1/16/2022

Should China continue to be the faceless meek Chinaman?

 The recent change in China's foreign policy, from behaving like the faceless meek Chinaman, head bowed and quietly moving along doing his own things, letting people kicked and slapped and pretended that nothing happened, just to be safe and to avoid trouble, to the 'Wolf Warrior' policy, standing up to return a slap with a slap, a kick with a kick, at least to maintain a bit of manhood and dignity has seen some critics and opposition even in China.

There were many reasons, valid reasons, to behave like the meek and faceless Chinaman in the past. Deng Xiaoping had enough wisdom to know that during his time that was about the best policy to buy time to strengthen China in every aspect of nation building. Any attempt to raise the head and look up at the enemy would invite a big knock and back to head bowed and moving along silently.

When Xi Jinping came to power, China was no longer the poor and hapless agrarian country it was before. China had stood up in every field and built enough strength to be a respectable member of the international community. Xi must have made a thorough appreciation of China's ability vis a vis the number one enemy, the USA, before making such a major change in foreign policy. 

Xi is as good as saying enough is enough. China is not going to bow its head and suffer in silence anymore. After seven decades of struggling and hardwork, China now has enough strength to not only stand up but to hit back when attacked. It was a tough choice. Xi could continue with Deng's policy of not getting into trouble, and let the Americans and the West, including little countries in SE Asia to kick China around... and all would be fine. Everyone would be very happy with China, the meek country of 1.3b people but always bent its head to avoid trouble when being kicked or pushed around, or ridiculed. 

Until today, many analysts or politicians are still thinking that that the old ways was the best for China, to avoid trouble, and be the meek and faceless Chinaman that everyone 'loves' to kick around. The critics and skeptics are angry and unhappy and dismissed Xi as being stupid for standing up to the bullies, big and small. How can China stand up and upset everyone? China's place in the world is to remain unseen and unheard, only to be pushed around and kicked around even by small little countries. Doing what Xi had done made many countries and people very unhappy.

This is what Cui Tiankai's keynote speech in Diaoyutai State Guesthouse was all about. China must continue to bide its time, continue to be the faceless and meek Chinaman, not to ruffle feathers, not to make other countries unhappy. China should stay in its little corner, shut up and be a good boy as determined by the big powers and small countries. China has no place in international affairs.

The contrarian view, led by Yang Jiechi, culminating in the 'Wolf Warrior' policy is all about standing up to aggression, standing up tall with pride and dignity. This policy would be indeed foolish, if China did not assess itself, its economic and military might that it is able to stand up to the Americans and the West. China would have been beaten to mince meat if it is still the weak China of the past. It is not. 

The day must come, sooner or later, for China to stand up as an equal of every country in the world. It is a judgement call. And that day when China stood up, it is going to send shock waves around the world. And it has. Xi and his colleagues have decided that China is strong enough to stand up and be a respectable country. The Chinese people have suffered enough humiliation. Every single day of being meek and faceless is one day too much. No respectable people or nation would want to continue to bow its head and move around quietly like non entity in the world, when even small little country could strut around with pride and dignity.

And there would be strong and harsh reactions to a meek Chinaman standing up when he was expected to keep quiet, mind his own business, and to be slapped and turned the other cheek. The new China that would not be kicked around is too much for those that had lived with a China they could kick around. But soon they would get use to it. Soon they would learn that their proper place, their respective place vis a vis China would have to change. The pecking order has changed, must change.

China's standing up to the bullies of the world, big and small, would not be easy and peaceful. Fortunately it is peaceful so far. The timing is crucial. China would have a harder time if the policy change was premature, and China would have been defeated and isolated for good. The fact that China could stand up peacefully is a vindication that Xi has chosen the right time to stand up. The rest of the world, including the Americans understood the strength of the new China. If they think China is no match to them, the evil Americans would be the first to have started a war with China and press down China to where it was before.

Any doubters to Xi's policy of standing up as a respectable country and a world leader needs to have their heads checked. Anyone still thinking that China should go back to the 'good old days' of a faceless and meek Chinaman and think that that is the best for China must be sick, mentally sick and lack of confidence and pride in the new China. China needs to earn its right as the equals of the world and fearing trouble, avoiding trouble would not gain China any respect in a world where might is right.

China has not only proven itself that it is not a weak and meek nation to be kicked around, it is a new world leader taking its rightful place in a troubled and corrupt world that needs to be changed. Xi's time is as perfect as could be. The rest of the bullied world needs a new and upright and fair leader, not a warmongering and bullying terrorist striking fear and oppressing the world to do its bidding. More and more countries would be rallying to the Chinese side as they have had enough of the bullying and oppression of the Americans and the West.

China has risen peacefully and there is no turning back. The Americans and the West know this and trying their meek best to want to contain China and put back China into its little corner, not to be seen or heard, to be the 'good boy', to be bullied and kicked around.

Time has changed, China has changed, the world has changed, the Americans have not changed and still hoping to be the bully of the world. Some minds have not changed and still lack the confidence to be respectable and dignified Chinaman. China must not be the Ah Q anymore, not a single day.

Without Xi's confidence and wisdom to seize the moment, China would still be the punching bag of the Americans and even little countries in SE Asia. Yes, the Americans and the West are hitting back. This is expected. This is not something avoidable or to be feared. Does China still want to be the punching bag? For sure that is the China that the Americans, the West and the little countries in SE Asia want.

No respectable people would want to live a life time being despised as the faceless and meek people the world loves to hate, to be bullied and ignored forever. How could any respectable Chinese still be thinking that China must hide in the corner, not to be seen or heard?

Xi did not make the decision to change out of anger or egoistic pride. It was a carefully calculated move after very serious thoughts and consideration from all angles. To be a world leader, to be respected, China must fight for it fiercely, no need for any apologies.


16 comments:

  1. RB,

    Based on the example of China, it can be equally said about Singaporeans in Singapore today.

    1. No respectable Singaporean would want to live a life time being despised as the faceless, voiceless, subservient and meek people the PAP loves to scold, kick, slap, sue until bankrupt and put under ISA without trial.

    2. No respectable Singaporean has to be hated, to be despised, to be bullied, to be trampled with and to be financially, politically and socially destroyed by the PAP Leedersheep.

    3. No respectable Singaporean has to be made a running dog of the PAP and be allowed only to serve its master like a slave forever.

    4. How could any respectable Singaporean still be thinking that Singaporeans must hide in the corner, not to be seen or heard, and yet have to vote and elect the Dracula, the biggest blood-sucker, to perpetually be the Master and Ruler of your lives for eternity?

    ReplyDelete
  2. The problem with china is Packaging. We all know very well china's capabilities in science and technology in this modern era. We are all in agreement with the fact that china has been bullied for far too long. A hard approach of countering USA mainstream media, is not a good way to fight back, just as an overly meek approach isn't good.

    China need to re-brand itself. It needs a witty (a bit whacky would be ideal) spokesman/men/women, well versed in Western ways of communicating, to deliver the above simple subtle message in a casual nuanced way that appeals to Western audiences.

    China should buy advertising space to bombard the world with its new image. That is to say a slow, calculated and appealing repackaging of its Just causes, with historical basis but yet not descending into presenting boring b&w war clips which Western audiences are tired of. The West dislike things they can't understand, and speaking chinese with subtitles, is not gonna win hearts. China need to reinvent its image to the world and subtlely seek world support from.common folks. If you hv seen Taliban spokesman Abdul Q Balkhi you will be amazed. He speaks perfect Queen's English and he has charisma. This kind of PR over a period of years, not one-off, is crucial to rebranding China to educate the 'savages' of the West. It is better than a hard approach tit-for-tat which achieves nothing but escalates and prolong enmities, and add fuel to the arsenal of extreme politicians of the savage West.

    ReplyDelete
  3. VIENNA: Thousands of people took to the streets of Austria's capital on Saturday (Jan 15) to protest against government plans to introduce mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for all next month.

    "The government must go!" crowds chanted at one rally in central Vienna in what has become a routine Saturday event, every Saturday.

    When will this happen in Singapore every Sunday?

    When will Singaporeans stand up and say that it's time for Ong Ye Kung to go?

    Ong Ye Kung must not be re-elected again?

    ReplyDelete

  4. Hi Anon 10.26

    Anyone seen Orr Yew Tang haughty scorn on Singaporeans that commented on the phrase " Ownself check ownself"?

    Wow seen his true colours so arrogantly with an air of a scorn that's said " Singapore will be in trouble if we ourselves cannot check ourselves with a sense of accountability"

    Really? Oneself check ownself? No cover ups?

    Even their cronies ballcarriers get away with many that the public are in the dark.

    No such incidences?

    Do they dare to say no such incident happened?

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  5. Ong Ye Kung is a true and true COMMUNIST both in mind and in practise.

    From all his actions, as Education Minister, as Transport Minister and now Hell Miniater, he is nothing but a typical power-crazy Communist Dictator! He will stop at nothing, even at the expense of citizens' children's and old folks' lives, in order to get what he wants.

    One clear fact is that he can even betray his own father and mother in order to get into the PAP's inner circle.

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  6. S'pore in trouble if Govt can't ensure public accountability"": Ong Ye Kung , Jan 13

    Laugh die people !

    His ministry hide from Singaporeans the COVID daily figures until the US CDC says COVID-19 level in Singapore 'unknown' !

    "Because the current situation in Singapore is unknown, even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants," the CDC said.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A Wiseman Name Xi Jing Pin is leading China and making the Chinese Tribe to contribute well-being to the World. It is plain and simple that humanity can only live meaningfully when there is peace and prosperity. The World has enjoy much from the World Factory that has being providing affordable tools, from household item to industrial machinery to enhance productivity in all areas for the Past Few Decades. Now, infrastructures such as building, road, rail, bridge and vessel are added in large scale all around the World to better the living for all.
    So, if China and Russia do good to the World and keep the World in peace, everyone will enjoy their existences. There is no need to show power or worse flex it on others.

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  8. Comrade
    Xi Jing Pin
    is a
    Enlightened
    Man.


    ReplyDelete
  9. ‘Strategic surprise’: Australia warned of new China threat in 2022

    A US expert has insiders on high alert after warning that Australia faces a new, specific threat from China “over the next year or two”.

    A US expert has insiders on high alert after warning that Australia faces a new, specific threat from China “over the next year or two”.

    A port in Papua New Guinea? Submarines in the Solomon Islands? Combat aircraft at Kiribati? Australia has been warned to expect a Chinese “strategic surprise” in 2022.

    Washington DC think-tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies established its Australia Chair this week. It’s a position intended to ensure Australia’s voice is heard in US halls of power, policy making and strategic thought.

    “Australia has leapt to the front of the queue in terms of importance and relevance,” the position’s inaugural holder, Dr Charles Edel, said during an online forum held to mark the event earlier this week.

    But White House Indo-Pacific co-ordinator Kurt Campbell stole the show when he alluded to a specific threat “over the next year or two”: new Chinese bases.

    “If you look and if you ask me, where are the places where we are most likely to see certain kinds of strategic surprise – basing or certain kinds of agreements or arrangements, it may well be in the Pacific,” he told a predominantly Australian audience on Tuesday.

    “And we have a very short amount of time, working with partners like Australia, like New Zealand, like Japan, like France, who have an interest in the Pacific, to step up our game across the board.”

    The idea’s not new. But putting a time frame to it is.

    It comes amid mounting concern at Beijing’s growing push to develop ports and airfields among Australia’s closest neighbours. And some attempt at “pushback” has already been made.

    Prime Minister Scott Morrison last year added an extra $500 million to a $3 billion regional infrastructure plan to prove Australia was “a reliable and steady member of the Pacific family”.

    It’s an initiative not lost on Campbell.

    “If you look at the arena on the planet where we have enormous moral, strategic, historical interests where we (Washington DC) have not done enough – and where Australia has done plenty – it is in the Pacific. We’ve got to substantially step up. That means in Covid, that means in fishing, that means in issues associated with investment and clean energy, you can go down the list,” he said.

    “I’m frankly looking to Australia as the lead here. And we as the United States have to be a better deputy sheriff to them in this overall effort.”

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  10. The Whites invented threats, hype up the threats, which the MSM will swallow lock, stock and barrel on receiving the news or fabricated news and China demonisation is ignited.

    When you see two fish fighting in the water, look around and you will see a White men standing nearby, so says the Native American Indians.

    The White men's job is to instigate countries to fight against each other so they can reap the benefits. For a White country like Australia, everything is handed to the USA to conjure on a platter.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Compare with Xi Jinping, ong ye kung is a scum, or worse.

    How can decent and honest Singaporeans accept him as a Minister, let alone a wanna-be Pee Ayam?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Saying 'Ownself checking Ownself is a virtue' can only come out of a distorted mind. It is beneath the dignity of a Minister to utter such a thing.

    No wonder Ownself paying Ownself' had become the norm and therefore also must be a virtue. Please invite all those virtuous working in Banks to dip into the cookies jar and 'Ownself pay Ownself'.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anon 12:27pm,

    Please do not insult the Communist in China. They raised more than 800b Chinese from poverty to moderate prosperity, travelling the world with a lot of money to spend.

    They did not have CPF scheme that burdens their people for life. Their people contribute a pittance to their CPF equivalent scheme but their people enjoy the payout good enough to retire at 55 and enjoy life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The next Government that replaced the PAP must investigate thoroughly and extensively into all the dealings in and of the CPF, with the aim of discovering any abuse, misuse and criminal dealings, as well as any irregularities and discrepancies. And ascertain who were responsible, and bring them to justice.

      Delete
  14. China’s Renminbi Playing Larger Role in Global Trade Settlement as More Countries Shun US Dollar

    After a meeting between Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Wuxi city, East China's Jiangsu Province, the two sides jointly announced the launch of the implementation of a 25-year comprehensive cooperation plan, according to a summary of the meeting published on Saturday on the Chinese Foreign Ministry website.

    While the details of the 25-year cooperation deal are not available, observers expect the strengthened cooperation between the two countries will further boost the status of the Chinese yuan in global trade settlement. The deal is also expected to be beneficial to Iran's much-needed infrastructure, communications and other projects as the country is still under US government sanctions.

    If anything, the 25-year cooperation deal marks a noteworthy example of China's breakthrough in advancing the internationalization of the yuan, with many suggesting there is a lot more progress to be made.

    It is no secret that Tehran has been pursuing various ways to get around the economic sanctioning by the reckless US government, and, the Chinese yuan is one of those alternatives to the US dollar in trade settlement. Iran's central bank has reportedly listed the Chinese yuan as one of the country's main foreign exchange currencies.

    In addition to Iran, other countries such as Russia and Vietnam have also opted to choose the Chinese yuan to settle their trade, an indication that the yuan's internationalization not only suits China's needs but also meets the needs of more countries.

    It remains unclear how Iran's various attempts to circumvent the US sanctions to sell its oil will affect America's petro-dollar hegemony. But it is clear that with the US increasingly relying on its dollar hegemony by abusing sanctions and quantitative easing, more countries in the world have reached a consensus that is resolutely pursuing de-dollarization.

    US dollar-denominated foreign exchange reserve held by central banks stood at $708.14 billion in the third quarter of 2021, hitting the lowest level since 1995, according to a survey released by the IMF.

    In the meantime, China's relatively steady economic development and robust trade with more than 120 countries and regions around the world has laid a solid foundation for the yuan to be accepted by the world trade network. Last year, China's foreign trade volume reached $6.05 trillion, surpassing the $6 trillion mark for the first time, according to data from the General Administration of Customs on Friday.

    Against this backdrop, China's cross-border use of the yuan has seen a steady rise. In the January-November period of 2021, the cross-border use of the yuan among countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) route surged 25 percent year-on-year to 5.1 trillion yuan, while the cross-border use of the yuan among China's neighboring countries was 6.1 trillion yuan, up 23 percent. The yuan has now become the fifth largest payment currency and the fifth largest reserve currency in the world.

    At a time when the US debt and inflation woes has led to diminished confidence in the dollar, the Chinese yuan has seen its status rise in the global arena with China's stable domestic economic growth and the country's capability to control the pandemic. It will be an inevitable trend for China to step up currency settlement cooperation with its trade partners who will refuse to accept the US' economic coercion.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Start buying China stocks in semiconductors, AI, electronic surveillance, EV, battery, rare earth metals, uranium, nuclear energy, and other hard tech.

    Steer clear of soft tech like Alibaba or Tencent or Meituan, unless you're a nimble trader and can in & out quickly.

    PBOC will be flooding China markets with RMB & creating mini quantitative easing to prepare for the 20th CPC National Congress in Oct this year.

    Take advantage of this once in 5 years to get some common prosperity for yourself. Grandpa Xi has given his blessings.

    ReplyDelete