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(Oz. PM John) Howard predicts 'tectonic' changes in China
ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corp.) ^ | Monday, May 22, 2006. 10:22pm (AEST) | Europe Correspondent Rafael Epstein

Posted on 05/22/2006 7:28:05 PM PDT by Murtyo

Prime Minister John Howard says massive economic development in China will bring about a "tectonic shift" in that country's political system.

Mr Howard has made the comments at the beginning of an official tour of Ireland, while answering questions from students at a Dublin university.

Mr Howard was asked if he was depressed by the level of political change in China.

While trumpeting Australia's trade links with the government in Beijing, Mr Howard said he did not believe economic liberalisation would continue on its own.

"Nor do I myself believe that for ever a country can economically liberalise, whilst remaining politically constrained," he said.

"I think eventually there will be some kind of tectonic shift, I believe that very strongly."

Mr Howard meets the Irish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister later today.


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: australia; china; endofprc; freechina; howard; johnhoward
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Hopefully Howard is right and the ChiComs will be up in court in a few years.
1 posted on 05/22/2006 7:28:06 PM PDT by Murtyo
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To: Murtyo

I think he's right. If it happens, though, it won't be because of anything we did or did not do. Our policy toward both China and Russia is utterly foolhardy.


2 posted on 05/22/2006 7:30:16 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Murtyo

Given Chinese history, I would expect something more along the lines of widespread revolt, massive disorder, and total confusion.


3 posted on 05/22/2006 7:34:15 PM PDT by proxy_user
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To: proxy_user

ah, but we can hope. be great to see some of them commie thugs up on the stand.


4 posted on 05/22/2006 7:37:31 PM PDT by Murtyo
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To: proxy_user

THERE'S HOPE

5 posted on 05/22/2006 7:39:22 PM PDT by Murtyo
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To: Murtyo

I wouldn't be optimistic. I think that, given how things are going w/N.Korea and with China, the sooner Japan is released from the constraints on its military role the better.


6 posted on 05/22/2006 7:40:38 PM PDT by alecqss
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To: proxy_user

7 posted on 05/22/2006 7:41:26 PM PDT by Murtyo
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To: Murtyo

I'd rather see millions of them swinging from a rope. Better yet, the Red Chinese politburo doing a mass revival of Mussolini's "Swinging on a meat hook".


8 posted on 05/22/2006 7:42:24 PM PDT by Thumper1960 (Politicians are like diapers. They need changed often, and for the same reasons.)
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To: Thumper1960

That may be a more expeditious way to a post fascist/communist China. But I don't think the idea of a nuclear power "unplugged" is something we need.


9 posted on 05/22/2006 7:44:48 PM PDT by Murtyo
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To: Murtyo

Wonder what ever happened to that brave soul? Hope he's not languishing in a gulag somewhere.


10 posted on 05/22/2006 7:47:18 PM PDT by The_Media_never_lie
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To: Murtyo

Not for that guy. He was executed a few years later.


11 posted on 05/22/2006 7:50:25 PM PDT by elfman2 (An army of amateurs doing the media's job.)
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To: Murtyo
Nuclear war late this year, or a few years down the road.

Either way, it'll happen. There will be an exchange of nukes between some nuclear powers. It is inevitable.

12 posted on 05/22/2006 7:56:16 PM PDT by Thumper1960 (Politicians are like diapers. They need changed often, and for the same reasons.)
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To: elfman2

JOHN 15:13 http://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=50&ch=15&l=13&f=s#x whether he knew it or now

and in case he never heard The News there's JOHN 10:16 http://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=50&ch=10&l=16&f=s#x


13 posted on 05/22/2006 8:00:13 PM PDT by Murtyo
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To: The_Media_never_lie

I believe the killed him


14 posted on 05/22/2006 8:00:37 PM PDT by Murtyo
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To: Thumper1960
". . . There will be an exchange of nukes between some nuclear powers. It is inevitable."

Put your money on Israel and Iran when the Ayatollahs get the bomb.
15 posted on 05/22/2006 8:01:48 PM PDT by StJacques
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To: proxy_user

Probably, but there is a chance for a peaceful transition to a more representative government.


16 posted on 05/22/2006 8:07:12 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu (www.answersingenesis.org)
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To: elfman2

That Chinese protester's fate is still unknown, though he probably was executed.


17 posted on 05/22/2006 8:10:18 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu (www.answersingenesis.org)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

Any major change in China will come from within. The Chinese people will eventually demand more from their leaders. What good is money without freedom? The party leaders hold the keys to the safe right now, but they have started whetting the apetites of their subjects. They will throw money to the people until the people of china call for their necks.

Accept this time it won't be 19 year old students. It will be a truly national uprising including the army. Have patience though, this will require a great deal of time and concerted effort. Things change slowly in the Dragon.

Our path should be one of subverting the communist ideal without direct confrontation, just as the Cold War was won. This is going to be a battle of wits and perserverence. We are not dealing with camel herding tribesmen. We are dealing with an ancient and mature culture that is not necessarily hell bent on its own destruction. It must be remembered though that China will be our chief competitor in the 21st century and despite the fact they will be a capitalist and modern country in 30 years (in my opinion), they will still be a competitor, maybe not an enemy.

Taiwan is the only possible flame point right now that I reasonably see. We do not want to encourage China to forcibly take Taiwan, neither do we want to provoke them or face a direct conflict with China. Bravado can be a valuable tool, or it can be a foolhearted mistake. Don't get me wrong. The USA would win this conflict, but at very extreme costs, including the real possibility of a nuclear exchange.

I think the USA's best course of action is to secure our own natural resources and begin consolidating our resources in the Western hemisphere while coming to a framework with the Chinese communist government that both prolongs them, but slowly poisons them with the antithesis of communism......capitalism. In other words, sheath your dagger and feed the enemy a grain of hemlock each day until he turns pale and expires. This avoids the most bloodshed in general and provides the least loss of life among our own warriors while accomplishing our strategic goals.

The problems in maintaining our survival lie amongst our own political madness. The cumulative effect of environmental radicals, diplomatic apologists and unpatriotic businessmen with large bribes to congress, is that the USA cannot act to secure those resources that are fundamental to its survival...ie. oil, natural gas, steel, timber.

As an American and an American that is involved and informed as to his governments workings and doings, I look on this situation with jaded glasses hoping that we can move forward without allowing the schizophrenic and irrational policies of groups such as GreenPeace, MoveOn.Org, ACLU and countless others to destroy our ability to stay on top in this dangerous world.


18 posted on 05/22/2006 8:47:46 PM PDT by ChinaThreat (s)
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To: Brilliant
I think he's right.

I think he knows more about china than almost anyone in the US knows. Most americans know next to nothing about china and that includes me and includes the china bashing freepers too.

19 posted on 05/22/2006 9:07:57 PM PDT by staytrue (Moonbat conservatives-those who would rather have the democrats win.)
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To: elfman2

Is that for real? I've always wondered what happened to him?


20 posted on 05/22/2006 11:04:08 PM PDT by spetznaz (Nuclear-tipped Ballistic Missiles: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol)
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