Beam me to Planet Gore !
Since around 1992, the West should have been placed on suicide watch. And it’s gotten exponentially worse since then.
About all we can do now is watch this play out.
When the proverbial stuff hits the fan, just remember folks. Some of us tried to sound the warning bells about China.
Britain making new trade deals with China, makes it absolutely clear out clueless Western leaders are. It’s a sad thing to watch, the circling of the drain.
Unanswered question: Will the US’s policies that have moved large amounts of US manufacturing production to China, and transferred untold amounts of technology, and created massive trade deficits, will those policies prove to be the most stupid, self-destructive in all of human history?
“...the Chinese have demonstrated that their default position is that Beijing’s only real priority it to look after its own interests...”
As any country with even a shred of survival instinct and not afflicted with political correctness should be doing 24/7.
Nations don’t have friends, they have interests — Talleyrand
Akmal Shaikh-sure sounds British to me....
Exactly how different is that from what the British position has been for centuries?
” whether it is enforcing its zero tolerance policy on drug abuse or refusing to cooperate with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. “
And that is bad how?
For once, I think we can laugh with China. To start with:
1) They understand power is based on nationalism, not international socialism. They see international socialists as naive dimwits and failures. The Chinese “communism” has evolved into little more than a modern version of the Confucian bureaucratic monarchy that preceded them.
2) They are not particularly given to imperialism, preferring exploitative trade with dictators to military conquest. They do insist that the nations which surround China culturally do things, “The Chinese Way”, as a buffer against powerful nations outside of this circle. This “cultural imperialism” makes little sense to Americans, who have their own way of doing business.
3) They do want substantial foreign trade, which means trade routes, and a deep water navy to defend their shipping. They prefer naval supremacy in the western Pacific and Indian oceans, but it increasingly unlikely they will get it.
4) Since the 1980s, their intent was to prepare for an eventual naval war with the US. This intent was very well known to the US Navy, who planned accordingly. However, the rise of India has made serious headway in its potential for conflict with China, and this is a much more serious prospect from the Chinese point of view.
5) Ironically, the seriousness and realism of China cannot stomach some of the sillier western fads like internationalism, climate change, progressivism, international law and “human rights”. While they will let others fool around that way, they will not sign up to any such schemes. Because they see them as such, just schemes to get money and power, nothing more. If they are to enrich Al Gore, it is for political concessions when he is elected. Otherwise, he can sod off.
1. China is not an “ally” of Britain. What poppycock.
2. Of course the chinese are looking out for their own national interest. Hello! That’s what countries do. I wish the U.S. did.
3. I agree with the chinese on their ignoring the Brits when it comes to executing common criminals. Stupid of the Brits to try and intervene for a drug trafficker.
4. The great zero got zilch from China. No kidding. When you arrive, hat in hand, in hock to the host up to your frigging eyebrows, don’t expect more goodies.
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Rather than being a partner that can be trusted to work with the West on issues of mutual concern, <<<<
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the Chinese have demonstrated that their default position is that Beijing’s only real priority it to look after its own interests, <<<<
What is this moron saying ?!?
Why should ANY government be working ‘against its own interests?
It sounds like he is saying that the Chinese are refusing to be saps and engage in actions that are against the interests of their own country.
Good for them.
Now perhaps we can get some politicians that will do the same for our own country!
A GOOD DEAL is one that benefits BOTH parties interests.
It must be pretty hard for a leader, king, President or whatever of every country on Earth when they have to deal with Obama knowing through their own intelligence assets that Obama is an usurper of power and ultimately, eventually, his stroke of the pen is short lived and meaningless.
The world is on a Wait and See attitude, they are awaiting to see when he is removed, many leaders are envious that he managed to fool a sizable amount of American voters to support him, and my guess is most are laughing at America.
“Those stupid arrogant Americans are getting what they deserved. ....” has probably been stated many many times.
China works in China’s own self interest. Although the heroin smuggler who is the subject of the article may have mental problems, smuggling heroin is profitable precisely because it is so risky. What’s the risk? Getting caught and executed.
In other columns, Con Coughlin warns Britain about giving up military might and allowing themselves to be cowed by Muslim terrorists.
In this instance, I don’t think he’s whining as much as laying it out on the table for the rest of us to see, and I don’t think he’s surprised by it.