10/13/2018

Unfair trading practices versus Unequal Treaties

The Americans are accusing China and other trading partners of unfair trade practices. And using this excuse the Americans have launched a trade war with all their trading partners and targeting China as their number One enemy.
 

How unfair are the trade practices of China? How would these so called unfair trade practices compare to the Unequal Treaties imposed on China after the Opium Wars and Sino Japanese War? Any of the Americans remember what were these Unequal Treaties and how fair or unfair they were to China? But before these Unequal Treaties, do they remember the wars of conquest, colonization of people and countries and imposing their will on the colonized people, looting and plundering these countries into poverty, robbing their land and natural resources and the dignity of the conquered and colonized people?
 

Since the Europeans left their shores to colonise and control the rest of the world, since the end of WW2, all the rules governing international trade were dictated by the West and subsequently by the Americans. The Americans and the West controlled the UN, IMF, World Bank and many international organizations to dictate rules for the rest of the world. They imposed sanctions and restrictions on what they want to buy and sell on the rest of the world. They set all the terms of agreements in their favour. Note, all the rules and regulations and treaties were dictated by the West and the Americans. And during the days of colonial rule and unequal treaties, the terms were forced on the other side under duress and threats of war. And the rest of the world, including China, has to abide and play by these rules. They imposed their will on China with stringent and unfair terms to join the WTO, the UN and any organization they controlled, and often banned China from organizations they did not want China to participate, like space technology and exploration.
 

Given the fact that the Americans were the ones that were dictating terms on international trade and international relations, how can these terms be favourable to China and unfair to the Americans? Are the Americans so stupid, so altruistic, so generous, to China and the rest of the world? China was isolated by the Americans for decades. The Americans are still doing it to China in many areas, and to countries like Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and many other countries they demonized as enemies.
 

The economic downfall of the USA is due to unfair practices, unfair practices imposed on the Americans by China and the rest of the world and China and the rest of the world are to be blamed for this?
 

On the other hand, China and the rest of the world were the underdogs. And when China signed trade or infrastructure building agreements with the rest of the world, these were done on a willing buyer willing seller basis, on terms negotiated by equals, with the best negotiators from both sides. These agreements by China and other countries were not done at gun point like the West and the Americans used to do when they conquered and colonized people/states.
 

Today, all the little countries are liberated and independent countries except the semi colonies of the USA and some colonies of European powers. South Korea and Japan are still victims of unequal treaties imposed on them by the Americans, demanding the right to station troops in their countries and controlling their armed forces. Same as in several Middle East countries. The independent countries today are helmed by highly politicized, smart and nationalistic leaders. Would these leaders signed agreements with China under pressure and to their disadvantage? Would the brilliant American trade negotiators/gangsters sign unfair trade agreements with China, under pressure because China is more powerful than the Americans? Could China dictate trading terms with the Americans in favour of China and Americans willingly agree to unfair trade practices when they are in charge, in control of everything, the world's biggest hegemon?
 

The facts, all the trading rules and terms were dictated by the Americans and the Chinese were price takers of such unfair agreements, often biased and in favour of the Americans. How valid is the claim of Donald Trump and his gangsters in Washington that China is imposing unfair trade practices or taking advantage of unfair trade practices on the Americans?
 

This is exactly like the saying, a thief shouting thief. China and the rest of the world are playing by the rules set by the Americans, under the American world order, living under Pax Americana, the Evil Empire.

34 comments:

Virgo49 said...

Anon 9.11 waited every morning for Mr.RB's post and be the first to attack him. Today's surprising he cursed why Redbean posted at this time as he usually posted around 8 plus.

Raining lah, good to sleep so posted a bit later lah.

First comment from him, an Americunt Stooge in addition to being a Punki And Pundek Stooge of Sinkieland with blond hair and tinted blue lens pretending to be a chow ang moh sucked his beloved Americunts heros pricks.

Hainese saying "Lan Boh TiLan, Kue bohti Kue"

Many of his kind WOGs are like Humans not like humans and devils not like Devils.
In literary translation.

Anonymous said...

Uncle RB, please write more anti Americunt posts. We are Asians, not colonised slaves of the Americunt and the west.

Thank you.

Titiana Ann Xavier said...

The days of Unequal Treaties are over. China's two centuries of humiliation by the Whites is history. Colonial powers like Great Britain and France are mere vassal states of Uncle Sam today. As China rejuvenates, it arouses more apprehension and causes Uncle Sam to become more aggressive. The Trade War, FON, QUAD, etc., revealed warmongers are on the march. A new Dark Age is appearing on the horizon as Uncle Sam struggles to maintain its hegemony and establishes a new world order.

Anonymous said...

RB, you should delete the first comment because he is basically SPAMMING your hardwork and he does not contribute to the discussion except to dismiss it as boring. His intention is obvious.

Anonymous said...

OK, first comment deleted.

Anonymous said...

Now, the MSM is demonising China as colonising Africa as striking fear among countries receiving development aid for infrastructure projects.

Did China attached strings like asking such countries to allow them to have military bases for such aids? How many military bases have China been given for such aids?

When the Whites give aid, it means allowing them total economic control via IMF, World Bank or military bases exerting military power projection to create tensions all over the world.

When the whites gave aids, what kind of projects did they gave Africa, South America and Middle East? Besides dictating terms over Middle East oil, colonising and enslaving the blacks in Africa and stealing lands that belong to others, what benefits have they brought to Africa and Middle East?

All the time they are using the stealing of technology by China as basis for putting China down? Do the whites also steal? Stealing land is not stealing? Trump has been accused of using music by Prince without permission. That is not stealing then what is it? Removing Saddam Hussein and taking Iraq's oil is not stealing?

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ basics of history lah:

China was a trading nation thousands of tears before America even existed lah. Plus they still have many aspects of their "old culture" to guide them. Some of it works, some of it doesn't.

Even before they had WTO membership, China was producing and trading, and they were already well on the road to wealth creation and nation building.

Trade has always been a sensitive matter, and an area of contention between nations. The breakdown in trade often leads to war. When Singapore was Syonan-To (Light of the Southern Island), it was because the Japs were expanding and could not get a "good deal" on getting the resources they needed because, according to them, we, the idiot Asians had allowed western colonial powers to dominate our economies and shoving Japan aside.

So this "drama" is hardly a "new thing", if you look to history. And also the finding that human behaviour is reasonably predictable in many contexts.

Whoever said...

I see the only way forward for mankind to exist as man-kind (as a man who has kindness) on this Planet Earth is first to be UNKIND.

What does it mean to be UNKIND? It means to have a TOTAL ALL-OUT WAR ( NUCLEAR WAR). Whoever survived, after the total destruction and annihilation, will think very carefully never to have weapons of mass destruction again and never try to control and dominate others.

PEACE and CO-EXISTENCE would be the key Guiding Principles in practice (I hope).

However, man has very short memory. Thus after a few hundred years, the evil in the man will take over again. That's why I think ultimately man will destroy himself.

Thus man has no future'

A greater form of life, which I presume exists, will ultimately proliferate in the Universe, but not man.

Anonymous said...

Activists on Jeju island, one of South Korea’s most popular tourist destinations are protesting this weekend against an armada of warships from 10 countries , including the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan from the United States, describing its visit as an act of colonial hypocrisy.

The peace activists said they would continue protesting over the weekend while the fleet review at Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port is open to the public to see ships from Singapore , India, Australia and Canada.

Read more at https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2168417/jeju-jittery-us-warship-visit-reminds-islanders-dark-chapter

Anonymous said...

It all boils down to greed. Wealth, power, ego are all manifestation of greed.

After each reboot, life begins again and the same affliction will manifest itself. They destroy themselves deluded by the perception that life will always get better the more we progress. But there will always be someone who wants to take all and destroy all others and what do they do? Invent weapons of destruction that will destroy others but ended up destroying themselves.

Anonymous said...

During the 1930s, both Japan & Germany were whacked with "unfair & unequal" trading treaties and practices.

They played a critical catalyst in Nazi Germany's approach to annexing/conquering neighbouring countries for "lebensraum", and Japan's "co-prosperity sphere" to invade oil-rich & commodity-rich SE Asia and East Asia and the connecting sea lanes.

So I say there will be a major war in the 2020s --- definitely within the next 10 years.

BUY. WAR. STOCKS.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ Whoever 156

I see that you are of the belief that humans are some how "special".

>> PEACE and CO-EXISTENCE would be the key Guiding Principles in practice (I hope) <<

Not likely. Going to war with each other is one of the most important drivers of the development of the human species. No one knows why, and the explanations are bound to involve complexity theory...ideas which haven't been investigated or discovered yet.

>> That's why I think ultimately man will destroy himself. <<

No species, not even mankind is so "special" that it has any natural right...or any other type of made-up right to exist forever. We are just one more species on the Tree Of Life, and like other species will evolve and go extinct. Current findings in the data suggest that: Everyday 100-200 species of LIFE go extinct. So at some time in the future, we will too. We don't have to "destroy ourselves". We will eventually die out due to completely natural processes. Of course, we could still destroy ourselves and save nature a lot of time and effort. 😂🤣

@332:

>> The peace activists said they would continue protesting over the weekend while the fleet review at Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port is open to the public to see ships from Singapore , India, Australia and Canada. <<

By next week, it's all forgotten and business as usual in SE Asia, with American business leading the way. Most folks in SE Asia are more concerned that the US Fed's tightening is going to cause more immediate damage more than an few boats playing "masak-masak" war games like school children playing "police and thief".

@ 340

>> They destroy themselves deluded by the perception that life will always get better the more we progress. <<

By looking at the data, GENERALLY SPEAKING life gets better the more our species PROGRESSES. Yes, with every BENEFIT there are COSTS and TRADE OFFS. Negative feelings tend to skew the judgment in the negative direction. That means we feel WORSE about the costs of progress, than BETTER about its benefits. This is just human nature. We think are feelings are somehow "real" and that we can use them to accurately judge what reality is all about.

Fact is, feelings are generally useless as metrics.

Anonymous said...

Even India citizens protest against drinking NE water !


“Are we third-rate citizens, that we should be fed treated sewage while industries in Bengaluru get Cauvery river water?” asks Anjaneya Reddy.


https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/a-parched-land-in-a-sea-of-sewage/article25208558.ece

Anonymous said...

Pakistan has rejected Western media's recent reporting on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), terming it incorrect information based on distorted facts and one-sided opinion.

The country's Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform said in a statement that Pakistan has opted for Chinese investment under CPEC due to the favorable financing arrangements.

It added that China stepped forward to support Pakistan's development at the time when foreign investment had dried up, and economic activities were being crippled by energy shortages and infrastructure gaps.

The ministry categorically denied that CPEC is imposing any immediate burden with respect to loans repayment and energy sector outflows, adding that the corridor's outflows would start from the year 2021 and spread over 20 to 25 years with a maximum in the year of 2024 and 2025.

The CPEC has brought investment opportunities to Pakistan, and the resultant benefits of these investments to the country's economy would far outweigh these outflows, the ministry said.
CPEC finances are divided in government to government loans, investment and grants. Infrastructure sector is being developed through interest free or government concessional loans.

Clearing the air on Western media's propaganda on Gwadar Port, the ministry said that the port is grant-based investment, and the country does not have to pay back the invested amount for the development of the port.

The ministry said that energy projects are being executed under Independent Power Producers (IPPs) mode and finances are mainly taken by the private companies from China Development Bank and China Exim Bank against their own balance sheets, therefore, any debt would be borne by the Chinese investors instead of any obligation on part of the Pakistani government .

Titiana Ann Xavier said...

Western predatory colonial policies created many untold humanitarian disasters. In the 19th Century, the British began a brisk trade of selling opium to China and terribly undermined Chinese society and government. Entire generations of Chinese perished in a narcotic haze. The Opium War broke out and ended with China being forced to sign and accept crippling terms offered by Great Britain euphemistically known only as Unequal Treaties. The Qing Emperor was weak then. Today Uncle Sam is making demands and threats against China. The New China is no easy meat. It is prepared for a protracted war.

Anonymous said...

One would thought Ravi veloor an editor with colonial straits settlement legacy ,a state controlled English newspapers here, a strong advocate of China threat theory should be sleeping well knowing his dream military alliance Quad will be having a huge naval exercise right in the heart of south China seas next month. Even Taiwan might take part. But India prime minister is signing deals worth hundreds of millions buying lots Russian weapons and arms much to his disappointment apparently. This despite the risk of US sanctions. India top army general also cited the importance of having the independence for India to decide who it wants weapons from.

Wow the editor talked Thucydides trap so cheem. Then used Kissinger words to attack China 'the Chinese are just as dangerous as Russian. In fact more dangerous over historical period ' .


Anonymous said...

If you wiki Thucydides trap it talks about possible war between a rising and an existing power. Evey aspects discussed objectively from a third party standpoint. If your article keeps making country x synonymous with aggressiveness then pointless to write about Thucydides trap and push for military alliance against country . To the China perspective the question is what is a US sailing into my island 12 nautical miles versus Ravi veloo stance of pro US freedom of navigation . Can one say the author has trapped himself now trying to free himself now that the mood is jingoistic in US info pacific command in his words.

b said...

Ah Long made use of free trade to pay himself millions while sinkies slave all day long.

Cannot wait to see how President Trump kick the ass of Ah Long and all those eu leaders that colluded with the communists.

Anonymous said...

Every country whether it's India or China would never subject itself ' abject debasement or wholesale capitulation to use demands' in his words, as India prime minister has shown in his decision to continue purchase of Iranian oil and Russian arms despite US sanctions on Iran and China.

Anonymous said...

Of course he has freedom of expression and he is writing for Singapore audience. Would his stance still be same if his articles is meant for India audience? India media is privatised more freedom for him to write freely. He also wrote that countries are rushing away from taking sides his quad countries alliance like Australia India Japan .

Still before his acknowledgemen that the country C cannot be contained in a very very short sentence he must remind Singaporeans that Japan has a indo pacific strategy for quality infrastructure development and Abe is trying to stress that is not aimed at country C. The key word is indo pacific a term coined US military as in indo pacific command to lure India into this alliance to contain country C.

Future Historian said...

Since the US has troops deployed in South Korea, China should begin to deploy troops in North Korea and the surrounding islands.

In addition, China should start exerting her claim on the Okinawa islands. And follow the US style by sending her navy to 12 nautical miles of the Okinawa islands and Guam. Both can play the same game.

Then see how the US reacts.

老龙 said...

New Fart //The Americans are accusing China and other trading partners of unfair trade practices. And using this excuse the Americans have launched a trade war with all their trading partners and targeting China as their number One enemy. //


@ Virgo49 October 13, 2018 12:01 pm
//The Chinese has been slapped with so many Unfair Treaties by the Whites and even the Japs for far too long.//




(Young) BRO Virgo49,

Most if not all of the POTUS attempted economic incarceration of China's trade practices are at best illegitimate and at worst unrecognisable abomination that bore no resemblance to the principle of free trade encapsulated in David Ricardo's Theory of Comparative Advantage. Neither does it exude any resonance advocated in contemporary free trade principles such as encompassed in Paul Krugman's NTT (New Trade Theory) which won him the Nobel Prize in the 21st century (2008).

In recent years, BREXIT and BREXIT+++ have been seen as historical turning points in the receding tide of globalisation and the last 2 years of unwarranted brutal assault on China's trade practices and invoking of rare Constitutional Acts such as 301 to seek the remotest excuse to browbeat China in bilateral trade is inexplicably risible, farcical and absurb.

Through POTUS singular, obstinate, unjustified, unprovoked trade war on China and the instituting of mounting tariff walls on uncountable list of imported goods from China and many other nations, this possibly sounded the beginning of the death knell of globalisation and free trade which reached its height at the end of the last century. The continued increase in tariffs and further threats inevitably is moving closer and faster than anyone could imagined towards driving the final nails into the coffin of free trade and globalisation. Indeed, the recent rout in global stock market may just be early warning sign of how much the current world order is closer in slipping into a moribund state and it may NOT be premature to draft its obituary to be used in future eulogy at its eventual passing?

So far, the POTUS arguments for commencing its trade war with China has been one of the most asinine if not the most the world has ever witnessed in recent years and utterly preposterous and devoid of any cogent substantiation nor logical basis. As in the account of Thucydides' Peloponnesian War, something that started innocuously could engulf the whole world in a ginomous ball of flame eventually. World War One started on that note and events quickly spinned out of control.

If the world eventually slipped into military conflict with its provenance emanating from POTUS irresponsible and inexcusable actions, it could go down in historical annal as the biggest travesty of what human civilisation stands for.

Anonymous said...

RCEP is bad news for Trump's trade war

ASEAN & Asia-Pacific ministers Saturday reaffirmed their joint determination to secure a regional wide trade agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), by end 2018. The meeting concluded with joint statement vowing to complete agreement & securing themselves against "uncertainties in global trade," namely those created by US.

Negotiations on RCEP have stretched over 6 years but Trump's aggressive trade actions have now given participants strong impetus to finalize it. With RCEP standing to create world's largest trading bloc, with China itself a member, not only does this illustrate lack of real enthusiasm for US's economic warfare within the region, but also it sets stage for long-term failure in US's strategy against China.

Despite differences, hastened progress on RCEP talks reflects reality amongst participants that economic ties with China and expanding free trade are essential to region's growth & success. There seems to be consensus that free trade must be secured against rising protectionism and that US should not be allowed to derail it. Hence, not one nation involved, even if it has robust ties with US, has any desire to forfeit the deal or resist China's participation.

Even close-US ally Japan has acknowledged this reality. Mutual trade fears over Trump have dulled tensions between the 2 countries, with a recent foreign ministry official stating that Tokyo, in contrary to Washington's expectations, won't engage in economic warfare against Beijing.

This spells bad news for US. It shows any talk of "building a trade coalition," often repeated by western media, is overhyped and non-starter, as well as revealing flaws & miscalculations at core of Trump's strategy.

If China is on verge of securing a free trade agreement with all of Asia, which brings together the world's fastest-growing economies, as well as establishing the largest trading bloc ever created, where does that leave Washington? Trump clearly didn't think about this. He had perfect chance to shape a US-led regional economic order through the ill-fated Trans-Pacific Partnership, yet he scrapped it.

Trump wants to bully nations into making distance with China, but RCEP deal substantially reduces his leverage and proves he has limited ability to do so in Asia-Pacific, affirming broader message that even if some nations share Washington's concerns, they have no appetite for unilaterally-led economic aggression which benefits nobody.

Yet it does not end there. With Asia-Pac set to evolve into the core of global economy, RCEP's advance creates sense of inevitability that any short-term damage dealt by US simply can't last, nor change moving tides of history. The partnership ensures China's lasting access to world's largest emerging markets, including India, Vietnam, and Indonesia. It binds growth of participants together and offers a common path to prosperity.

Thus, whilst Trump may coerce a few nations into accepting "poison pill" clauses, infringing their sovereignty and maliciously prohibiting them from making agreements with China, Asia stands as an enormous hole in his strategy. Ultimately, there's nothing he can muster up which can match the size, long-term potential or prosperity of RCEP.

Therefore, when we are looking at potential outcomes of US and China "trade war", we should analyze it from long-term perspective. Time is on Beijing's side, not Washington's. Don't believe Trump's hyperbole that China is desperate for deal; the war itself is being waged because US fears its era of unipolarity is coming to an end.

He can bully Canada, Mexico and possibly even Europe, but what he cannot do is convince wider Asia that economic warfare against China is somehow in their best interests, or ultimately prevent creation of the world's largest trade agreement, which will yet change the scope of the region.

alak said...

American author John Perkins has exposed how the US cheats countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars in the era of globalisation. US international enterprises convince poor countries to accept huge development loans and ensure the projects are contracted to US companies. Once a poor country is engulfed in enormous debts that cannot be paid back, the US admin demands more favours such as access to natural resources, military cooperation and political support to give it more time or development loans to repay the debt.
There is a lot of intrigue, greed and corruption linking the US admin and US corporations on how to steal from unsuspecting African and other poor countries.

Anonymous said...

Author of "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man (EHM)" claims to have played a role in an alleged process of economic colonisation of Third World countries on behalf of what he portrays as a cabal of corporations, banks and the US government.
EHMs are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe of trillions of dollars. They funnel money from the world bank,the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and other foreign "aid" organisations into the coffers of huge corporations and the pockets of a few wealthy families who control the planet's natural resources.
Their tools include fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex and murder. They play a game as old as empire, but one that has taken on new and terrifying dimensions during the time of globalisation.

Anonymous said...

@ 1136 pm:

"Their tools include fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex and murder. They play a game as old as empire, but one that has taken on new and terrifying dimensions during the time of globalisation."

Sounds familiar in Sinkieland too. The Pepper And Pigs are not much different, except murder takes the form of character assassination.

Anonymous said...

And extortion takes the form of law suits via the courts.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Thanks alak and anon 11:36pm for highlighting those facts. Unfortunately the silly bananas would not want to know and would keep believing that the Americans are angels.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ 1136

I highly recommend "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" to folks who like me adhere to the Follow The Money "meta-idea" on trying to figure out why humans---especially those in power, and who need constant "funding" to remain in or grow their power---do what they do.

Global corporations, especially Americans, and big banks from all cuntries consistently skew The Game in their favour, and no dirty trick is off the table.

I am morally agnostic on whether it is the US, China, India or Singapore's Temasek and GIC (in the 1980's it was Japan) doing the "economic hit" in terms of foreign investment or loans for infrastructure. The moment sovereign states accept Other People's Money, that imposes an OBLIGATION on them; the impact of the financial obligation being proportionate to the amount of money involved and the terms agreed upon. Usually it is heavily biased in the direction of the LENDER---who usually is looking for at least a 3x return on their investment. (IMO, around 5x+ would be the norm, because hey, in case you haven't noticed, GREED is a superb motivator for human behaviour)

Like I say, I'm amoral about all this, having seen it happen with my own eyes when I was working in some of these cuntries. I don't give a shit who is corrupt, who gets assainated or what shithole village gets bulldozed for oil and natural resources, or infrastructure. If your culture is so fucked up that your nation cannot generate a stable, transparent POLITICAL SYSTEM, then you deserve to be screwed.

Li Ka-Shing tried that shit with Singapore. He came in with lots of money to "invest", but Lee Kuan Yew told Li to FUCK OFF as "We, Singapore have enough of our own money...we don't need yours".

The old-guard PAP was much better in securing the national economic and financial interest of Singapore.

But the old guard is no more. Now we have these "hipsters" running the place with a "global outlook". I would say there is DANGER and OPPORTUNITY ahead, for many years to come. You might want to consider which side of the trade you want to be. 🤣

Me? I follow the money. Morality is too expensive. Amorality is much better and requires less feeling and a lot less "analysis-paralysis".

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Matilah, you may not be interested in morality, amoral. Different people/nation puts different value at different levels of importance. There are also things like national pride and dignity.

Yao Ming, the Chinese basketball player, would not accept any offer from Japan, no matter how high is the price, to advertise Japanese products. The Japanese have tried for years, but a big NO.

You know why? There are certain values that cannot be quantified in monetary terms but very important to a people/nation state.

Singapore has lost this and would forever be like flotsam, duckweed.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ RB

>> There are certain values that cannot be quantified in monetary terms but very important to a people/nation state. <<

Yes I know. They are welcome to their world view, and they are free to choose their own "sacrifices" so they can wave the flags of patriotism in all our faces, and "virtue signal" how morally superior they are. 😂

I actually enjoy it when people come out with tear-jerking nationalism because it provides me comic relief. If globalisation has a funny side, the flag-waving patriot is the comedian/clown sent to entertain us. 🤩

>> Singapore has lost this and would forever be like flotsam, duckweed. <<

That's nothing new to me. For about 16 years my monicker has been "Matilah Singapura". Back in the early days, many folks COMPLETELY MISUNDERSTOOD what my epithet meant. They mistaking assumed that I was wishing DEATH on Singapore---my perennial favourite Hotel in all the world, my home away, my awesome-rocking getaway, my city of wanton lust, money-making and gluttony. In short, I love Hotel Singapore.

No, Matilah Singapura was based on one simple observation: THE CULTURE, or rather the changing culture. Politics spontaneously emerges from culture...i.e. it is an Emergent Property..

The strength of CHARACTER in the culture overall, will ultimately be the DESTINY of that nation.

Suffice it to say---even you might agree in certain contexts---Singapore---i.e. the nation and its peoples---is slowly falling apart, although the overall WEALTH is astounding and continues to grow.

Hence, I am morally agnostic. One lil' ol' me is POWERLESS to stop the collective actions of millions of Singaporeans. All I can do is take full advantage of the present awesomeness, and wait for the time where there is blood in the streets, an buy cheap cheap 🤣

Anonymous said...

Flex military muscles, then negotiations and make deals. That is what US is doing now.

The media in Taiwan has said US would allow Taiwan to take part But not allowed to fire the first shot should any incidents happen. Right at the very sensitive, narrow Taiwan straits. Such provocative moves are not surprising coming from the mother of all hawks ,whether trade or military in the President Trump advisers.
President Duterti of Philippines has said his country will not be taking part in this major exercise to exert US naval supremacy.

Sailing into 12 nautical miles of disputed islands by will warships from both sides defending their respective interests. Sparks will fly before any negotiations would take place between the two juggernauts of nations .

Anonymous said...

Abe is visiting China, much to the annoyance to those advocates of Quad alliance and the secondary and and smaller partners ,Japan and China are drawing closer. Japan security so intertwined with US for seventy years but it could be a watershed decision for Japan as this exercise might trigger Asia war.