Is China Burning?

Forbes ^ | 9/23/2012 | Gordon G. Chang

[neverdem]

Chinese streets were quiet today after anti-Japan protests, many of them violent, rocked more than a 100 cities last week. Large demonstrations continued through Tuesday, the 81st anniversary of Japan’s invasion of Manchuria.

The disturbances, triggered by a territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, are commonly described as the worst anti-Japan riots to hit the country since at least 2005, and they may have even been more destructive than that.

In any event, the damage to Japan’s business interests in China was substantial. More than a dozen Japanese companies halted operations in the country as fire bombings, sabotage, and looting took their toll. Manufacturers Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Yamaha, Komatsu, Hitachi, and Canon shuttered plants. Panasonic locked the doors of a factory after employees broke windows, ruined equipment, and set fires...

--snip--

Today, however, the Chinese economy is in obvious distress, with fewer analysts buying Beijing’s claims that the country is growing in the high single digits. Charles Dumas of Lombard Street Research, for example, thinks China’s growth rate is only 1.6%, and it could even be lower than that. In this environment, even minor disruptions could have a “tipping point” effect...

--snip--

In fact, Beijing officials have talked about taking the Ryukyus after they get the Senkakus. And we should not think the Chinese are limiting their anger to the Japanese. Last week’s events have been compared, in their intensity and their aims, to the anti-foreigner Boxer Rebellion, which began just at the end of the 19th century.

That, unfortunately, is a historical parallel we should remember. Rioters on Tuesday attacked and damaged the car of American ambassador Gary Locke while he was in it.

China at the moment is unstable, and that puts foreign businesses there—not to mention the Chinese economy—at risk.

[ClearCase_guy]

China
North Korea
Syria
Iran
Afghanistan
Egypt
Libya
Greece
Spain
Portugal

I cannot imagine that the powderkeg won’t find a match before the year is out. Most likely, before October is out.

[traumer]

excellent article

[ctdonath2]

I can’t believe that many protesters care that much about that jurisdiction.

Someone realized the USA is about to dump a weak leader, and there is just 4 months to fix both their economic & population problems thru war with minimal damage to the leadership.

[DoughtyOne]

China can just as easily nationalize our industry there and kick us out.

We have been the saps of all time for doing business with China. Look at the peace dividend now beginning to vaporize just as many of us predicted.

It’s breathtaking to watch what we have allowed China to get away with. And that’s just our dealings with it.

Our economy is in a shambles, in part to that policy. Slow growth, who could have seen this coming?

Shakes head...

[knarf]

They just discovered what weekends are for

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

“China
North Korea
Syria
Iran
Afghanistan
Egypt
Libya
Greece
Spain
Portugal”

You forgot one very important country on your list:

USA.

[henkster]

Interesting that the article listed the Boxer Rebellion (no, not the stupid commie hag from California). You can also add the Opium War and the Cultural Revolution. Every generation or two the Chinese are swept up in a frenzy of xenophobia, and have their own internal version of “ethnic cleansing.” You won’t see a lasting movement for “diversity” or “multiculturalism” there.

I was wondering when the next wave would hit. Perhaps it just did.

[gaijin]

Distraction is what dictatorships do when something unpleasant looms —in this case it’s a lofty mountain of secret debt.

The Senkaku Island Dispute has been going on for DECADES yet magically only NOW does it bubble up and become pressing.

Just keep your eye on Chinese economic indicators —I think the PRC leadership will soon find a solution for all those tens of millions of young Chinese men who have NO HOPE AT ALL of getting married (too many girl abortions).

MANUFACTURED DISTRACTION.

[neverdem]

Just keep your eye on Chinese economic indicators —I think the PRC leadership will soon find a solution for all those tens of millions of young Chinese men who have NO HOPE AT ALL of getting married (too many girl abortions).

An air and naval conflict over the East and South China Seas isn't much of a remedy for that population imbalance. They need something much worse, but suffering mass casualties could cause the Chicoms to lose the Mandate of Heaven.

[JediJones]

The other option is to inflict mass casualties on the enemy’s men and steal their women. That might work as motivation if there’s no hope of getting a woman back home.

[JediJones]

The Senkaku Island Dispute has been going on for DECADES yet magically only NOW does it bubble up and become pressing.

Maybe someone made an offensive YouTube video about it.

[JediJones]

Interesting that the article listed the Boxer Rebellion (no, not the stupid commie hag from California).

The 2010 Boxer Rebellion failed to catch "Fiorina."

[lucky american]

One of my best friends is Chinese. She is Republican. She has shared many stories with me about her childhood. These peoples’ entire lives are built on propaganda from cradle to grave.They are taught what to think, who to hate, and to idolize their leaders. They are very intelligent people and she says there is hope with the younger generation in the use of technology. It is at a point , she says, where knowledge of “the outside world” will be known to all and they love America and are beginning to despise the “old traditions.”

[painter]

China at the moment is unstable, and that puts foreign businesses there—not to mention the Chinese economy—at risk.

I have been getting a couple investment letters from a company called Stansberry and associates and recently they have been telling it's subscribers to sell ALL investments in Chineese stocks.

[painter]

Distraction is what dictatorships do when something unpleasant looms —in this case it’s a lofty mountain of secret debt.

From what I have been hearing the Chinese have been buying TONS of gold for the last few years.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

This just in.. China delays ascension to number one super power originally scheduled for next Tuesday afternoon, at about tea time.

"Most likely it will be the following Saturday morning," said a Chinese Communist Central Committee representative. "Early."

American "free traders" remain apprehensive, "When? Please, please when?" they plead.

[traumer]

Bull’s Eye !

[OwenKellogg]

In fact, Beijing officials have talked about taking the Ryukyus after they get the Senkakus

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For the record, the Ryukyus is Okinawa, the home to Kadena Air Base and Marine Corps Base Camp Butler (along with the Army’s Torii Station and the Navy’s White beach).

I wonder when they plan to take Okinawa?

[lentulusgracchus]

As I was telling someone earlier this evening, maybe it would be timely for some U.S. air formations and a carrier battle group to show up in the general area.

The Chinese keep adding small chips to their side of the table. Their new aircraft carrier just went to sea, n/w/s she has a long shakedown and air operations learning cycle to go through.