Tianyan天眼, Sky Eye, a glass platform hanging over the cliff in Zhangjiajie

 

Long and winding road to the Tianyan. Alternative is to go up by cable cars.

This is the Tianyan, Sky Eye, a glass platform hanging over the cliff. The floor of the platform is transparent glass.

Our feet on the transparent glass floor.

Mountain climbing along the edges of the mountains.

This is the glass passage on the mountain side. It is about 20 metres in length.

China's 5th gen J35A in Pakistan in August 2025

 China is rewarding Pakistan with 5th gen J35A fighter jets. This is a super jet, like a super car, the Ferrari. The American F35 is a MPV, built as a multi purpose jet, good for nothing specific, a bloated chicken floating in the sky. The J35A is a real game changer in many ways, not the freak F16s claimed to be game changer in Ukraine, and not the dud Rafales that got shot down without knowing it.

This is Pakistan's deja vu moment, the same moment India had when they received the Rafales. India then thought they had it all, the best fighter jet in world, and was the number one air power in Asia, fearless, can take down anything in the PLAAF, and Pakistan Air Force was chicken feat. India's next deja vu moment would be when they discard all the Rafales and get refund from the French if they are able to do so.

When the J35A arrives in Pakistan, a 5th gen stealth aircraft, they could fly all over India without being seen. This would be like adding wings to the Pakistan tiger. With J10s and JF17s, India is clueless and hapless against Pakistan. Now with J35As, Pakistan would have air superiority in South Asia. They already have with all the Rafales grounded.

What would India do next? Is there any fighter jet that is better than the J35A available? Don't bother with the fat lady called F35. No match. Actually, there is no air superiority aircraft available today that can come near to the J35A. Even if India has the money, there is no seller, no better aircraft to sell to India to take on the J35A. 

This is a master stroke by China, to give Pakistan the best fighter jet of the day. The consolation for Modi is to cry to Trump for the dud F35, provided Trump is willing to sell. The Americans do not trust Modi with the F35s knowing his relationship with Putin and what India is capable of. Trump has a good understanding of Modi, with Modi whispering to him about China, Russia and BRICS, selling out friends behind their backs. Giving F35s to the Indians is a highly risky proposition. But the Americans would also be put under pressure to do something for India to want to pull India on their side.

The world would be watching how trustworthy and reliable the Americans are to their war ally India. The Americans cannot leave the Indians in the lurch, in the cold and begging for help. The Americans would have to up the ante, to do better than what China is doing for Pakistan. China is telling the world that it is willing to give its allies the best fighter jets for their own defence with no string attached.

On China's side, Pakistan is the best salesman for Chinese weapons. China is also in a way throwing the gauntlet at the Americans. Give the F35s to the Indians and let's fight it out in another India Pakistan War 2.0, with the J35 versus the F35 to settle the issue, which aircraft is the best. This is a challenge from China. China is not going to restrain the Pakistanis from using the J35A in a war with India. 

Would the Americans dare to offer the F35s to the Indians to take on the J35A that they claimed were a lesser aircraft than their world best monster the F35s?

USA will soon be facing a food security issue

The USA will soon be facing a food security issue, with farmers going out of business due to China migrating its agricultural needs to Brazil, Argentina, Russia and soon Indonesia. From a net exporter of agricultural products, the USA is now moving closer to being a net importer of agricultural produce, or food that it needs. Do not say that this is impossible. Myanmar was at one time called the rice bowl of Southeast Asia but is now a pale shadow as a rice producer dominated now by Thailand and Vietnam.
The desperation of USA farmers can be seen by them trying to enter the Chinese market by falsifying origins of its soya bean shipments (USA consumers do not need) as being from Brazil and Argentina. China is stamping this out in co-operation with Brazil and Argentina.

China, with one fifth of the world's population, is producing two thirds of the world's aquaculture, with fish farms located right in desert areas. And China is also becoming the world leader in production of 'caviar' from their breeding of the sturgeon fish. Call it just science fiction and impossible, but true. Now this is another area that China will soon be accused of having overcapacity in aquaculture. In other words, China should now be self-sufficient in seafood, with no fear of sabotage by countries trying to contaminate the waters around China. It will be karma if they poisoned themselves instead.

China is expanding its agriculture sector as well, with land reclaimed from deserts adding to its arable land for growing crops. USA citizens having access to Rednote are asking why groceries in China are so cheap and plentiful. The reality speaks for itself and no need to counter the propaganda that have been instilled in the minds of USA citizens for decades. Just a matter of opening up their minds to the truth, thanks to Tik Tok and Rednote.


Anonymous

Trump's tariff war was conceived when he worked up from the wrong side of his bed

 How long has China been planning all this? Not yesterday I believe, but maybe thirty years ago. Did the USA see it coming? Not thirty years ago, but they did, oh yes, just yesterday.

That is what I mean when I say the USA leaders see no further than their noses. Everything beyond the nose is immaterial until the shit hits the fan. Trying to decouple from China with ideas just realized yesterday is a tad too late Donnie. What about going back to prepare for it, before firing the tariff salvo. At least make certain it is workable first before trying.

Now Trump is upping his tariffs on steel and the EU already is talking about retaliation. The show is getting uglier by the day. But even the EU is testing the market in the Global South now. Who cares about two failing steel manufacturers coming together to prop each other up and needing crutches to move ahead?

Trump had earlier vehemently opposed the merger of Nippon Steel with US steel citing National Security Issues, but is now touting how great the wonderful, beautiful, glorious merger will be for Nippon Steel and US Steel and even needing a 50% tariff against imports now. What are manufacturers in USA going to say when steel prices start to rise. Everything made in USA, cars, planes, ships, rockets, consumer products all require steel and when prices rise, things are going to get expensive. MAGA supporters can clap and cheer, but they are going to foot the bill.

Anonymous

Evil Americans endless pretext for war...and being loved by the stupid Anglophiles in Asean

When Russia and China were not that friendly, and the USA and China were still not at loggerheads, Russia was the only major enemy that the USA vis a vis NATO was facing. Therefore, Russia had to remain the whipping boy for NATO to continue to exist. But the provocations against Russia went too far off tangent and that pushed Russia towards China. This was not part of the agenda, and the war-mongering game had now to be pivoted towards the South China Sea.

When China became a peer competitor thirty years ago, and seen to be teaming up with Russia, the game had to be changed. The USA had to pivot to contain China as well, hence the use of Taiwan and South China Sea issues were worked into its agenda on the pretext of claiming that China had been provoking others around the South China Sea. Was there a war going on between China and Taiwan or other Asian countries? South China Sea territorial disputes had been around for ages without much fanfare until the USA steps in.

Much effort had been made to pry apart the alliance between Russia and China ranging from economics to military issues. That has not succeeded thus far, and I believe China is not trying any more to musk its direct support for Russia economically, though not so apparent militarily like North Korea.

Had the USA succeeded to pry Russia away from China, Russia will probably be in NATO by now and the Ukraine War will thus be over. But Putin probably is too astute to fall into a trap once the China issue is settled. New issues will be created to make Russia into the proverbial punching bag once again, knowing that Russia can always rise to compete with the USA. The USA needs to create an enemy to be used to rally its doggies, cronies and allies to sustain its Military Industrial Complex.

To pivot to its new agenda, NATO has to find a way to expand its reach to Asia to confront China to ensure its relevance and continuity Do we now realize why NATO is expanding into Asia, setting up base in Japan? Think about that!

The USA has lost much influence in South America; too late to have any influence in Central Asia, now in the hands of Russia and China; has lost credibility in Africa after the fiasco of inviting African leaders to Washington by Joe Biden just for a photoshoot, and being given the cold shoulder and being promised chicken wings amounting to US$7 miserable millions each to develop digital infrastructure in all of Africa. Now, the USA has also lost ASEAN, with Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia joining BRICS. USA defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is now selling snake oil at the Shangri-la Hotel, trying to flog a dead horse by castigating China. Why repeat the mantra that the USA is not seeking a war with China when the obvious is about to happen?


Anonymous