China in the lurch

WORLD TRIBUNE ^ | November 5, 2001 | Sol Sanders

[a_Turk]

Sol W. Sanders, (solsanders@abac.com), is an Asian specialist with more than 25 years in the region, and a former correspondent for Business Week, U.S. News & World Report and United Press International. He writes weekly for World Tribune.com.

[chemainus]

In 9-11 look carefully for the stealthy finger of Red China , and then look to Indonesia as the new seat of power for Muslim terrorists. Saudi Arabia and Syria and Iran and Iraq will be well-served by us in proper order and in accordance with their misdeeds.

[WriteOn]

It's like dealing with a schizophrenic. China is playing both sides against the middle. Crazed despot.

[Map Kernow]

Cok ilginc, efendim! You might be interested in a recently published book by a Chinese-American, Gordon Chang, who is a long-time resident of China: "The Coming Collapse of China." Provocative title, but an intriguing thesis.

[Malcolm]

Before Sept 11th I thought our biggest enemy in the world was China. Now the biggest is the Islamic world. Sooner or later, the entire Middle East will take on the Western World, hopefully with Russia and India as partners. But I can't forget the "terrorist" act of the Chinese in April, when they forced down our plane, which was clearly in international waters. We should keep our immediate focus on the terrorists, but keep the Chinese in the corner of our eye. No telling what they are doing now, under the cover of this crisis. Plus, I heard today that their state media published a story, saying that the US "deserved" what had happened and that they would never again be afraid of Americans, seeing photos of us "running through the streets in terror," as if this were not normal behavior by any human in an emergency. Hopefully, the above post is true, that they will turn into a democracy at some point. If not, the world is in for a bloody 21th century: first the Islamic world, then the communist one.....

[adambc123]

I have lived in Hong Kong and worked extensively in China for the past 2 years. Indeed, they need to be watched very closely. The great masses of people are simply trying to get rich. But the leaders have a long-bred sense of paranoia: Fear of invasion (remembering Japan), fear of insult (remembering the Opium War), fear of losing internal control (remembering the dynastic upheavals). This paranoia has made them see enemies on all sides and want to prove that they are a real power -- their desperation to win the Olympics was almost comical. But the combination of paranoia and sensitivity to insult makes them dangerous -having the option to contain them is important. China is no friend to the West.

[ChaseR]

Good post boston.
(China is our enemy...and let's not forget it.

[a_Turk]

For the sake of the sheeple's that don't know the media that choose to refer to China as Communist or Red China should also refer to the United States as Capitalist.

You're right, but I'm thinking it may be possible that they're trying to draw a distinction between mainland and Taiwan..

[Sawdring]

The Chinese know, of course, Russian Pres. Putin was all but ignored, finally, when Washington went directly to the Uzbeks and Tajiks for use of former Soviet bases, without the Kremlin’s by your leave.

Anyone know about these slights to Putin and the Russian State? Everyone keeps saying Russia is our ally and good buddy in Central Asia. If the US is going it alone with CIS states and not involving Russia we might look to Russia's test firing of its ballistic missiles in October and on November 2nd as political messages sent the old fashioned way.

[Sawdring]

Bump to you!

[Askel5]

What? We had the audacity to bypass the RUSSIANS when requesting use of 'former Soviet' bases in the lands no longer a part of their union of republics?

Unless we plan on crying foul when folks deal directly with the Chicoms regarding our "former" sovereign territory in Panama, I fail to see the slight here.

(Thanks so much for the flag, guy. I've missed you.)

[rightwing2]

The Kremlin under Putin gave the loyal (to Russia) Central Asian republics permission to provide limited basing rights to US troops and planes. Tajikistan is after all a Russian satellite state which is occupied by the 201st Motorized Rifle Division. This is all part of a prudent and calculated Russian strategy to achieve their foreign policy objectives, bringing prestige to the Russian Federation and make it a respected player on the world stage. Uzbekistan is the only republic in Central Asia with any independent ties to the West. The others including Kazakhstan are led by Communist apparachik dictators and would just as soon rejoin the Belarus-Russian Union as constituent republics of a newly reformed USSR under direct rule by Moscow.

[Quix]

China. . . playing both sides against the middle. . . Certainly they are artists at that. . . .paragon artists at almost any kind of negotiation with westerners. . . .at taking undue advantage etc. etc.

And then they will condescendingly look down on you with disdain, disgust, dirision for your being so stupid, ignorant and dull as to allow them to do it.

They can easily be rabidly hostile if you stand up to them and don't allow them to take unreasonable advantage of you. . . and somewhat more derisive if you do. As you can guess, some interesting double binds can multiply aplenty.

On the other hand, they can see these tendencies in themselves and lay them somewhat to mostly aside if the relationship is close enough. . . meaningful enough. . . Some can be considerably more honorable and straightforward than westerners. . . . especially when comparing Bimbo Crusher as the example westerner.

[GeronL]

Our 'short term' enemies are radical islamists, our long term enemy is still China.

[Aaron_A]

The fact that we don't really have any substantial bases in Central Asia tells me that we are going through Russia. Now that there is talk of expanding our forces in the region, (there is probably some decent quid pro quo for Russia) that is what has the Chicom undies in a bunch.

[taiwanese_superhawk]

Hey thanks for the info! I'm a huge fan of Turkey, our only true Muslim ally. Hopefully the Arab world can find some leaders more like Ataturk, for our sake and theirs.