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Why Every American Should Care About China
ABC NEWS ^ | 08.06.08 | BoB Woodruff

Posted on 08/07/2008 6:29:45 AM PDT by Dr. Marten

Why Every American Should Care About China

The Emerging Superpower Is Forging Relationships Where the U.S. Isn't

 

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2008olympics; boycottchina; boycottolympics; capitalism; chicoms; china; economics; genocideolympics; geopolitics; olympics; thugs

1 posted on 08/07/2008 6:33:11 AM PDT by Dr. Marten
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To: JACKRUSSELL

Ping!


2 posted on 08/07/2008 6:33:27 AM PDT by Dr. Marten
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To: Dr. Marten

Why Every American Should Care About China:

China is big and is pissed off about the various indignities and atrocities they’ve suffered thru the last few centuries. China wants Taiwan, China wants respect and deference from the West, and China wants Japanese blood.


3 posted on 08/07/2008 6:37:14 AM PDT by flowerplough (Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. -Michelle)
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To: Dr. Marten

I still don’t care.


4 posted on 08/07/2008 6:37:19 AM PDT by max americana
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To: Dr. Marten
Good article.

Carolyn

5 posted on 08/07/2008 6:38:06 AM PDT by CDHart ("It's too late to work within the system and too early to shoot the b@#$%^&s."--Claire Wolfe)
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To: Dr. Marten
When the Olympics begin Friday in Beijing it will be a "coming out" party of sorts for China...

.....With a face full of zits and wearing braces..

6 posted on 08/07/2008 6:39:07 AM PDT by Wil H
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To: flowerplough
China wants Taiwan, China wants respect and deference from the West, and China wants Japanese blood.

And the people in hell want ice water.

7 posted on 08/07/2008 6:40:27 AM PDT by NurdlyPeon (New tag line in progress.)
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To: NurdlyPeon

8 posted on 08/07/2008 6:48:26 AM PDT by redstateconfidential (If you are the smartest person in the room,you are hanging out with the wrong people.)
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To: Dr. Marten; All
From the Sino-Russian Joint Statement of April 23, 1997:
"The two sides [China and Russia] shall, in the spirit of partnership, strive to promote the multipolarization of the world and the establishment of a new international order."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/HI29Ag01.html

New Pentagon Report: China's Growing Military Space Power
By Leonard David
Special Correspondent, SPACE.com
March 6, 2008

GOLDEN, Colorado — A just-released Pentagon report spotlights a growing U.S. military concern that China is developing a multi- dimensional program to limit or prevent the use of space-based assets by its potential adversaries during times of crisis or conflict.

Furthermore, last year's successful test by China of a direct-ascent, anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon to destroy its own defunct weather satellite, the report adds, underscores that country's expansion from the land, air, and sea dimensions of the traditional battlefield into the space and cyber-space domains.

Although China's commercial space program has utility for non- military research, that capability demonstrates space launch and control know-how that have direct military application. Even the Chang'e 1 — the Chinese lunar probe now circling the Moon — is flagged in the report as showcasing China's ability "to conduct complicated space maneuvers — a capability which has broad implications for military counterspace operations."

To read the entire publication [29.67MB/pdf], go to (U.S. Dept of Defense) :
http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs/China_Military_Report_08.pdf

Russia, China flex muscles in joint war games
Reuters: Aug 17, 2007

CHEBARKUL, Russia (Reuters) - Russia and China staged their biggest joint exercises on Friday but denied this show of military prowess could lead to the formation of a counterweight to NATO.

"Today's exercises are another step towards strengthening the relations between our countries, a step towards strengthening international peace and security, and first and foremost, the security of our peoples," Putin said.

Fighter jets swooped overhead, commandos jumped from helicopters on to rooftops and the boom of artillery shells shook the firing range in Russia's Ural mountains as two of the largest armies in the world were put through their paces.

The exercises take place against a backdrop of mounting rivalry between the West, and Russia and China for influence over Central Asia, a strategic region that has huge oil, gas and mineral resources.

Russia's growing assertiveness is also causing jitters in the West. Putin announced at the firing range that Russia was resuming Soviet-era sorties by its strategic bomber aircraft near NATO airspace.
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29030120070817?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

From National Public Radio (NPR):
"Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been visiting countries such as China, Iran and Russia as part of an effort to build a 'strategic alliance' of interests not beholden to the United States. He considers the United States his arch enemy.":
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5729764

9 posted on 08/07/2008 7:00:46 AM PDT by ETL (Lots of REAL smoking-gun evidence on the demonRats at my Home page: http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl)
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To: Dr. Marten
the single most important geopolitical event of the 21st century

Since it's only 2008, that's a bit of a stretch.

10 posted on 08/07/2008 7:03:22 AM PDT by isrul (Help make every day, "Disrespect a muzzie day.")
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To: Dr. Marten
Would this article read any differently if it had been written for Bob Woodruff by the Chicom government? I'm trying to find differences, but not coming up with any. Can anyone help?

Helping China split into two or three countries would be the best thing we could do for the world.

11 posted on 08/07/2008 7:06:26 AM PDT by SamuraiScot
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To: Dr. Marten

Someone should put China in it’s place.


12 posted on 08/07/2008 7:08:08 AM PDT by Impy (Spellcheck hates Obama, you should too.)
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To: flowerplough

:China is big and is pissed off about the various indignities and atrocities they’ve suffered thru the last few centuries. “

Like what? Compared to whom? The Tibetians? Inner Mongolians? Are you referring to the atrocities committed by the most beloved ChiCom, that maniac Mao?


13 posted on 08/07/2008 7:09:32 AM PDT by indcons (People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news. - A. J. Liebling)
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To: TigerLikesRooster; TigersEye

Ping


14 posted on 08/07/2008 7:11:32 AM PDT by indcons (People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news. - A. J. Liebling)
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To: SamuraiScot
Would this article read any differently if it had been written for Bob Woodruff by the Chicom government? I'm trying to find differences, but not coming up with any. Can anyone help?

Me neither.

This is a crap article, total crap. So they cite China's influence with other communist, fascist regimes such as Angola as "forging relationships". This is nothing more than cold war policies that China is still engaged in.

Goober author also cites America hating Fareed Zakaria from "Newsweak" to bolster his fawning of his fellow travelers. So here is a quote from this America hating piece of filth in the article.

"You can't stop China's rise," he said. "All you can do is make sure that the U.S. is fully positioned to take advantage of that rise. Those are our options -- we can either ride this wave or we can drown in it."

Why is this different from Nikita Kruschev banging his shoe on a podium saying he will bury the US?

15 posted on 08/07/2008 7:21:39 AM PDT by KC_Conspirator
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To: Dr. Marten
"Beijing now sees any country as a potential ally, and almost no country is disqualified for bad behavior -- except those that support total independence for Taiwan"
Not so Tibet.They face continual beatdowns at the hands of the Chicoms.
Also on the Chicoms hate list is their whipping boy,the Falun Gong.If they beatdown enough people,perhaps the Chinese populace will tire of the whole damn thing and overthrow the Chicoms.The crap will hit the fans within 10 years.
16 posted on 08/07/2008 7:31:36 AM PDT by cavador (Q=What does the Pope have for breakfast? A=Eggs Benedict!)
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To: cavador

Diplomatically, China covets dominion over all of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, with the role of Japan, South Korea and even India being “tag-alongs.” They clearly will want the US Navy out in a decade.

Politically (internally) they have opened the eyes of a billion people to the possibilities of “the good life” of material comforts. They will be under increasing internal pressure to keep the people happy with material goods in order to keep them repressed politically, although China does not have any real tradition of being an open political society.

Economically, in order to keep the lid on domestic tranquility, the Chinese have to continue to fuel their economic boom. That will drive their political/diplomatic imperial expansion. Sooner or later, I see China clashing with Russia over the raw materials located in Siberia. The Chinese and Russians have a longer tradition of hatred than they do of alliance. If there will be a major war in our future, the clash could be between those two nations over Siberia.

Just me spinning some fantasies here. Like I can predict the future; those Powerball numbers I pick still haven’t panned out either.


17 posted on 08/07/2008 7:49:08 AM PDT by henkster (Politics is the art of telling a bigger and more believable lie more often than your opponent)
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To: Dr. Marten

The left is hunky-dory with us forging relations with dictators — as long as they’re communist dictators.


18 posted on 08/07/2008 8:09:02 AM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: flowerplough

“Why Every American Should Care About China:

China is big and is pissed off about the various indignities and atrocities they’ve suffered thru the last few centuries. China wants Taiwan, China wants respect and deference from the West, and China wants Japanese blood.”

....And China for a change SHOULD GROW UP, get with the 21st century, and PUT IT’S BAD PAST EXPERENCES BEHIND IT.


19 posted on 08/07/2008 8:11:22 AM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation, with 4 cats in my life as proof. =^..^==^..^=)
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To: Impy

Team USA, HUMILIATE China in the summer Olympics.


20 posted on 08/07/2008 8:16:56 AM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation, with 4 cats in my life as proof. =^..^==^..^=)
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To: henkster

As wages rise, it will be difficult to continue the boom unless more Chinese mover into the service sector as in Hong Kong or Taiwan.

You’re right about the growing dissatisfaction amongst the Chinese populace, especially as more Chinese are allowed to travel. It’s quite possible they will follow Communist nations like Poland if they don’t get a grip on corruption, probably the Number One complaint of average Chinese.

China never really had a strong, steady central government until the Communist takeover of 1949. The Republic, established in 1911, followed a weak Qing Dynasty ruled by Manchus. The Republic was plagued by weakness as well and had to co-opt numerous warlords. The Nationalists, who arguably, won the Civil War of the 1920s were weakened by the shifting allegiances of some of the warlords and by the Sino-Japanese War 1937-1945.

China could also eventually battle against some of their southern neighbors and The Philippines for the Spratley Islands since there are natural resouces there.


21 posted on 08/07/2008 8:21:58 AM PDT by 12Gauge687 (Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice)
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To: 12Gauge687

Corruption has been endemic in Chinese public life since Imperial times. It will be very difficult to root out such an ingrained way of doing business.

I believe the Chinese government would prefer an imperial policy where they simply overwhelm and intimidate their potential adversaries. The means would be to create an economic and military power that her smaller neighbors could not hope to match, and then bully them into progressively greater degrees of vassalage. This is going to be a problem in dealing with the Russians, though. I doubt they will back down when challenged by the “little yellow sub-humans,” which is their favorite racial pejorative for the Chinese.


22 posted on 08/07/2008 8:57:49 AM PDT by henkster (Politics is the art of telling a bigger and more believable lie more often than your opponent)
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To: Dr. Marten
What I really find amazing is not this article, but the responses to this article. This article is not propaganda. It is in fact, what is going on in the world and with China. It is a pragmatic view of a changing world in which China is a part of. And the overriding goal is for them to achieve an American level standard of living.

The propaganda, is the perspective coming from all the postings to this thread. And many others on the FR. The reality is, is that China is NOT participating in Cold War politics by initiating trade with other countries, but many on the FR are when they oppose her trade policies. It is this deep seated desire to contain her regardless of whether or not China becomes democratic. This desire is what brings forth the anti-China propaganda.

23 posted on 08/07/2008 9:14:03 AM PDT by ponder life
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To: Dr. Marten

I read the fist few replies to this thread and have this comment: you can say what you will, but the Chinese government’s first and last priority is China and Chinese interests. I watched the first half of the show and any hint of whining about “human rights” and the “environment” was brushed off. They are looking out for number one.

Better that the dumbasses in Washington learn from them.


24 posted on 08/07/2008 9:32:27 AM PDT by GadareneDemoniac
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To: GadareneDemoniac

You got that right!


25 posted on 08/07/2008 10:59:00 AM PDT by Dr. Marten
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To: ponder life
What I really find amazing is not this article, but the responses to this article. This article is not propaganda.

Oh, this is rich. Dude, I'm like 98% sure you're an employee of the Chinese government. You of all people should not be spouting off about "propaganda".

26 posted on 08/07/2008 11:04:49 AM PDT by jmc813 (Welcome to New York, Brett!)
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To: jmc813
Oh, this is rich. Dude, I'm like 98% sure you're an employee of the Chinese government. You of all people should not be spouting off about "propaganda".

I'm not working for the Chinese government. And neither are the writers and producers of the documentary. Yet, someone, people on the FR see the conveying of this information as something diabolical. As though this documentary is some underhanded attempted to brainwash the American public.

But look carefully at the Article and what it is saying. It is merely talking about China's economic transformation and how it cannot be done with only 10% of the world's land. And that negotiating with other countries for their resources is a must for China if they are to continue to raise their standard of living.

Yet somehow, people on the FR read articles like this, turns it completely around and regurgitates it as pinko commie propaganda. This smacks dab as a throw back to McCarthyism. Except, this time around, China and not the former USSR is the centerpiece.

27 posted on 08/07/2008 11:26:34 AM PDT by ponder life
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To: jmc813
Correction to post #27:

Yet, somehow, people on the FR see the conveying...

28 posted on 08/07/2008 11:36:38 AM PDT by ponder life
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To: ponder life
I'm not working for the Chinese government.

Then can I ask you a genuine question? Why are such a disproportionate amount of your posts on threads regarding China? Are you of Chinese descent? Did you travel there as a child and have fond memories? Do you do business with the Chinese?

29 posted on 08/07/2008 11:37:07 AM PDT by jmc813 (Welcome to New York, Brett!)
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To: jmc813
Because I am a conservative who believes in free enterprise. And countries who are willing to participate in free market and work hard, should be allowed the fruits of their labor. I have voted for every Republican President since Reagan's second term.

I don't have a problem with the Free Tibet Folks, Sharon Stone, or Mia Farrow. They're doing what typical liberal radicals do. I don't agree with them, but their targeting of China is consistent with their beliefs. And China has big enough shoulders to endure them.

It's my fellow conservatives, who for years talk about free trade, free markets, then when a non-Western country participates and benefits, all of a sudden, the red flag comes up. That, I have a problem with.

I am a US citizen born and raised here. My parents are from China. My father even fought in Europe during WWII in the US Army (honestly).

I would simply like to see China raise their standard of living equal to that to at least of Europe, nothing more, nothing less. And to be honest, I think much of the rest of the world has that right too. Whether it be Africa or Latin America or the Middle East. And it will only be done through free trade, free markets, etc. Free markets, the very thing many conservatives believe in. Until.............a non-Western country get in on it.....and that is what really really irks me. That mindset in resisting non-Western countries in trade is a form of modern day imperialism.

30 posted on 08/07/2008 12:16:45 PM PDT by ponder life
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To: ponder life
Thank you for taking the time to explain where you're coming from.

I don't have a problem with the Free Tibet Folks, Sharon Stone, or Mia Farrow. They're doing what typical liberal radicals do.

No, they're really not. This has been an issue that transcends the political spectrum. On Tibet or Darfur issues, you would have a hard time distinguishing a FR thread from a DU one.

but their targeting of China is consistent with their beliefs.

You think China has clean hands when it comes to Tibet and Darfur?

It's my fellow conservatives, who for years talk about free trade, free markets, then when a non-Western country participates and benefits, all of a sudden, the red flag comes up.

You won't find any of us bashing on free trade with countries such as Japan, Indonesia or India.

I would simply like to see China raise their standard of living equal to that to at least of Europe, nothing more, nothing less.

I would love to see that too. But free trade alone will not bring that. A collapse and revolt from within is the only thing that will. You can have all the money in the world, but without real freedom, your standard of living is crap. And the rulers of China will never voluntarily give up their power. Ever.

31 posted on 08/07/2008 12:39:04 PM PDT by jmc813 (Welcome to New York, Brett!)
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To: indcons

Like what? Like the Opium Wars, the European “carving up” of Hong Kong and the “Chinese melon”, the Rape of Nanking, Japanese military sex-slavery, vivisection, and cannibalism. And Mao? The Chinese seem to forgive his viciousness, since he’s one of their own, but, according to what I’ve read and heard, the Chinese have three ordered priorities - reclaim Taiwan, face down the West, and make Japan bleed.


32 posted on 08/07/2008 2:17:40 PM PDT by flowerplough (Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. -Michelle)
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To: jmc813
No, they're really not. This has been an issue that transcends the political spectrum. On Tibet or Darfur issues, you would have a hard time distinguishing a FR thread from a DU one.

I'll comment at the risk of not knowing what DU is. Why do these issue transcend the political spectrum? What is unique about these issues to the conservatives. Especially Sudan now that China is involved. Certainly Darfur has been an issue for a long time and other African countries as well. But why now and why is always only when China is involved for the conservatives?

You think China has clean hands when it comes to Tibet and Darfur?

I don't ever believe I ever said that. I've been on this site for almost 10 years now. I've brought up Sudan on the FR when people were doggin China about human rights. Sudan got little or no attention. Actually, no attention is more accurate. Now that China is in there, it now becomes an issue in the conservative circles. Why now and why with China?

You won't find any of us bashing on free trade with countries such as Japan, Indonesia or India.

Well, how many "Made in Indonesia" or "...India" do you see when you buy a product? So, I think that actually supports my arguement. Let talk about Japan. I vividly recall the 1980's. There were two world powers outside the US; the USSR (militarily) and Japan (economically). I can vividly remember how the USSR was in the news and the friction that existed between our two governments. Yet, on the grass roots level, at work, talking with coworkers, animosity was clearly towards Japan. The USSR, at the grass roots level, even had their admirers when talking about their Migs, submarines, etc. Japan, there was little good said about them. I assume you remember the 80's and the animosity towards Japan.

I would love to see that too. But free trade alone will not bring that. A collapse and revolt from within is the only thing that will. You can have all the money in the world, but without real freedom, your standard of living is crap.

Lets say I agree with you in total. Why the animosity towards the ABCnews documentary? I mean, if China will never acheive it, why would it offend so many Americans if they are going down the wrong road? Certainly, there are many other countries with political systems that hasn't gotten them nearly as far as China. And yet, the animosity is directed AT China.

And the rulers of China will never voluntarily give up their power. Ever.

To some degree, it is already happening. It is still autocratic to be sure, but it is nowhere near the dictorial powers of Chairman Mao, not even close.

33 posted on 08/07/2008 3:21:23 PM PDT by ponder life
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To: ponder life

I’ve gotta watch the Brett Favre press conference, but I promise I’ll respond tonight or tomorrow.


34 posted on 08/07/2008 3:33:41 PM PDT by jmc813 (Welcome to New York, Brett!)
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To: jmc813

No prob. I gotta head out soon myself.


35 posted on 08/07/2008 4:09:56 PM PDT by ponder life
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