[Paul Ross]

... am simply saying that portraying the Chinese government as a monolithic entity which moves in an easily predictable fashion is not a good idea.

Governments are all about setting uniform objectives, and rules, and .... laws. Vastness is irrelevant unless your contention is that their government is incompetent. Then you have to explain how such 'incompetents' are doing exactly what they have set out to accomplish. And Not uncoincidentally, the PRC communists control the PLA. The PLA has made clear what the PRC's ultimate objectives and policies are. And there is no sign of any loss of control there...You DO Recall the Tiannamen Massacre, don't you?

[Eric Paul]

By this logic I should judge the possible actions of the American government by what happened during Bush Sr's administration. So I guess America will pull out of Iraq and leave Sadam in power.

As a matter of fact I talked to someone yesterday that was student at Tiananmen in 1989. Where do you get your information?