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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Beijing more sensitive to war tremors |
| 2012-09-18 |
| An excerpt: For the past several decades, the Chinese government has largely avoided military confrontation. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has instead bolstered its legitimacy by providing economic growth. Foreign disputes were put on the backburner as the government focused on the singular goal of increasing material prosperity. Because the Communist Party did not have clear internal divisions, and because the autocratic nature of the Chinese system largely shielded the party from direct accountability to the people, the Chinese leadership has taken a decidedly long-term strategy for enhancing China's international power. A major crisis, such as the 1999 North Atlantic Treaty Organization bombing of the Chinese embassy in Serbia, did not lead to a prolonged or drastic Chinese response, despite intense popular anger. This pattern may no longer hold true. Divisions within the Communist Party are surfacing in the wake of former Chongqing municipality party chief Bo Xilai's dramatic fall from grace. Furthermore, a recent prolonged absence of heir apparent Xi Jinping from the public eye fueled speculation of a violent confrontation within the ranks of the Party. In the event of a serious struggle for political power in China, a ruling faction may seek to shore up domestic support by initiating an armed conflict with China's historical nemesis. Western governments that pressure China to democratize do so with supreme geopolitical shortsightedness. If the government in mainland China was currently a Western-style representative democracy, popular pressure for a war against Japan would be almost impossible to resist. I dunno how much of the protests are spontaneous or how much they are instigated by the government. But how would the young rioters in China know so much about Japanese atrocities in WWII if the government wasn't constantly reminding them? And why, after 70 or more years can't they get over it and focus on the benefits of peaceful coexistence that they have enjoyed since then? There has been some discussion on Rantburg lately about the difference between international socialists (communists) and national socialists (NAZIs or facists). Sounds to me like the Chinese are tilting toward facism with all of the militancy and racism that goes with it. Calm, quiet negotiations would be far more likely to benefit the Chinese as well as the Japanese, IMHO. So it's worrisome that the Chinese are taking this tack. But then, what did our own dear leaders expect when they decided to grant most favored nation trading status to a hostile totalitarian dictatorship, be it communist or facist? And so now that the Chinese have used their profits to beef up their navy our leaders seem reluctant to speak up in support of our friends and allies throughout the region. Weak. |
| Posted by:Ebbang Uluque6305 |
| #2 To Chinese, events of 150 years ago might as well have happened yesterday. It's not uncommon at all to see references to the Boxer War online. The government keeps the flame of hate burning bright, to keep anger focused outward while they steal everything that isn't nailed down. Now that China is powerful again, it's time for all the old vassal kingdoms to pay tribute again. Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Philippines all need to kowtow in front of the superior race. |
| Posted by: gromky 2012-09-18 22:32 |
| #1 why, after 70 or more years can't they get over it Sounding a little like the displaced Palestinians, are they? |
| Posted by: Elmomogum Jomort3012 2012-09-18 13:36 |