Chan, applesauce, Bankotsu, Liang1a and etc).
Sound like a good start?
AmericanPragmatist
I agree with Khangmin. The parallels between Nazi Germany and modern China are astounding. One point you left out: China is also committing genocide in Tibet, East Turkestan, and Inner Mongolia.
Leonard R.
PLA generals or even Lieutenant Colonels, shooting off their mouths to the world-wide media is nothing new. But Beijing is backing down already on the Senkakus. The real war is coming in the currency markets later this year if Abe keeps his word. China will face a lose-lose situation in that worst-case scenario. Dump it's Yen and Dollars or else slowly devalue and face trade wars with the US & the rest of the developed world.
Once the economic **** hits the fan, no telling what will happen. War on the Philippine archipelago or maybe the Senkakus….or maybe even inside China. What happens with Abe and the Yen is the most important thing to watch in the world IMO. The CPC is really a prisoner now to events outside its control. And it couldn't happen to a more deserving group of people.
Reason
Unlike most, I actually interpret Xi's comments in an entirely different way.
Sure China's generals are becoming increasingly bellicose
Sure China's military is increasing abrasive if you happen to live next to it
But I believe Xi's comments about 'actual war fighting' are more focused at the actual training the PLA does, which on the whole is poor and of a low quality with little of it being to do with anything that could help them in an actual war with a competent army. like Japan or the US.
Yeah, we've all seen the constant stream of photos coming off People's Daily.. at Chimerica News we assess this military training all the time… and the majority of it is just laughable children's play.
Most of the PLA, including the PLAN will be left high and dry in an actual real combat environment…. and Xi knows this.
Anyone who has spent any time in China knows that the most PLA recruits do nothing, have little access to professional soldiers and meet every morning and evening to shout and do Kung-Fu exercises. Cus their superior don't know what else to do with them.
I think that with the current Asia Pacific environment as it is, Xi actually sat down with his generals and asked them honestly… "Guys, how good are we and can we win wars?" And some of his generals have come back and said, "We need better training. Stuff that is more realistic. The kind of stuff that western armies do as standard."
And she said… "Make it so"
And this is why Xi came out and called for better training…. not because they want to kick off with Japan or Vietnam, but because deep down, they know the majority of the PLA is of a very poor quality and has no real training in how to conduct a real war
Errol
Uh oh… The best way to get solid training is to earn experience in combat. Importing textbooks and instruction manuals from overseas is not the same. Nothing beats having been thru the baptism of fire. I hope I'm wrong but I'm beginning to worry that PLA generals will soon rectify that lack of experience.
Andao
I think this is a really accurate assessment. The troops need more training (especially in international war game exercises) before they are ready for prime time. It's only been a few years since troops have not had to raise their own chickens at the barracks. True story.
What DOES make me nervous is a few idiot generals who ignore this and have tons of shiny new toys that they are eager to use. Let me put it this way: US Navy subs go dark for weeks at a time while they are on patrol. Does anyone think the PRC would let PLAN sub captains do this? I am not convinced yet that Chinese generals have restraint when the temptation to test out the latest stealth jet or missile cruiser is so high.
Bankotsu
Typical anti-China drivel propaganda from Gordon Chang. Once I saw the name of the author of this article, I stopped reading. No use reading through useless anti-China trash.
Leonard R.
—–
You didn't read the article? Yet you're commenting on it? You may not receive your 50 cents today.
Reason
By way of example I offer you….
Didier Drogba
One of the best strikers on the planet…
Scored the winning goal in the Champions league
Went to China…
and achieved what???
Exactly nothing!
Proving that you can have the best quality of anything you choose and pay heaps of money for it…. footballers, weapons, planes, whatever….
But if the environment that it is in is cr*p – then that quality item struggles to be anything but cr*p
This is also the curse of the PLA
a_canadian_observer
In short: "garbage in, garbage out".
Dark Continent
@ Reason
Perhaps you could tell us how qualitative the Japanese military training are, what military edge they possess versus the Chinese one, please exclude the US Army.
Reason
It's a moot point.
If China gets into a shooting war with Japan, the US will support it.
So, imagining a scenario where the PLA only needs to deal with the JSDF on a one-on-one basis is just a wet dream of General Lou Yuan and the likes.
Tim Wagner
We Poms has a great saying, ‘If you Want Peace, prepare for war!”
The Chinese are just doing that, so what is the big fuss?
As usual, I find that paid trolls are all over the place…….switch off the lights and go to beds.
Anon
Yes, indeed the sock puppets and paid trolls are all out in force in effect shutting down the Diplomat's comments section, I wonder to what end? What's the point of incessant hate-filled tirades?
We get it – YOU HATE CHINA & WISH IT'D BREAK INTO LITTLE PIECES.
Tax payers' money down the drain. There's no decent debate possible for the genuine readers. Waste of time, waste of media contents. Even Russia Today offers a livelier and wider-spectrum range of views. There, the reverse is obvious, the paid trolls just get shooed off, and Americans, Indians, Chinese, Europeans, South Americans all get their views out. Sad that the nation that invoked the First Amendment is working harrd to ensure ONLY its views prevail.
Switches light, goes to bed.
ACT
Yes, indeed the sock puppets and paid trolls are all out in force in effect shutting down the Diplomat's comments section, I wonder to what end? What's the point of incessant hate-filled tirades?
We get it – YOU HATE CHINA & WISH IT'D BREAK INTO LITTLE PIECES.
wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, AND WRONG–AGAIN, ANON, and as usual.
we do not hate china, nor do we wish to subject it to the same treatment that it received some 160 years ago. You're reading too much between the lines, and your bias against western nations–one of which you most likely live in–is showing through clearly. Contrary to all the slurs on here, i suspect that none of the people who have posted here have ever been paid for what they have posted; they are just that firm in their beleifs; i firmly believe that the PRC intends to emulate the U.S' mistakes and seek revenge on those who wronged it, as illustrated in its national mission, if for no other reason than empire envy and foolish notions of natural and preordained positions in the world, just as you seem to believe that the U.S is the cruelest, most corrupt, most morally bankrupt empire in the world, whose sole aim is the destruction or enslavement-in-all-but-name of any and all nations who would seek to move outside the order it has constructed; that it does not matter what administration is in place, and that other nations are incapable of matching, or having matched this cruelty.
Reason
@ ACT – exactly. No one HATES China. This is just a weapon by the CPC to repackage any criticism, no matter what on, into a vicious attack on the core.
@ JC and the likes, Note, people here don't defend the West, no matter how much you attack it… that's your privilege. No one cares. The West is big enough and ugly enough to look after itself.
Unlike the CPC, which has to be protected from the truth as it lives in an unreality bubble.
John Chan
@Reason,
You call all those comments bolstering the West superiority with racist tone on this site not defending the West? Have you heard of “offense is the best defence?” All those China bashing comments on this site are nothing but offensive.
If “The West is big enough” to look after itself and no need to seek out imaginary enemy to destroy constantly, then another big chunk of employment in the West and its lackeys will disappear, because all of them are working in the business of manufacturing consensus to destroy potential competitors in order to maintain the supremacy of the West.
CPC is armature comparing to the West’s manufactured consensus, that’s why CPC is in such disadvantage position. People can see CPC’s propaganda, but people cannot see the West’s manufactured consensus, because they live in it, 24-7 like every bit of air you breathe; media networks, pro-sports, and Hollywood are just few of the apparatus the West used to engulf its people in an manufactured reality bubble.
a_canadian_observer
Revenge is chinese nature. Just watch any chinese kungfu movie and you'll see what I mean.
nirvana
Guys, we are "China-haters" because, in all evidence we are "trolls", "paid CIA agents", "thugs", "imperialist lackeys", "sock puppets", "ass kissers", "pawns", "low IQ", "ignoramus", … And furthermore our readers are not even "genuine"!
"Even Russia is better". EVEN? About free-speech, just ask the Pussy Riots. And EVEN CHINA? Oops that's China bashing, that's China hatred. Shame on me.
Valbonne
I absolutely agreed with you. The Diplomat always like to pay Trolls all over the place to write these stupid articles.
Peter Lamboon
Many writers are paid employees of the CIA.
They are instructed to write and demonize a targeted nation or nations.
So thiis article is an excellent example of journalism warfare why they write with a twisted tonque and twisted facts.
And then again, there are paid CIA trolls in the likes of Nirvana, ACT, Kim Uncle, Stephen …..they are have the same mind set, cos they are instructed by their employer on how and what to write.
Ever wonder why they are all so similar?
ACT
@Peter Lamboon
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.
i checked my bank account five minutes ago. nowhere in there did i see a payment from the CIA or any affiliate organizations. Gordon Chang might be paid by the CIA to write pieces in this manner, but even if this is the case, i have no doubt that various ministries of the PRC also pay writers to do the same in china, or in other sites around the world. oh–wait–they already do OH HI, PEOPLE'S DAILY!
Kangmin Zheng
It's simple because we are educated unlike pro Communist Chinese posters. They have been brainwashed all their life.
nirvana
Let's face the reality. When you blog on The Diplomat, be prepared to be labeled a CIA agent or conversely a Wumao.
Personally, I take this as a reward. It means that my opponents are out of argument. Even better, it means that my argument is convincing. It means that that somebody feels that my posts cannot be ignored. That my writing is dangerous. As there is no censorship here and you cannot be jailed me, the last resort is to discredit me.
Cyrus
Then why not respond in a logical way on all our arguments against China then and we could talk. How I wish I am a paid troll then I might actually make something of this comments, sadly that is not the case the reward I get is the feeling that I am able to Defend my Philippines.
Errol
Dang… Now I wish the CIA paid us for each post we made… Think of how much we could have earned by now :(
charles
the current chinese regime is doomed by its own internal contradictions, but with a better government that isn't afraid of its own people, china can live in the prosperity and international respect its citizens deserve. but this beijing clique is pathetic and funny — they can't see how sad they look, clinging to their stupid marxist-leninist symbols while thrashing around trying to find enemies with which to distract the populace. the chinese people deserve better. at least the democratic regime in taiwan isn't afraid to let the people vote!!
TV Monitor
This is actually a good thing. China is 100% guaranteed to be defeated by Japan alone if two went to war over the islands today and for a foreseeable future. A humiliating defeat will put these communist leaders back to the place where they rightfully belong to.
John Chan
@TV Monitor,
Japan is not known for shy from aggression, its forte is creating incident then expanding the incident into full scale war; it also is an expert on sneak attack under the mask of peace negotiation like the Pearl Harbour incident. If Japan has any shred of confidence, it would attack China long time ago just like it did before 1945. Your huffing and puffing prove Japanese is scare to death and a paper lackey of the USA.
Anyhow Japan is only a pawn in the face off between the USA and China. USA will not let Japan wonder off too far from its leash, using China’s hand to wreak Japan is the best way to make Japan a USA submissive lackey for the next century.
Dark Continent
US Army defeated the Japanese from air using WMD, the war with China will not be a land war but another airwave war by missiles and this time a lot of them.
Reason
Interesting the reaction to Gordon Chang here.
CPC supporters just openly reject to read him… because he has had the audacity to say bad things about the CPC?? (More likely he's on a No-read directive list)
Interestingly… as a HATER of the CPC I spend all my time reading the drivel that the CPC media constantly pumps out on multiple platforms. I see it as my duty to read all their rubbish, to get a sense of what they're saying from day to day.
So, the comments to this piece just shows how much the CPC argument is based on maintaining ignorance as the commentators openly boast their utter stupidity and ignorance like it's a medal.
"Oh, Gordon Chang, as soon as I saw his name I stopped reading." Like that is a mark of intelligence?
Guys, as defenders of the CPC narrative… the likes of Gordon Chan or Greg Autry should be your day to day reading, just like the likes of General Lou Yuan and Colonel Ming Fu are mine.
John Chan
@Reason,
You are using No True Scotsman faulty generation to smear the Chinese bloggers on this site, you should listen to Errol that “Generalization is a trap,” you should not do what your comrade does not approve. On the other hand the anti-China clique starts right off the gate by bashing China instead of commenting on the article.
Reason
@JC… the truth of it is in the posts.
You don't need to come up with some odd trope that no one has ever heard of to reason it away
nirvana
You are right Reason. In certain countries you do not, SHOULD NOT, MUST NOT have discernment. If you develop a critical mind, you are dangerous. In the Middle Age, only Catholic priests had access to scientific books. Whoever contradicted THE Church was a paid "agent" of satan.
CCP’s Mistresses
CCP has been riddled with too many problems to take any more crises and consequently,Xi Jinping is sitting on this rotten system, his first job is to keep the CCP alive.Therefore, the effects of anything he says or does will be greatly reduced when being implemented."
CCP's ultimate purpose behind many of its practices is to maintain its dictatorship.The CCP has tied up the Chinese people with its interests regarding the Diaoyu Islands issue.The CCP attempt to stir up Chinese nationalism and sentiments.
"the Diaoyu Island incident did not happen today. In fact, it has existed for decades.But, why has it turned into something so serious. Mainly it is because the CCP is about to collapse."
On 29th January, Xi Jinping inspected the armed police force, reported "Xinhua News Agency." Xi Jinping asked the armed police to be ready for combat in a moment's notice. The armed police should understand the complexity of the current situation and be ready not only to fight but also to win the war.
"This shows that the CCP is facing a crisis and needs the armed forces to suppress people's pursuit of democracy and freedom. To win a war against whom? Do they want to win a war against the unarmed Chinese people?"
When Xi Jinping visited the armed police force, he asked the troops be absolutely loyal, absolutely pure, and absolutely reliable. Observers think that Xi Jinping revealed his worries over Mainland China's civil strife. At the same time, it also reflects the severity
of the infighting within the CCP.
There are more 1.8 millions CCP members had quit the CCP and fled oversea. May be it's time for the CCP bloggers and their families to packup their bags and heading to democratic countries as well.
duke chan
I could not agree more!
Kung Fu-tzu
Its not much a question of CCP but Mr Hu-Jintao and his SC who have lost control of many things - He has left the environment a mess, a huge rich-poor divide, a wastage of the country's resources for foreign investors' exporters, corruption, festering border/territorial disputes, negative image of China due to wilful smear campaign by Washington, discrimination of Chinese by excluding qualified Chinese from teaching English where there is an unqualified Caucasian aspiring to teach English even if he unqualified, foreigners in China itself, treating and paying Caucasian foreigners better than Chinese, silencing Chinese from writing or speaking up against the shortcomings of the government or other countries such as the US and Japan, etc.. It is clear he and his SC had no vision, had no idea, had no knowledge what he should be doing or refrained from doing. While he has done some good, his ignorance and lack of leadership, courage and intellect has left the country with many problems for Mr Xi to clean up. He should had made way for more capable people in China long time ago.
EuroArmy
China is so powerful that it send a full armada of fishing ships to ply some theatre for international audience. Pathetic, I don’t even bother anymore to read any news about Chinese incursion at Sedaku islands.
They are lucky then have to deal with the Japan and not Russia who have the habit a making few 50mm calibre holes into any Chinese ships that get into their territorial waters.
PacRim Jim
Recall with whom you are dealing.
China's one-child policy has created a nation of spoiled children who are accustomed to getting their way and are thus incapable of comprise.
Arrogance and belligerence at the top almost certainly will entail mass death at the bottom.
Kim’s Uncle
Another thing that is scary about the one child policy is the fact Chinese culture has a tendency to favor boys so the demographics of the population of China have produced an army of single males with no possible prospect for marriage because there are no GIRLS!! What will this mass of virgin Chinese males do with time on their hands? They will become belligerent, aggressive, and impulsive. I think we have all the ingredients of war and conflict in our hands.
One child army
Again, those commie bosses in ZhongNanHai don’t care about millions of lives of Chinese boys from the only child families (while their children live a luxury life in the West) when they beat the war drum so loud. They are calling the war like Chinese emperors did in the last thousands of years, just to satisfy their expansionist dream of conquering small surrounding countries. I call the wumao in this blog to think of who they are and stop being slaves. Oh, maybe I am wrong; these wumao could be children of those little emperors in Beijing.
aristeon
It seems interesting to me how deep the mistrust of the West towards China is. Newspapers and magazines constantly speculate about how China will start a war sooner or later, so that the public is now convinced that China poses a threat to world peace.
As Kishore Mahbubani put it in one of his books, the West believes to be the only responsible stakeholder of global power, and non-Western country can ever act in world affairs as wisely as the West thinks it has been doing for decades.
Taiwanese activist Peng Ming-min, who during the Guomindang one-party-rule on Taiwan was persecuted and arrested and miraculously escaped to Sweden, remarks in his book "A Taste of Freedom" that "as has often been pointed out, the Chinese Communist leaders, despite their often belligerent utterances, are in fact cautious and pragmatic in their actions." He wrote this in the early 1970's, and it seems to me that he knew the Chinese leadership much better than many Westerners who keep on saying China will start a war.
Of course, nobody can foresee what will happen in the future. Nobody knows if China will become an aggressive power. However, we must give China credit for having been a peaceful country for the last few decades. We must look at the facts and not base our judgment on speculations. Western countries have been involved in major conflicts while China was dealing with its own internal problems. Western troops are deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Serbia, Mali and in other areas of the world. Most especially the US military presence has a global reach, which is a legacy of the Cold War and American anti-Soviet policy.
Given the actual record, why are people so suspicious of China? What proves do they have to assert that this country is planning to go to war? What facts do they have in order to say that the West is more peaceful than China? Of all Western countries, the USA should be particularly cautious in depicting China as a threat, for it was America, and not China, which fought one of the most arbitrary wars in recent times.
Here we see the double standard of the West. Our wars can, in one way or the other, always be excused, if not glorified, while even simple words, when uttered by leaders of non-Western countries, make us predict a new world war.
Aris Teon @my-new-life-in-asia.blogspot
ACT
@if anything, we are suspicious of China because it has been decidedly un-peaceful within the last few decades; in 1974, 1979 and during the 1980's China seized minor islands by force from Vietnam or invaded Vietnam itself; in 1994, The PRC seized Mischief Reef from the Philippines and built military structures on it in 1999; Sansha has been in a process of ongoing militarization since at least 2001. All of this has, mind you, taken place in internationally disputed territory. Oh, and then there's the fact that the PLA threatened to nuke San-Francisco during the 1996 Taiwan-Strait crisis. This, plus the alleged national mission of "righting historical wrongs" with all its intended ambiguity and the repeated bellicose threats from the CPC and PLA leadership do not help matters, and give the impression that the nation's leadership is a tad bit unhinged. Tell me, would you trust a trading-partner who–despite profiting from trading with you and your friends–repeatedly threatened to stab you, your wife and your friends when you didn't listen to him or offered criticism?
RollingWave
ahhh yes, except that there was no outcry when China actually did kill Vietnamese for those islands, because you know… it was the Cold war and relationship was better between China and the US then US and Vietnam.
You fail to note that Vietnam has also undertaken by far the greatest expansion of Presence in the Southern Island chains, it currently holds the most islands and most of that came in the last 2 decade, despite the fact that he Republic of China, have long held the largest island in the chain (well over 5 deacdes of actual military presence)
Meanwhile, it is hard to objectively say that Japan isnt' baiting China over the Sengaku / Diaoyu Islands. aside from the whole fiasco of buying islands, now Abe says he's considering putting installation / men on there, a move that any one with a brain knows will end up in bombing / fighting..
China is not innocent of anything of course, but your either naive or evil if you think the other players in the regions are.
Anon
This is hilarious, how about some CONCERN for NATO that just LAST YEAR has bombed, invaded and toppled Heads of SOVEREIGN States from Libya to Syria?
Which armies are based in 900 over military installations all over the world, with god knows how many more black sites of torture and inhumane experiments?
We used to think the USSR is to be feared, but in fact, Andrew Marshall and his ilk firmly in control of the Pentagon and Washington, are the true inheritors of Nazism and Fascism, of a New World Order of absolute diktat, broaching no dissent. This is truly Orwellian.
ACT
@anon
there you go again, acting as if we are all so naively unaware of what goes on in the world; we already know about this, and we already criticize it. But this article is not about vietnam's expansion, which is limited to its own EEZ, but the expansion of China, which extends WELL beyond its own EEZ. U.S arms arming the Syrian rebels,Al Qaeda, both confuses and disgusts me, but it is not relevant to this discussion. Stay on topic, please. Oh, and what could possibly make you think, judging by its behavior when it is not a super power, that China will be any less orwellian?
@rolling wave.
So what? if I were Japan i would also be baiting China into making a stupid move, consider that what China is doing there is nothing short of falsification of history to legitimize territorial aggression; the move by Japan in september was nothing but a formalization of the status quo. Also, last i checked, Vietnam wasn't building military installations on islands outside of its EEZ.
RollingWave
@ACT
So essentially your saying that China can't do things that Japan can, well if that's your argument then there's no need to continue this discussion further is there?
denk
* the nation's leadership is a tad bit unhinged.* [sic]
+it isn’t happening now because the crazies have taken over in Beijing. It’s happening because the decision-makers in Beijing think that the crazies have taken over in Washington, and are trying to draw most of Asia into an anti-Chinese alliance. There is a good deal of evidence to suggest that they are right+
http://walrusmagazine.com/articles/2005.10-international-affairs-coming-war-with-china
ACT
@denk
i would, in fact, suggest that it's a bit of both. Nevertheless, you distorted my words; i said "gives the impression that the nation's leadership is a tad bit unhinged". This does not mean that they actually are.
Anon-no-trolls-pls
@denk
EXACTLY…and despite being a democracy, Americans are nonchalant about their governments lying to them and the world to go to war. After all the False Flags, eg Gulf of Tonkin, Iraq's WMDs, they still voted for those that lied to them. I think even the Chinese question their govt more.
denk
act
*i would, in fact, suggest that it's a bit of both. Nevertheless, you distorted my words; i said "gives the impression that the nation's leadership is a tad bit unhinged". This does not mean that they actually are*
exactly.
otoh, there'r ample evidence to show that murika is ruled by crazies
exhibit 1001…
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26427.htm
denk
act
*thankyou for the links. i was aware of much, if not all, of what the site contained. However, it would be smart to point out that this behavior is not unique to the U.S; such crimes are committed in dozens of countries around the world by multiple state and non-state actors.*
like h*** it isnt unique ,fact is, merika is in a league all by itself
here's an updated list but its by no means exhaustive
click the excel file in the article
http://www.4thmedia.org/2012/09/18/the-us-led-apocalypse-the-americas-apocalyptic-eternal-war/
i challenge u to find any country that could match such an illustrious record
*. Despite the crimes of the U.S, however, i am of the opinion that it is better to be ruled by the demon you know than the demon you don't–*
u.s. is a known demon alright, ever heard about the pnac manifesto ?
under bush, its pnac on steriod
under obama, its pnac on stanozolo. !
so much for prez for change !
china ?
it has neither the heart nor muscle to emulate such a feat.
u might enjoy being ruled by an evil empire
but for those of us who dont want to be rule by anybody, the choice is crystal clear…..oppose u.s. imperialism wherever it rears its ugly head.
denk
Anon-no-trolls-pls
*EXACTLY…and despite being a democracy, Americans are nonchalant about their governments lying to them and the world to go to war. After all the False Flags, eg Gulf of Tonkin, Iraq's WMDs, they still voted for those that lied to them. I think even the Chinese question their govt more*
those anglo msm keep yapping about chinese propaganda
the way i see it, the ccp should send its propaganda chief to under study at anyone of these spin mills like cnn, faux news, nyt, wp, satisfaction gauranteed !
nirvana
You had American journalists revealing the truth about Bush's illegal Iraq war. You had Holywood movies (e.g "Green Zone"). And therefore you have this privilege that the Chinese don't : free press. Ask the anti Neo-Con whether they had feared for their life when Bush and Cheney were in charge. Now remember the story of this Chinese super-cop seeking refuge in a US consulate. This is the difference: you are allowed to mistrust your own government. And you MUST, if your are citizens of a superpower.
ACT
@denk, anon
State your point, please. Like i said, all of the pro-western posters on here are well aware of what the U.S has done. Furthermore, frankly, I really don't care; the U.S, despite its high crime record, etc, etc, etc, allows this kind of research–and your drivel–to be published, as the more opinions there are, the better of a chance there is for improvement. Better yet, i am able to sit in my room in Colorado, 15 minutes before i have to go to classes where i can learn about the history of Russia after the Russian Revolution, and argue with you on this subject. But i digress. What concrete proof do you have that any other nation would be better, and less violent, than the U.S has been? China? China already does these things to its own citizens, where any improper criticism of the government can land you in jail, a prison camp, or worse. So too with Russia, where Pussy Riot was recently hauled off for protesting the government, and voters were bussed in to influence elections. This is not the case in Japan, where you can speak your mind (just look at how many times they've changed governments). I find it funny that posters like you–and i suspect many of you at one time lived in the U.S or another western nation–continue to harp on about how evil the U.S is; other nations may not have matched its list of interventions to be sure, but this does not mean that such interventions do not happen, or that governmental manevuers of that sort do not take place; just look at Russia's invasion of Georgia in 2008. My final point is–and i will brook no argument on this–that i feel that the lot of you continued to moan and whine about the U.S because it somehow excuses the similar actions of whichever nation you support. Let me make this clear; at no time, at no place and for no reason, is the use of force or the use of threats of force for the changing of government, for the seizure of territory, to force one's will on another ever legitimate, no matter who is doing it. I know the crimes of the U.S are wrong; i merely try to explain the motivation behind them. And you lot have the gall to claim that China's bullying, or Russia's invasions, posturing, threats, etc are some how just and right because the U.S has done worse?
Cyrus
The problem with this is even with US intervention during the time of US Hegemony is still less evil that its predecessors, happy many major wars happened before then?
That is the effect of having a hegemon and let's face it the US is one of the most benevolent Hegemon to date. I for one would know the crimes of the US, we experienced it first hand during the Filipino-American War.
denk
ACT
*@denk, anon
*State your point, please. Like i said, all of the pro-western posters on here are well aware of what the U.S has done. *
no i dont think so
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27c/080.html
Errol
@ denk,
The article says most Americans aren't aware of Washington's foreign policy. How does that apply to the American commenters here? They're the ones who are likely to be aware of Washington's black ops. And other shenanigans.
denk
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27c/080.html
Errol
*@ denk,
The article says most Americans aren't aware of Washington's foreign policy. How does that apply to the American commenters here? They're the ones who are likely to be aware of Washington's black ops. And other shenanigans*
no way, from what i gathered here
i dont think they know anything about the atrocities in iraq
never mind black ops n false flags like this
http://www.declarepeace.org.uk/captain/murder_inc/site/gladio/030309Fake.html
Anon
@Aris Teon
Do check out my reply to Kim's Uncle near the top – China is preparing to answer the OFFENSIVE plans by Pentagon strategists, eg. Andrew Marshall, for the "Pivot" via Air Sea Battle targeting China.
nirvana
There was the same debate in Europe in 1936, not about China though.
Anon
@nirvana
Yes, the same Neo-Fascist ideology with firm commitment to Unipolar Hegemony, sending its troops all over the planet to wage illegal wars of aggression based on false flags and lies…wonder now how you seem to be a staunch foot-soldier of such a dictatorial system? don't you have any moral compunctions left for endless senseless wars and invasions for the past two decades? Which countries invaded yours, nirvana, that they should deserve to be bombed, dismembered and broken, their civilians and soldiers annihilated?
nirvana
@Anon,
I have big concerns when I hear such argument as “Chinese Communist leaders, despite their often belligerent utterances, are in fact cautious and pragmatic in their actions." One could then equally say that the Soviets were peaceful as history shows they did not push on the red button when their empire crumbled. What is the cause and what is the effect? The dog just barks because it never bites, or because it fears a big stick?
A peaceful nation is not a weak one. It is one that does not systematically use its military superiority. It is one that allows its citizens to demonstrate against (and stop) its illegal wars. The US military etiquette is a concern for all peace-loving people. But, after WW2, the Americans are perhaps the most peaceful people by record, as per my definitions above. I hope they can improve their control over their military, and maintain its superiority.
If my country is bombed, I would first check whether the leaders of my country are terrorizing my compatriots. If my country is illegally invaded, I would have worldwide friends to condemn the invaders. If nobody comes to help, I would join the resistance and prepare to die for the freedom of the next generation. Anon, you need to see the difference between patriotic and nationalistic.
nirvana
Typo "After WW2,…". I meant after the Cold War.
Although, it should be noted that after WW2 the US could very well bombed any country trying to challenge its monopoly of the atomic bomb. Just try to imagine what would happened if it was Stalin who got the A-bomb first….
ACT
@anon
never drink your own koolaid; tell me, what was China doing in its back yard between 200AD-1500AD. Oh–that's right–sending soldiers all over the region to promote its rule and hegemony and to force others to acknowledge its superiority and force trade. Dear anon, please explain to me how the U.S is warranting of any different treatment–or why it should behave differently–from any other hegemony that has existed throughout history. In fact, in this regard, the U.S has been remarkably subdued; it has not colonized those it defeated in war since the end of the 19th century; it has not enslaved anyone, and it has guaranteed the common defense of its allies. Furthermore, of all the recent interventions on the part of the U.S, two–Mali and Libya–were by request, and the Libya intervention was, if i remember correctly, authorized by the U.N Resolution 1973. Have China's moves been authorized by the U.N? no, and they are actually in violation of UNCLOS, which China signed in 1996.
ACT
@Denk
thankyou for the links. i was aware of much, if not all, of what the site contained. However, it would be smart to point out that this behavior is not unique to the U.S; such crimes are committed in dozens of countries around the world by multiple state and non-state actors. I think what makes the U.S stand out is how much its stated public policy differs from what actually goes on, as well as what it professes to be. Despite the crimes of the U.S, however, i am of the opinion that it is better to be ruled by the demon you know than the demon you don't–or rather, who has a past history of rule that is just as bad, if not worse–I have very little faith in a nation that develops an entire education system geared around national victimization and the need to seek revenge for "historic wrongs".
denk
ACT
r u kidding ?
during most of its history, china has been the victim of aggressions.
even if it was particularly *aggressive* during 200AD-1500AD As claimed, that was the era of warring states, to make war was the norm. !!
but this is the 21 century !
supposedly the era of civilisation , international law n human rights n all that jazz !
mind u, the author has included both the fabricated pretexts n the real reasons behind the aggressions .
is this ur idea of *world cop*, the guarantor of *peace*, *protector* of the weak ?
ACT
@denk
i was only mentioning that in comparison to other empires (Britain comes to mind), the U.S has been subdued. This is in no way an attempt to mitigate what has actually been done. And yes, China has, if you read its history, been just as aggressive as the U.S is today, despite the fact that it was invaded by other peoples several times; China did not magically come together within a year; the modern boundaries of the PRC are entirely the result of conquest, assimilation, genocide, etc.
denk
i provided two links of u.s. interventions
it was edited out
now my comment become incomprehensible
denk
these links were deleted from my post
http://www.krysstal.com/democracy_whyusa02.html
http://www.krysstal.com/democracy_whyusa01.html
Liang1a
The only way to keep China safe is by demonstrating to the world that it is able and willing to defend its sovereign territories.
nirvana
This applies to any country. Only China has a unique definition of "sovereign territories".
Potoy
For all those who wants to comment and JOHN CHAN is always there read this…. http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/online-12092011145353.html
John Chan
@Potoy,
Shame on you, citing an CIA propaganda outlet as evidence to support your allegation, it is an application of Straw-man fallacy, circular argument fallacy, ad hominem fallacy altogether in a short space of one sentence, you surly demonstrate the deep deceitfulness of the black information network of the West.
Lady Sang-Hwa
Now John Chan tell me how much you received for each post you make? I think it could be more than 50 cents depending on how good the wumao is, right? this wumao job interests me. Can you please tell me how to apply for that?
John Chan
@Lady Sang-Hwa,
1. Chinese bloggers are here to protest when China is portrayed unfairly, to rebuke lies told about China, to correct distorted facts fabricated for China and to clear smear painted on China.
2. Besides knocking down the façade of the West’s manufactured consensus and exposing their ugly nature is enjoyable.
3. Your huffing and puffing instead of debating with reasons just proves the West is short on truth.
Jugularr
@JC and you sound like someone from the Soviet era. the black goverment, the hegemon blah blah. How much you get paid for all of these defense of your countries morals? Does saying something against western countries pay more on the blog? Do they give you access to all internet sites? Do you have a quota on how much you should blog to get paid? Do they provide health care, do they give you paid medical leaves and vacation leaves. What other benefits do you receive from your company? In school did they allow you to read textbooks from other countries? Does a Public Library in China have textbooks from other countries? Do they allow you to read them? Has it come to thought that all your blogging here with all the intelligent people and the huge amount of FREE and pure information they get , make you more intelligent than them? Does this have any effect on your emotional behavior? and Lastly where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Valbonne
With respect to Gordon G. Chang, and I believe he has a Chinese sounding name.
I have listen to Gordon G. Chang interview a couple of years ago, and it could have be in one of the main news like BBC News on China, I have never seen such a so-called 'China Expert' so "anti-Chinese" and so unbalance in his assessment of China. After that, I never bother to take him seriously as a so-called 'China Expert'.
RollingWave
I'm still waiting for the China collapse you said would have occured by now Mr. Chang
NoguenRi (1950)
The U.S. military is surrepticiously moving closer and closer to China's ports and major cities yet Obama and Panetta are vehemently denying that there is anything untoward about it BUT China is wise enough to know what Uncle Sam is really up to. Moreover, the presence of a CIA mole right inside the Ministry of Public Security and who was not caught until recently betrays the very real or raw intent of Uncle Sam. Therefore Beijing has to be realistic now and try to prepare for the coming inevitability. For China, it is a case of being forewarned is to be forearmed. Therer's simply no cause for any artificial or manufactured furore here.
ACT
news link to that CIA mole story, please?
intellectual merc
@john chan “the lesson….” – ahh, so does that mean mr. Chan that we the “lesser nations” should only sell ourselves to china? The problem is, china never bothered to make an offer, it just decided on its own to draw a line trampling our “products” with its ships and structures. There is no honor among thieves mr. chan, so its kind of hard to respect the “sovereignty” of china.
John Chan
@intellectual mere,
China believe non-alliance and non-interference, it treats all nations large and small as equal with respect, at the same time it believes Principle of Reciprocity must be maintained for the fairness of the world activities.
If you insist on insulting China based on your greedy and unreasonable ground, then you should not expect to be respected, because you deserve what you are.
JohnX
John Chan wrote: "China believe non-alliance and non-interference, it treats all nations large and small as equal with respect, at the same time it believes Principle of Reciprocity must be maintained for the fairness of the world activities."
Actually John Chan you are incorrect. China does not believe any of the above and it is simply its propaganda that it does. You have been mislead by them as they have bribed officials in Pacific Nations to turn them against Taiwan.
They have threatened small nations with violence if they don't accept Chinese control of their territory and they have posters such as yourself who have made comments against small nations calling them vassals, running dogs, etc.
None of these actions show any of what you promote.
Michael Guy
Give credit to the wisdom and patriotism of the Chinese Communist Party leaders. They enticed western businessmen with the lure of a billion customers so that these capitalists would 'lobby" ( i.e bribe) their politicians to agree to free trade treaties with China. China then developed a strategy of supplying the western world with cheaper goods, and thus obtained a favorable imbalance of trade. With their free trade profits, the Chinese Communist leaders were able to build a military that will soon conquer all of Asia, but they are also able able to manipulate western leaders like the US President and Senate, by loaning back some of these free trade profits, back to socialist politicians at terms, conditions and with pledges of physical assets ( like Taiwan) as collateral. The Chinese will soon have an empire that will exceed the Chin or Kublai Kahn. I believe they will entice America, already heavily indebted, to attack Iran and then use a blockade to isolate the US forces in Iran the way the British did to Napoleon's troops in Egypt or the way De Grasse did to Cornwallis at Yorktown. China will then of course refuse to lend any more hope and change money, let civil unrest ensue in America and finally cancel debt under terms of total hegemony in Asia. Just as in the 1930 it was America who built Tojo and Hirohito's war machine, now in the 21st century it was America who funded, financed and built the Chinese army, thanks to free trade. And thanks to the EPA, which now works for China, this time the factories are in China.
denk
china's new *militancy* ? [sic]
*The funniest response has been alarm about China's "military
buildup." I would say that if China did not engage in a military buildup
after watching the United States go bomb and missile crazy during
the past 20 years that it would be derelict in its duty.*
http://www.againstbombing.com/soyouwant.htm
vic
Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. China's military must be able to handle the most likely aggressor, the US military, otherwise China's future is clouded. This is the bottom line of the CCP. However, it does not mean that China will go out of the way to pick a fight. Japan's Senkaku (or China's DiaoYu) is an issue which is a leftover of Japan's aggression in the past and which must be somehow settled if Sino-Japanese relationship is to be normalized. As for the SCS, if there are massive oil or gas deposits, it is up to Philippines or Vietnam to decide the price of not coming to terms with China. If the US wants to get into a fight for the heck of it, then China must prepare itself.
Cam
Wow, What a language of a gangster aka a used-to-be-sick-man-learn-to-be mafioso. I found it hilarious. No one scares you for sure. Now, the Philippines took the day light robber to the international court but the robber refused to go. What is the matter? Ashamed of the "Chinese characteristics in front of the world?
American Patriot
@ Chinese posters
What you all need to get into your head is that the USA is the leader of the free world where democracy, capitalism and a high quality of life reign supreme. The average american consumers roughly 15 times the average Chinese does, it is not even a real comparison to be made between the two countries at all. We have a near monopoly on supercomputing tech, top-ranked universities, 25% of the worlds largest companies are US based, multiple times larger than China, top nobel laureate count, largest most advanced military by far, on its way to becoming a total energy superpower, surpassing russia and saudi arabia, I can easily go on but I'm sure you guys get the point by now.
Why is this article even bothering with mentioning the Chinese military? Is this some sort of joke article? China is a total chump compared to the USA, a small time thug wannabe gangster. It would be like comparing al capone to your local pot dealer, China's economy may be large and getting larger year by year but that's only one aspect of what makes a nation powerful and influential. It's a one trick pony, all it has up its sleeve is the GDP card whereas the USA has the GDP card, the military card, the political/diplomatic card, the technology card, and now the energy superpower card; its actually adding cards to its stockpile whereas China can seemingly only rely on GDP.
The USA in my opinion is the true reincarnation of the Legendary Roman Empire and will be looked back on 1000 years from now as one of histories greatest empires of all time. The USA is a mere 230ish years old and is already the most influential nation history has known adding more technological feats than any other nation in history. In China's so called 5000 years what has it really accomplished? It is an anti-social nation that isolates itself off from others and doesn't share anything, it got utterly humiliated by a tiny island nation – Britain only 150 years ago because it was so weak and anti-social, then it got totally steam-rolled by another tiny island nation japan a mere 80 years ago and lets not forget its centuries of being colonized by another tiny population – the mongols.
In short, history is dominated by strong, confident nations that go out and spread their ideas and culture across the globe. Anti-social isolated nations like China are meant to be exploited by the strong, confident nations. This is not being arrogant or racist, it is just a fact of nature; survival of the fittest.
ACT
@ American Pragmatist.
What you all need to get into your head is that the USA is the leader of the free world where democracy, capitalism and a high quality of life reign supreme.
–The U.S is actually more like a representative plutocracy at the moment, given that only moneyed interests and persons can enter federal politics. Also, in america it's socialism for the rich, capitalism for everyone else; there's a high quality of life—for those who can pay for it.
The average american consumers roughly 15 times the average Chinese does, it is not even a real comparison to be made between the two countries at all. We have a near monopoly on supercomputing tech, top-ranked universities, 25% of the worlds largest companies are US based, multiple times larger than China, top nobel laureate count, largest most advanced military by far, on its way to becoming a total energy superpower, surpassing russia and saudi arabia, I can easily go on but I'm sure you guys get the point by now.
–Yet China just surpassed the U.S in number of credible patents per year. go look it up.
Why is this article even bothering with mentioning the Chinese military? Is this some sort of joke article? China is a total chump compared to the USA, a small time thug wannabe gangster. It would be like comparing al capone to your local pot dealer,
--which is kinda what the anti-U.S crowd argues; why should the U.S be the global policeman when all we get on the news is rape accusations, suing, massive civilian casualties, and war crimes for which soldiers are never properly tried?
China's economy may be large and getting larger year by year but that's only one aspect of what makes a nation powerful and influential. It's a one trick pony, all it has up its sleeve is the GDP card whereas the USA has the GDP card, the military card, the political/diplomatic card, the technology card, and now the energy superpower card; its actually adding cards to its stockpile whereas China can seemingly only rely on GDP.
–China's catching up to us in technology, and has–i believe–surpassed us in the civilian sector; they produce and sell higher quality laptops (Lenovo, Asus), and unless i'm wrong, Huawei introduced 6G networks; we only have 4G. China is rapidly closing the gap on all fronts.
The USA in my opinion is the true reincarnation of the Legendary Roman Empire and will be looked back on 1000 years from now as one of histories greatest empires of all time.
–you want to compare us to the Roman Republic, not the Roman Empire; the comparison is bad anyway, because the Romans went around conquering and enslaving everyone they could find, and they dissolved and collapsed precisely because of this behavior; the let themselves sit back on their laurels while their fortress state crumbled around them; like the U.S, the republic collapsed because Roman politics lapsed into petty bickering and power politics, with the wealthy struggling to hold onto as much power as they could. That said, the Romans left us with good laws, and an excellent cultural legacy; sadly, the U.S has the technological legacy but not the cultural legacy: much of what we consider western culture was spread by the British.
The USA is a mere 230ish years old and is already the most influential nation history has known adding more technological feats than any other nation in history. In China's so called 5000 years what has it really accomplished? It is an anti-social nation that isolates itself off from others and doesn't share anything, it got utterly humiliated by a tiny island nation – Britain only 150 years ago because it was so weak and anti-social, then it got totally steam-rolled by another tiny island nation japan a mere 80 years ago and lets not forget its centuries of being colonized by another tiny population – the mongols.
--the mongols were very quickly sinicized; the Chinese had no reason to go out and explore because–quite simply–everyone came to them. Also, Chinese inventions: Gunpowder, Paper, Compass, first rockets, first muskets, siege cannons, land mines, and what may have been one of the first meritocratic institutions that promoted national literacy (the imperial examination system).
In short, history is dominated by strong, confident nations that go out and spread their ideas and culture across the globe. Anti-social isolated nations like China are meant to be exploited by the strong, confident nations. This is not being arrogant or racist, it is just a fact of nature; survival of the fittest.
–What do you think China is preparing itself for? The PRC intends fully to have learned fully from the mistakes of the old Chinese Empire when it returns to its "natural and preordained position in the world"
Anon
@American Patriot
Your idea of "strength" and "longevity" of Empires and Civilizations is based on the hubris of a young and already bankrupt power that became a global player, oh since 60, 70 years ago?
You are lecturing to a sovereign civilization that has lasted 5000 years, being one of the most powerful nations on earth for most of its history, its scientific achievements, inventions, culture, etc, reaching far and wide?
What US-NATO is deathly afraid is of a China that is offering a NON-COLONIAL, NON-INTERFERENCE model of economic relationships to the emerging nations in the Asian, African and South American continent.
Even Europe, eg. Greece, is welcoming China's partnership in developing its inefficient ports, giving its mordant economy a huge boost.
China is offering to assist them in genuine development – infrastructure, hospitals, factories, etc., in exchange for their natural resources, a deal that many of them are keen to take up, alleviating poverty and elevating their standard of living.
This of course threatens the model that US-NATO has maintained in these continents – corrupt puppet governments offering their national resources for a steal to Big Oil, MNCs and the MIC.
Jugular
Wha'ts a matter couldn't man up just face the IC with a small country such as the PH? Imperial, technologically advanced CHINA scared of loosing a court battle. And will resort to force if Vietnam and Philippines will not agree to co-develop their own backyard along with CHINA. Sounds bullying to me, sounds imperial, sounds like Imperial japan and Nazi Germany. Pathetic country
John Chan
@American Patriot,
Your comment reflects that you are arrogant and racist. If you have the guts to speak your mind, then should have the courage to admit it. Denying what you are is hypocrisy; mind you nobody respects hypocrites, because they will back down when they are confronted.
If you feel China is weak and meant to be exploited, then why is USA making such fuss, huffing and puffing non-stop about “China Threat?” Do you feel the USA is crying too much wolf? And it is showing the USA is rather chicken and lack of confidence?
“USA is in the business of imperialism, not in the business of charity,” anybody expects mercy from the USA is deserved to be slaughtered. So let’s cheer for the “survival of the fittest” and damn the “American Exceptionalism.”
Derek
Indeed, if the United States falls from grace, it will be of its own doing.
If you're comparing the United States to the Roman Empire, the inevitable path of decay and decadence will be a natural course for any nation.
American Patriot
@ John Chan
We are making such a huff and puff about the China threat because it is in our best interests to do so as the military industrial complex, one of the pillars of the American economy reaps huge benefits from it. In fact me and several of my family members are employed with the MIC so in the end, we are only benefiting from this so called "china threat".
John Chan please stop trying to act like China is in anyway superior to any nation, especially the western nations and Japan which have contributed greatly to technological and scientific endeavors over the past few centuries. China is really not worth America's time and effort, the only use that China has for the USA is for exploitation and manipulation. China is an easy target because it can easily be exploited and smeared into looking like the bad guy, thus distracting any attention from American strategic objectives in the region.
ACT
@American Patriot
you do realise you are confirming all of Anon's little conspiracy theories and biases, right?
@anon
"What US-NATO is deathly afraid is of a China that is offering a NON-COLONIAL, NON-INTERFERENCE model". Uh, not really–look at China's past; it interfered in the what it considered to be its "internal affairs"–the business of other nations–quite frequently; what about Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, etc? hardly non-interference. Aside from that, please define how the modern system is colonial. At best, you could label the U.S for practicing economic neo-colonialism, but China participates in this system as well; nothing comes for free, anon, even though China's copious loans may make it look that way.
angelus512
@Anon
ROFL. Most powerful nation on earth for most of its history? You must be smoking a heavy substance.
Just because China was big and had lots of little peasants does not = strength.
I can think of quite a number of civilizations imminently more powerful than China.
Romans
Alexander the Great
Ghenghis Khan
Russian Empire/USSR
Ottomans
Imperial Japan (yeah they gave you a pretty solid a** whooping demonstrating quite clearly that big doesn't mean much)
USA
Imperial Germany. I wonder does anybody wonder how things would have turned out had Germany been a next door neighbour of China? Because I think they would have erased China from the map.
All those civilizations I mentioned achieved BIG and lasting impacts from very humble beginnings.
China simply blobbed…………SLOWLY I might add.
Kim’s Uncle
Modern Germany and Japan are two examples of real peaceful rise in our times!!! They created a miracle in their respective country! Both are democratic with democratic institutions and an independent press with an independent court system! Both are examples of conducting foreign policy through goodwill. No neighboring countries fear these countries! Modern china is a Frankenstein’s monster with the beating Communist heart ! Her rise is anything but peaceful or harmonious! It is nothing more than imperialism from the 19th Century. Replace the word Nazi party and it will still spell out CCP!
John Chan
@Kim,
Nazism and communism are contradictory in term. It seems you are fabricating incoherently by equating Nazism and communism; the people speaking such contradictory tongue is called double think and double speak. You are the sample of double think and double speak.
Japan is an unapologetic war criminal, it escapes judgement day because of the shielding of the godfather of Fascism, US. Japan must be asked to face the judgement day for its war crimes, so that its victims can get their sufferings redressed.
Kim’s Uncle
Nazism n communism are only contradictory as long as they are both vying for power. Both are two sides of the same coin! Both expound the ideal of collectivism. One under the shared ethnic ties and the other through class. The are both enemies of the primacy of the individual!! Liberal democracy believes in the primacy of the individuals as its relation to society. “A communist is a lightweight Fascist” A. Hitler. You need more Maoist patriotic education! LOL
neutral
This article starts off in the first paragraph about China being a "hostile state", that sure is some objective and diplomatic writing right there…
Derek
Gordon Chang is most famously known for his hatred of Communist China and his inaccurate economic predictions. What do you expect from such a person?
Minxin Pei is tame by comparison.
neutral
This site should be renamed to "The Nationalist", all I see here are nationalists from mostly American and China trading nationlist punches, hardly the most diplomatic behaviour in anyones book.
coockie
That could be a nice strategy – attack a country (USA) where Xi daughter is studying //sarcasm
Liang1a
China's old policy:
China should avoid war at all cost.
China should develop the economy at the expense of defending sovereignty.
China's new policy:
China should fight wars to defend sovereignty.
China can only develop its economy after its sovereignty has been defended.
Reason
I have to say.. i don't believe JC is wumao.
The Diplomat is way above wumao vision and clearance
Wumao are hired on a mass basis to write in Chinese on Chinese stories, mostly local
Sites like the diplomat and Foreign Policy are strictly out of bounds for Wumao commentators.
I would guess that JC is a product of the CPC system and has prospered much from it and is genuinely defending it as he truly believes it to be the antidote to the evils of the West. This is why I love him, cus there's passion in his posts.
If not this and JC and the likes do have special clearance to comment on Diplomat then they're salaried and certainly not counting posts like the wumao army, which we all know exists.
Errol
You mean JC is one those that has been termed as a 'princeling'? Wow. Then that could mean his bank accounts are a lot fatter than what most of us have.
Lnrds
China will do anything to take over Asia and I fear it is definitely going the path of Imperial Japan. China CCP, CCP bloggers and its sympathizers just don't see it and are filled with so much bitterness. Must be the all the pollution and lack of oxygen to the brain.????
Reading all the CCP lovers posts just makes me want to cry and cringe. Same thing repeated all over again and again. Never gets old, never gets tired….
John Chan
@Lnrds,
You need to separate conjecture from reality; condemning with conjecture is insidious, but condemning with reality is frank and upright. What you envisage is conjecture.
Phunsukh Wangdu
Beijing cuts access to documents 'that support Japan's claim to Diaoyus'
2 Feb 2013
Japan's Jiji Press news agency says the Chinese Foreign Ministry has been "strictly limiting" access to its archives since the start of this year because they might contain documents that support…
Southern China Morning Post
Phunsukh Wangdu
Japan's Jiji Press news agency says the Chinese Foreign Ministry has been "strictly limiting" access to its archives since the start of this year because they might contain documents that support Tokyo's claim to the Senkaku – or Diaoyu – Islands. In a story from Beijing, the agency reported that unidentified Chinese researchers said they suspected the limits on access had been imposed as a result of a document that a Jiji Press journalist had found in the archives in December. Jiji said the 10-page document was a draft outline on territorial disputes to be used as the basis of a peace treaty with Japan that was produced by the Chinese government in May 1950. Throughout the document, the Chinese reportedly refer to the disputed islands as the Senkakus and describe them as part of the Ryukyu chain, in modern-day Okinawa prefecture. The document has been widely cited in Japan as evidence that China made no claim of sovereignty until reserves of oil and natural gas were located in nearby waters in the early 1970s. In response to a query about why access was being restricted, Hong Lei , a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, told Jiji the archive was "in the process of updating its computer system for technical reasons".
Anon
Sorry, these so-called "documents" have no legal value, as most of them are editorials in newspapers, etc., that could have been written by someone who was clueless about the fact that Senkaku is the Japanese name for Diaoyu Islands.
When Davis quietly incorporated these islands into the administration of Okinawa, it was a little publicized affair, and many did not even know about the deed. They did not think that "administration" = "sovereignty", so there was no issue, as China and Taiwan never gave up sovereignty over those islands. No knowledge, no change of sovereignty, no dispute. When the US conducted military exercises around the Diaoyus, they seeked PERMISSION from Taiwan, so again, no one thought that there was a STEALTH PROCESS to assume SOVEREIGNTY by Japan.
Many in China believed Senkaku referred to some other islands closer to Okinawa, and there was no internet at that time, so with little communication, such mistakes are of course common. However, these are NOT OFFICIAL government documents, i.e., until there is a legal document signed by governments pertaining to the issue of sovereignty, eg. Shimonoseki, then Cairo and Potsdam that reverted sovereignty, these don't matter in the least.
denk
american patriot [sic]
*China is a total chump compared to the USA, a small time thug
wannabe gangster. It would be like comparing al capone to your
local pot dealer,*
general butler
+al capone !…..u aint seen nuth yet kid.
Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few
hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three
districts. I operated on three continents+
http://www.fas.org/man/smedley.htm
*In short, history is dominated by strong, confident nations that
go out and spread their ideas and culture across the globe. Anti
-social isolated nations like China are meant to be exploited by
the strong, confident nations. This is not being arrogant or racist,
it is just a fact of nature; survival of the fittest.*
actually u got a point there kid
ghengis khan would be pround of ya…
http://www.4thmedia.org/2012/09/18/the-us-led-apocalypse-the-americas-apocalyptic-eternal-war/
Kim’s Uncle
Just let the CCP shoot their mouths off all it does is to rally all free peoples’ of the world to unite and bolster their resolve to teach the chinamen a lesson! LOL
Then china will be humiliated once again!
Genghis
All you twisted crazies are wrong, WRONG AND WRONG AGAIN!!!!
China have no wish, desire or the intent to start or fight any wars. Why would we want to do that?
Time is on our side. Once we attain the status of number one trading Nation and the Number One economy in the world, we would have attained our objective.And we need to be strong, lest others try to do us harm along the way.
That means, developing the same capability as your potential adversaries. If they can lop cruise missiles at our cities, we should also develop the same means and capability. Mutually Assured Destruction has proven its worth as a Peace Keeper.If you do not have the means to do likewise, your potential adversaries will be encouraged into taking reckless actions.
vic
#next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Yes, the only way to attain and preserve prosperity is to be able to hold the aggressors at bay. Past history indicates that Western nations are very aggressive by nature. Hence, if one has the capability to blow their cities to smithereens, they will think twice before attacking. Mutual Assured Destruction policy does work.
Charles Dickson
Well said chum, as I am all for a multipolar world, as too much power in the hands of one, is an extremely undesirable and dangerous situation.
MAD is indeed a proven doctrine and a Peace Keeper and I sleep better at night, knowing that Nations will refrain from starting and waging war with each other, as they know that Total Mutually Assured Destruction awaits!!!
And I do understand how the Chinese feel. Imagine for a moment, if the Chinese and the USA behave in reverse. So now, you have Chinese spy planes flying round the clock within 20 miles of the USA coastline and Chinese subs are circling off the coast. Add to that, Chinese Destroyers and aircraft carriers are exercising in the Bahamas and off California. Now throw in another irritant, the Chinese high command has announce an Air/Sea battle plan to tackle America! Now frankly, how would the American people feel and reacts?
The USA will do well to tone down the threats and let their diplomats do their work.
Before, anyone answer, please swear on your holy book, and do this honestly.
Kim’s Uncle
If china wants to follow the path of militarism and military conquest like Imperial Japan n Nazi Germany, all they have to do is ask modern Japan n Germany how did that turn out? Democratic Germany n Japan are more prosperous today than any time in history! International trade n commerce can achieve prosperity through peace instead of old fashion military conquest to secure natural resources! Chinese are really outdated!
cwjwashdc
It's clear that Gordon Chang succeeded in stirring up a rock throwing contest, but to what avail? In fact, he appears to have missed the point about Xi Jinping's most recent statement that China must and will defend its sovereign territory. Could any leader say otherwise? Ignore the concept? Leave himself wide open to 'patriot' attacks? Of course not. No Chinese leader could say anything else.
The larger questions, however, emerge from the schoolyard shouting match that has been filling these pages. I'm still waiting for someone to say why war would be in anybody's best interest. Would war ensure Chinese access to oil and gas? Export markets? Are the conditions in NanHai/SCS the same as ECS/DongHai? No. Does anyone in the US prosper with a China war? Perhaps, but not as many who lose. Oh, by the way, who wins such a war? Conventional only? Limited Tac Nuke exchage? How about the whole garbage can? Great, and the reason we decided to do this was…(fill in the blank and prepare to explain to your dying children).
Anon
The only way to avert a war of AGGRESSION brought to China's doorstep is to shore up the military capability to RETURN the HONOR, preferably several times over. This is the only way to ensure Peace, MAD style, as the US has repeatedly demonstrated no qualms in manufacturing False Flags, Propaganda, Black Ops etc. to embark on UNPROVOKED WARs of AGGRESSION.
Of course the country and its grunts suffers, that's the wrong argument to persuade the powers-that-be or the patriotic idiots to refrain from incessant warfare. The RIGHT QUESTION to ask is WHO BENEFITS from warfare, and there you'd find your answer. China isn't worried about the ordinary Americans, their opinions don't matter to their elected officials anyway, D or R, it's the ruthless MIC and Plutocracy who WILL decide if they should go to war, and as long as the benefits to them outweighs the cost, they WILL, as history shows.
Kanes
China is reviewing its one child policy which is very good. Unlike 30 years ago, today they can afford more than one child. They should cancel this policy. It will change the world. With one child per most families, Chinese dominate the world. Without this restriction, they will outnumber all other developed nationalities in the world. It will be a huge economic impetus as well. Coupled with Japan's negative population growth, Europe's near zero percent population growth, China is standing on the edge of becoming the world's largest skilled labor and military force.
angelus512
You should do more reading. The only reason China had a high population to begin with was because it was a poor country. Being poor and having lots of children has a direct correlation.
There is also a direct correlation with the more wealthy people become the less they feel having more than 1 child or max 2 is necessary. This has been demonstrated in every single developed nation as well as those who over the last 20 years have joined the developed world.
South Korea being a fine example.
If china removes the 1 child policy there will be a short lived spurt but it will not be sustained and ultimately make no impact. I will repeat again for extreme clarity every…single…nation on the face of the earth that has a reasonable income for its average citizens has a neutral to slightly positive growth rate for population as families no longer feel the need for lots of kids.
Whats more is the last thing the world needs from any country is more people than we already have. That is grossly irresponsible.
Avatar
Having more children is indeed the way to go, as more children means more internal consumption.
More internal consumption will lead to less dependent on external market. Just think, if you have a population of 1.8 billions….the possibility is immense!
So, yes, China should do away with any restriction on the number of children. I am sure the parents can make up their own mind on how many children they can afford.If you can afford to raise 3 child, so be it.
JohnX
Avatar wrote: " Just think, if you have a population of 1.8 billions….the possibility is immense!".
They are just numbers to you right? 1.3 Billion, 1.5 Billion. Numbers, they look nice and pleasant on the page.
These are people, so here are some issues.
Feeding them all, how do you do that?
Housing them, dealing with their rubbish, transporting them to work.
Those are some real problems there. The CPC probably has kittens some nights just thinking about that problem.
Plus 1.4 Billion = 70 Million hard liners who get orgasmic over going to war with people, anyone, anywhere. How do you focus their attention away from changing the Government in China. (5% of populations are usually the tail that wags the dog in any society). They need to hate someone, so lets focus them on anyone else than the Government. The USA worried about 2 snipers, imagine having to worry about 2000 preying on individuals.
You think that China can stand still if it wants to keep 1.4 Billion happy? If it takes war, then it will do it. Plus, if you look at the twenty years of racist nationalism that it has been propagandizing to its people, even if only 1% are extreme racists, that is still 14 million people who may be bat shit rabid and could end up in the Chinese Military.
I have read the Global Times comments page and John Chan is a moderate well educated person by their standards. If i was a member of the CPC, I too would be making sure I had a strong grip on the nuclear codes and a house and property anywhere but China.
Because if they fail to feed the Chinese people then they will either starve in the millions or go to war with anyone just to strip their lands. And Avatar thinks an extra 400 million would be helpful to China?
Errol
I remember a Russian joke about the optimist, the pessimist, and the realist. The optimist studies English as the the primary international language. The pessimist takes up Chinese instead. The realist brings out his Kalashnikov and prepares it for use. Sigh… It looks like people around here parts will need to get their guns out soon…
percy mayfield
China has the right to prepare for war.
China's new military lacks confidence since it has never defeated another country.
China should continue to develop its military might.
China has the right to go to war.
Errol
And neighboring countries have the right not to be included in a war. To put it in essence, your right ends where mine begins. Do what you want with your military within your borders or within international zones, but bring them inside a neighbor's front yard? Meh. Asking for trouble.
Kim’s Uncle
CCP leadership should learn to read history especially the historical experience of Japan and Germany. Modern, democratic Japan and Germany became rich, prosperous and civilized not by saber rattling and shooting their mouths off with warlike bluster. That is sooo old fashion. They sound more like Saddam Hussein!!! LOL Old fashion land grab is so archaic. Don't CCP realize we live in the 21st century and not the 20th century? Modern Japan with little natural resources became rich by conducting international trade not by seizing territories for natural resources. Japan was able to secure natural resources by international trade and commerce not by old fashion military conquest! Think Chinese people. Why Chinese are always 2 centuries behind in their thinking?? Is it because of CCP "patriotic education"? :)
Dragonslayer
The fascist Chinese government is following the path of the Japanese militarists of the 1930's. Bully your neighbors & steal their land & resources (& repress your own people). Chinese officials & bigots like John Chan say China wants peace, but secretly they prepare for offensive war. China is NO respecter of human rights, be it their own citizens, nor other peoples. China leads the world in executions & has more political prisoners than any other country. Chinese people are not allowed to express their honest opinions, nor are they free to criticize the Chinese government & communist (fascist) party.( China is alto THE most polluted country on Earth, but that is story for another time).
Now, while the U.S., Russia, Great Britain & France are trying to reduce stockpiles of nuclear weapons (hopefully, someday there will be no nukes), China is greatly increasing production of nuclear warheads & missiles, be they ground & submarine launched.
Riding the Nuclear Rails
China developing rail mobile strategic missiles (peace loving people don't need these kind of OFFENSIVE weapons; they are most definitely NOT defensive weapons)
China is building strategic long-range missile trains as part of its major nuclear forces buildup, according to new information from China and U.S. strategic specialists.
Chinese state-run television recently broadcast a program monitored in Taiwan that disclosed new details of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) rail basing system for ICBMs, including the possibility of a rail-mobile launcher. The program was uncovered and translated by Georgetown University’s Asian Arms Control Project.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force recently sought proposals from the U.S. defense industry for a future U.S. rail-mobile ICBM that would be hidden in tunnels.
According to an analysis of the Chinese television program, China already has deployed strategic missile trains as part of a nuclear forces tunnel and basing system that until recently was a closely guarded secret.
Video released by the Chinese shows the strategic missile train disguised as a military passenger train with windows, but hollowed out for holding China’s new long-range missiles, known as DF-31 and DF-31A systems. Those systems are currently deployed on road-mobile launchers.
The program revealed that the Chinese are building between 620 miles and 1,240 miles of special rail tracks capable of handling the heavy ballistic missile trains.
Pentagon spokesmen declined to comment on reports of Chinese railing mobile missiles, stating that information on the weapons is secret.
Phillip Karber, a former arms control official who started the Georgetown arms project, said if China deploys rail-mobile missile forces over the next decade, it will pose “major questions for American strategy and arms control policy.”
“The combination of mobile-road/rail ICBMs with [multiple, independently-targetable reentry vehicles] deployed in underground tunnel complexes produces compounded entropy over time,” Karber said.
“At first, a few experimental units may not mean much, but the longer they are secretly deployed, the greater our uncertainty on the numbers and the implications.”
Karber said he shares concerns of arms control specialists who are critical of the U.S. government for not providing more public details about China’s rail-based nuclear missiles.
“The open source material we have seen are like the shadows flickering on Plato’s cave—ominous but also prone to exaggeration,” he said. “Eventually we are going to need to have a serious discussion of the strategic and arms control implications of China’s strategic tunneling and rail-based ICBMs. But without more information it’s likely to produce more heat than light.”
The Georgetown arms project triggered controversy last year by scooping the U.S. intelligence community in an assessment of China’s underground nuclear facilities, dubbed the Underground Great Wall.
Regarding U.S. missile trains, the U.S. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center earlier this month published a proposal for the defense industry seeking ideas for modernizing U.S. ground-based strategic missiles. The proposal stated that one option is to look at rail-mobile “tunnel concept.”
“The tunnel concept mode operates similar to a subway system but with only a single transporter/launcher and missile dedicated to a given tunnel,” the Air Force said. “The vehicle moves at random down the length of the tunnel. The tunnel is long enough to improve survivability but leaving enough room to permit adequate ‘rattle space’ in the event of an enemy attack.”
The missile tunnel diameter would be large enough to fit a missile and mobile launcher described as “self-propelled, unmanned cars [that] can move via rail or in a ‘trackless’ configuration.”
Chinese rail basing of nuclear missiles also was disclosed by the former head of Russian strategic nuclear forces, retired Col. Gen. Viktor Yesin, during a visit to Washington.
Yesin said Russian intelligence had details of the Chinese rail basing system that appears to resemble the Soviet Union’s SS-24 rail-mobile nuclear missile force, the only such rail based ICBM in the world. That system was taken out of service between 2000 and 2008.
Yesin told a forum on Capitol Hill that Soviet SS-24s were hidden in specially hardened railway spurs to avoid detection and targeting by the United States.
During the visit, Yesin told the conference that Russia believes the Chinese rail-mobile missile system is more reliant on the system of some 3,000 miles of tunnels for the rail-mobile missile.
“We are underestimating Chinese military power,” Yesin said in an interview last month explaining the rationale behind the nuclear buildup. “And China has very ambitious tasks. China has the goal of catching up with the U.S. on GDP by 2025, 2030.”
Karber said the U.S. military in the past considered a rail basing system for Minuteman ICBMs and the Air Force recently sought ideas from the defense industry for a rail- and tunnel-based ICBM system.
However, “the American military has had no operational experience with deployed rail-based missile systems,” Karber said.
Pressure from American arms control advocates in the past dissuaded the United States from deploying rail-mobile ICBMs based on concerns that the combination of hard-to-locate rail mobility and multiple warheads was regarded as potentially destabilizing.
Yesin said in December that Russia strengthened 6,200 miles of rail lines with stronger gauge track to support the heavier ICBM rail cars and allow them to launch the missiles from trains that were moved around the country.
Chinese military commentators have stated in recent years that China is currently converting up to 1,200 miles of track for heavy missile trains.
Chinese state-controlled media also have said the Chinese military’s missile train is built on a Ukrainian design and technology transfer.
Yesin, in the Capitol Hill speech, confirmed that the SS-24 was designed in the Ukraine during the Soviet Union. He noted close similarities between the SS-24 and video and photos of the Chinese missile train.
Video footage obtained from official Chinese television also reveals missiles being loaded horizontally through the ends of rail cars even though the railcars had retractable roofs indicating possible launcher capabilities.
Yesin said Russian assessments are that the end-loading was an attempt to avoid damage to the car and missile while loading.
Disclosure of the rail-mobile missile system comes amid reports that China also is developing MIRV warheads for its growing ICBM force. Russian SS-24s carried up to 10 warheads each.
Each SS-24 train carried three missile launch cars and the total force of at least 12 trains for a total of up to 360 nuclear warheads capable of hitting the United States.
Georgetown students with the Asian Arms Control Project translated details of the Chinese reports of the missile train.
According to a Taiwanese television analysis of the CCTV report, the Chinese missile train is a “formidable” strategic weapon.
“This missile train is of very high importance,” one Taiwanese commentator said. “So the Party has already made 1,000 to 2,000 kilometers of track for it. Also, it can reach speeds of between 100 and 200 kilometers per hour, so this is the nuclear train’s most terrifying feature.”
Such mobile ICBMs are considered destabilizing to the strategic nuclear balance because they are hard to locate, can be set up quickly, and are able to be launched rapidly with little or no warning.
Richard Fisher, a China military affairs expert, said the United States should also be concerned by signs that Moscow is planning to revive its rail-mobile ICBM program.
“I would expect that Russia would be designing new systems that could more easily handle new lighter solid-fueled ICBMs, a direction that might also interest the PLA,” China’s military, Fisher said.
“Given the PLA’s interest in ‘leap ahead’ technologies, they might even be considering how to adopt their new high speed trains to the deployment of ICBMs.”
If China sows the winds of war, China will reap the whirlwind & ultimately be destroyed.
Loic
Bunch of rumor mongering
Fact remains as long as there's a mutual defense pact befween Japan and USA and South Korea remains threatened with war by North Korea, China can count on a US response on military activity even for something as pitiful as the Senkakus. The US cant afford to look weak against China, that just invites war with North Korea which is a given if the US declines to response to its obligations.
The way the region is structured, China resigns itself to accepting international norms regarding South China Sea and Senkakus or gets its nose bloodied by a US led coalition and no amount of propaganda will change that reality
akinkhoo
this is perhaps the most biased, poorly research propaganda i had ever read. it accused china of expansionism while ignoring those claim are not made by the current administration at all but had been claim since the end of WWII before many of the country who are now disputing those territory are even independent state. the revisionist power here is no China, but American author such as this individual that is attempting to whitewash and erase historical claim and territory of China.
if the argument is true, that this is about internal politic of PRC, then what we should be seeing is an inactive ROC on the claim. however instead of that we see the ROC asserting its claim on both dispute in the south and east china seas. this is hardly what one would expect if that argument is true.
it ignores the fact that the disputed island which US considers under "japanese administration" is not recognised by the US itself as japanese territory or under japanese sovereignty. and that the island should really be under taipei control and not tokyo. this betray is what makes drove ROC into the issue. however it is not just the ROC that is on the anti-japan side, japanese dispute also cover South Korea and Russia. we all know where Russia stands, however it is South Korean position that would really mess up any coalition, they don't want to be another ROC with US betraying their territory to Japan; they will certain force Japan to abandon it claim if US-Japan even require aid and military support from them. their message is clear considering they name their largest warhip after disputed territory with japan.
the one with it hands full with dispute is not PRC, but rather japan. think about that.
Rick Macey
A superb commentary. "Another periodic wrong turn" is historical perspective at its finest.
Observer
Bully china's new military? New uniforms and shiny stuffs but same old pathetic fighting skills.
For example:
vs. Vietnam in 1979 – lost with great shame and humiliation
vs. Russia in 1960s – lost with great shame and humiliation
vs. Japan in WWII – lost with great shame and humiliation
vs. Britain in 1800s – lost with great shame and humiliation
vs. Manchus in 1600s – lost with great shame and humiliation
vs. Mongols in 1300s – lost with great shame and humiliation
"Those that ignore history shall repeat it" – old proverb. Remember that chinese posters before you brag. LOL.