The world's next superpower

Taipei Times ^ | 07.23.03 | Jonathan Fenby

[Quix]

Guess, then, I'd agree with your qualifications of the term totalitarian.

Certainly NK is much MORE totalitarian.

Guess I've just construed it that the totalitarianism has 'merely' gone underground, gotten furlined gloves; put on a smiley face; etc.

But in your construction, definition, I can agree.

[Quix]

Could they pull off another Tienanmen?

Yes, THEY COULD.

What would THEN happen would be exceedingly up for grabs.

They could DO IT but I don't know that they could survive the aftermath.

Thanks for your kind words. I much agree with your China commentary routinely, too.

[harpseal]

Now, in view of this, who in his right mind would even think of conquering her ? The right mind part on the part of an authoritarian ruler is a supposition of a fact not in evidence. Now as top nations that have conquered the Phillipines I can cite Japan, the USA and Spain as quick examples.

[Quix]

Far too much truth in what you say about the Philippines.

I have long suspected that the Chinese construe the Philippines to be theirs anyway--along with the Spratleys etc.

[firebrand]

Their flexible ethics will no doubt take care of both those problems.

[Quix]

You put it better than I did.

Thanks.

[SauronOfMordor]

The same could be said here in the United States. Though we work our entire lives to purchase a home and property to put it on, it doesn't really belong to us. Try not paying your taxes and see what happens!

Strength of ownership is never 100%. It's stronger in the US than in many other places, where at least you don't have to worry about "war veteran" squatters coming onto your land and taking it over (although spotted owl squatters are a separate worry)

[Enemy Of The State]

Oh maybe I didnt state my thoughts in the last comment very clearly.

I have no doubt that the CCP could pull off another Tiananmen incident (HK may soon find out), but I dont think that they could survive the aftermath as they did in '89.

Such a repeat of an incident of that magnitude would certainly be followed by a mass exodus of all the Foreign Investment they pride themselves so highly on.

Best Regards!

[adx]

I would be more inclined to call Kim-Jong Il a totaltarian ruler. He could get away with an incident like Tiananmen, I dont honestly believe that the Chinese could pull that off again.

Anyone have an idea of how many security cameras are in China? Some of stuff that we'd have a problem with here (facial recognition, biometrics, etc., with the capability of sifting through it to find useful stuff) would have a very receptive audience there. With the technology that's available (and stuff that's now coming out of the lab), China could probably create a surveillance society so pervasive that you won't have to do massive public crackdowns like Tiananmen Square. Anyone who looks like a subversive can be tracked and almost constantly monitored.

How do you translate Nacht und Neber into Mandarin?

[logic]

Sorry, with a country that old I should have specified. "In modern times" the Chinese have not been known for inventiveness. It is more the Asian culture to "fit in" and "conform" that does not promote inventiveness as the western culture does.

[The Pheonix]

RE youe post # 78

Yes, good point, the Philipines is strategically important for the control of the Pacific in times of war

But in view of the fact that the US has enough nuclear might (superiority) to vaporize the whole of China, this alone will make the Chinese think twice before they even dare to dream of world conquest

[Enemy Of The State]

"Strength of ownership is never 100%. It's stronger in the US than in many other places, where at least you don't have to worry about "war veteran" squatters coming onto your land and taking it over"

Very true, I was just using my statement to make a light point.

"(although spotted owl squatters are a separate worry)"

lol...well, spotted owls may be on the endangered species list but I think the squatters may be an open season item :)

[Quix]

Sadly, I don't think the mass exodus of westerners and their money would occur.

I was rather appalled at the rush back and the lingering that occurred with the first Tienanmen.

But actually, I think the Chinese have learned a lot from the first experience.

I think now, they'd bring out the water canon and remove people with a minimum of deaths if at all possible.

Now if it became a war between the army and armed guerillas . . . who knows. But it's not exactly easy for nonarmy folks to get arms . . . unless you're mafia types.

[wbill]

With all the single men and no wives, there's a biiiig army.

If this turns out to be the case, and I agree with you that it will, one of two things will happen:

Homosexuality will run rampant and they'll implode - or - they'll look to other sources for women and explode.

What do you think a population gender imbalance of 60-40 men to women (or worse) would be like?

[Quix]

I underestimated western Greed after the first Tienanmen.

Greed easily and quickly won out over values about freedom. I suspect nowadays, it's even worse.

[Enemy Of The State]

You're certainly right about the security cameras in China, They are everywhere. The last time I went to the forbidden city I pointed several of them out to a few of my friends that I was visiting in Beijing. They didn't even know that they were cameras, they just thought they were some kind of light.

"How do you translate Nacht und Neber into Mandarin?"

You will first have to translate that into English for me. I dont speak any German. :)

[logic]

Don't forget 'as they march to the middle east'....

[Enemy Of The State]

You might have a point there.

Certainly, the CCP did learn a lot after the first blood-bath, if anything it was probably how to be a little more non-chalant about carrying out such actions.

They may break out the water canons, but I'd be willing to bet that those same people getting hosed would conveniently disappear sooner or later.

[logic]

"Whim decisions at the top can still result in arbitrary deaths from the top down to the lowest rice paddy."

And that's different that the Reno Justice Department how?

Remember Waco!! (we forgot the Alamo)

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

...The surplus Philipine men can be transferred to the sugar cane plantations...

Or sent into the next really hostile spot as the first wave.
Or the ones with potential could be trained as riot police back home in Beijing.

...Mugabe would welcome the Chinese if they would guarantee him a few more years in power, in exchange for the Chinese taking final possession...

Ah, the same deal as Klinton seemed to be looking for.