Blinken Qin Gang's Meeting in Beijing

 What are the important takeaways from this Meeting desperately called upon by the Americans but totally disinterested to the Chinese? The media reported that the talks were candid, substantive and constructive but without anything to show.  The other giveaway was a comment by Hua Chunying that hopefully it would rewind the relationship to the meeting between Xi and Biden at Bali.

There were many things unsaid about the Meeting but are more meaningful to describe the relationship between the US and China. The first point is about American behaviour. They stirred up a storm because of a weather balloon to a state of hysteria, shooting it down with a F22 fighter and filled the pages of all American media in the biggest and most sensational circus of 2023, and culminating in cancelling a planned visit in February by Blinken. This was followed by panic station, desperately wanting to make the trip again, preempting any views from China, broadcasting to the world that the trip was on, with or without the agreement and approval of China. What did all these say about American behaviour? A bunch of silly clowns not knowing what is serious and what is clowning.

I think the most important part of this visit is that American preeminence in military power is over. The Americans wanted to continue to provoke China and mess around in the East and South China Seas but are afraid that China would shoot at their warplanes and warships. This kind of fear never exist in the past. The Americans were so arrogant during the Taiwan Strait crisis to sail two aircraft carriers through the Strait to intimidate China with no fear of being attacked and sunk by the PLA. Today this kind of arrogance would be seen as madness. Even stationing the aircraft carriers east of the Philippines did not make them any safer as they would be sitting ducks for the Chinese anti carrier missiles. 

The flying and sailing of warplanes and warships close to Chinese shores are a guarantee for destruction by the Chinese, if a PLA soldier or pilot presses a wrong button. In this Meeting, or a code of conduct for engagement is what the Americans are hoping to get, to protect their trouble making pilots and sailors in Chinese waters and airspace. The time they could stand in front of the Chinese and beat their chests like big bullies is over. The Chinese only need a needle to prick and puncture the bloating arrogance of the Americans.

The Americans may still want to strut around in the western Pacific, but they are now at the mercy of the PLA. Any miscalculation by the PLA would mean terminating the lives of American pilots and sailors. And China has all the reasons to miscalculate, to make errors, to return the favour of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, killing several Chinese embassy staff. Taking down a few American pilots and sailors should be in the Chinese cards and waiting to happen. And the Americans know that the Chinese can do it, and would do it. It is a matter of when, not if.

The Meeting is as good as the Americans admitting that they have lost control of the western Pacific to the Chinese. China is in absolute control of the region by air and by sea, under the sea and above in space. The Americans know this and better take note that they could no longer strut around with impunity.

The Americans needed this Meeting to protect their cowboy gangsters from mishaps and miscalculations by the Chinese. The Chinese are ready to kick their asses and they could not respond like bombing Iraq to the Stone Age. The Chinese would respond in a similar fashion and style should the insane Americans dare to misbehave. This also shows that the Americans already know their place in the western Pacific. All the cries and bravado are for show. There is genuine fear that they would have to bite the dust or drink radio active contaminated waters from the Pacific Ocean.

On the other hand, China does not want to talk to the Americans, knowing that it would be a waste of time. Blinken would have raised the intent of Biden to visit China and hoping for a return visit by Qin Gang to Washington. Both were met with a stony silence. What is the point of a visit by Biden who did not know what is happening, can't remember anything, if any, at best for the Americans' domestic consumption, to raise the stature of Biden and Blinken. Now, read this again. Today, a meeting with Xi or a visit by a Chinese leader to the US, is a great event for the Americans. If Xi refuses to meet with Biden or any American president, the latter would lose prestige to the American public. 

At the last hour, Xi agreed to meet with Blinken. This is a major concession by China. Xi did not plan to see him, expecting that nothing substantive would come out of the Blinken Qin and even Blinken Wang Yi meetings. Apparently, for Xi to change his mind, Blinken must have agreed to something that is meaningful to China. What is that? Whatever, it is only words and can be dismissed or ignored after the Meeting. Words mean nothing to the Americans. Even agreements can be torn to pieces by the Americans.

For now, China is prepared to take Blinken's words at face value, likely for the last time. China had been duped by the Americans many many times. Every time, after a meeting, China thought the Americans would honour what they said. But when the Americans left the meeting, they would do the opposite. China would be watching what would the Americans do after the Meeting with Xi. Biden's trip to China depends on it.

The Meeting shows that China is gaining more confidence in dealing with the Americans and would not meet them if there is nothing useful and substantive to talk about. No more wasting time on American lies and wild accusations or meddling with China's internal affairs.  China would set the agenda for talks or there will be no talks and no visits if China finds it unnecessary.

China would be watching the Americans every move from now. Would the Americans be sincere and wanting to move forward to build better relations with China? Can Blinken and the Americans be trusted? Wang Yi told Blinken, the Americans have to choose between conflict or cooperation with China. The ball is in the Americans' court now. This is the last chance for the Americans to mend relations with China.

Incidentally, American aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is in the South China Sea and China is not pulling punches. 5 Chinese 052 warships surrounded the aircraft carrier on its journey. This is the first time that China has done this, looking at the Americans eye to eye with warships against warships. A miscalculation could sink the aircraft carrier.

PS.  After listening to Blinken's press conference post meeting Xi, I am quite disappointed that Xi made the effort to meet him.  Blinken disclosed that he raised the issue of Taiwan and human rights in Xinjiang. As for Taiwan, Blinken quoted the Taiwan Relations Act which is a unilateral American law to interfere in China's internal affair. This is a hostile Act against China, to interfere and defend Taiwan. Blinken also repeated American position to sell arms to Taiwan and would not want a change in the Taiwan situation, ie, to keep Taiwan separate from China. Why would Xi regard these as acceptable? And why would Xi, Wang Yi and Qin Gang agreed to Blinken raising the fake human rights issue in Xinjiang during the Meeting?

Having said these, I do not see any real change in American policies on Taiwan, and the provocation and interference would continue. If China regards Taiwan as the most important of its core issues, China would be badly disappointed once they see the Americans continue with what they are doing in and to Taiwan. The Chinese would feel very silly to think that the Americans have changed and would not interfere in Taiwan, an internal affair of China. 

The Americans would interfere and would not allow Taiwan to be reunited with China. Period. The Americans' one China policy is a China with Taiwan as it is now, not independent but separate from China permanently. Is China going to live with this?

China got duped again. Caveat, unless something was agreed on the Taiwan issue that Blinken is not saying in the press conference.

Would the Africans turn against China?

 Have the Americans make good their promises to Asean and the African leaders and send them the $150m and $350m respectively? Or still otan?

Many Africans are awaken and know who is helping them and who has looted and plundered their countries, enslaved them and make them poor till today. But not all Africans are enlightened and rational.

There is a popular modern day African Shamen called Prof Lumumba, preaching to the Africans to be united and to build Africa by themselves into a developed continent of African countries. He laid out the abuses of the foreign powers, and also included China into the same category as evil countries out to exploit Africa.

He could not distinguish China as a different civilisation that had not conquered and colonised Africa and regard China just as bad as the white man. He accused China for going after African resources. Sure, but what is he expecting China to be, Santa Claus? China did not rob Africa and does not owe Africa anything.

China is in Africa to trade, to help them to develop, help them build their infrastructure, cheaply but not for free. They cost China a lot of money, resources and manpower. It is only reasonable and respectable for the Africans to pay back in kind if they did not have the money. But if this Shaman is believed by the Africans, then China would also be their enemy and they would throw China out in a matter of time.

China got to be careful with what the Africans are thinking behind its back, just like Papua New Guinea. After helping PNG in infrastructure development, the PNG has invited the Americans to set up military bases to counter China.

Would the Africans turn against China like the PNG, believing in the Shaman that China was there to exploit their resources, that China must build everything for them for free?

Stupidity has no cure.

Anonymous

Trump the bum still thinking of becoming the President of the world's number one terrorist state

 Trump boasted that he could end the Ukraine war within 24 hours. You believe that braggart? How is that humanly possible? Two years of destruction, huge sacrifices in human lives and weapons cannot just be settled by a phone call, the fastest route to take in 24 hours. He may be able to force Ukraine to the table, but Russia is not going to trust verbal assurances, knowing that even written agreements and treaties can be push aside by the other party. Gorbachev made verbal agreements with Nato and Russia is now paying the price. Russia is not ready to be fooled a second time. Not with Putin in charge.

Trump also boasted that trade wars are easy to win. Has he won? US trade deficit vis a vis China is still climbing.

Having already made clear his vile intentions over Venzuela during his first term, Venzuela needs to form security alliances with Russia and China, even to the extent of allowing Russia to place tactical nuclear deterrence in Venzuela just in case, like what Russia did in Belarus. Venezuela cannot afford to take care of its national security only when the shit hits the fan. Not even if Trump fails to win in 2024. Sleep-walking Biden may just follow Trump's footstep. Right hand, left hand, they are all of one kind.

Trump wanted to make America Great Again. Nothing looks great for USA after his Presidency, and everything since then are on a downhill trajectory. USA influence has been declining, with more and more countries joining BRICS and abandoning the US$ in trade. The only thing great about USA is the debt that keeps piling up.

Trumps's incessant tirade against China starting from the trade war is a pivotal turning point of mistrust by China for the USA. His attempt to use biological weapons aka COVID19 against China backfired. With Biden taking after his anti-China rhetoric, China's relations with the USA is hard to mend today, with China now intent on retaliating against the USA in many areas - de-dollarision using BRICS, technology strike back against USA companies operating in China now ongoing, reorientation of China's dependence on USA and its allies for chips, and prioritising self sufficiency in every aspect of economic activity. There is really no turning back for China this time.

As Al Capone (played by Robert de Niro) in 'The Untouchables' said to reporters - 'Somebody messes with me, I'm gonna mess with him'. Messing with Russia in Ukraine is already a big mistake, and messing with Russia and China together is a recipe that will lead to USA's Waterloo.

Anonymous

How to invest in India and not be robbed like Xiaomi

 India is a very attractive country to invest for the future. Every idiot also know this. India is still poor and underdeveloped, especially infrastructure. The potential for growth and development is so obvious. Ah Kow also know this. No need to be an expert in economics. Many supertalents have been so ensnared by what they can make from India in the long run that they would take out all their savings, pawn their heirlooms, to invest in India, for the future, for the long, long term.

The results of these foolish thoughts have  taken shape in many investors have been taken to the cleaners by the Indians and ended running for their lives, lucky to have escaped from India with their pants still on. And these countries are not just Xiaomi or Chinese companies. Many were big names in the US, in UK and Europe. Still a few are in India, barely making any money but pretending and hoping that in the long run they could recover their investments with profits.

How not to be like these daft losers, blindly throwing tons of hardearned money into India, and not being robbed by the Indians? The answer is very simple and easy to do. Understand what the Indians want, understand their culture and legal systems, and the battle is hard won. 

After robbing Xiaomi of billions of dollars on drum up charges of tax evasion, the Indians have up the ante by demanding that all the top executive positions be filled by Indians. The deal means that Xiaomi would be hiring all the Indians to run its plants in India, teaching the Indians all the tricks of the trade, training the Indians to run and takeover the whole production and management of Xiaomi, India. And the profits from Xiaomi, India cannot be repatriated to China, can only be reinvested in India.

In plain language, Xiaomi would be putting billions investing in plants and manufacturing equipment in India, provide employments to the Indians, and be proud owners of its investment in India. And Xiaomi should be happy looking at the paper gains in its investment in India. Xiaomi the investor is as good as doing charity for India, giving money and technology to India, and gaining nothing in return. All their investments would be owned and controlled by the Indians, to do as the Indians pleased. The Indians would acquire all the investments and capital of Xiaomi without spending a single cent. Thank you Xiaomi. You are really Xiao to do this in India.

Ok, how to invest in India and not be robbed by the Indians. Learn from what happened to Xiaomi and all the foreign investors in India. Agree with all the conditions demanded by the Indians, build the factories, moved in the machinery, hired all the Indians to run the factory and management. Then tell the Indians to take good care of the factory, take care of your capital and investment. Then go back to your home country and enjoy your life. The Indians would be very happy running your factory and managing your investment and capital and would send you beautiful reports of the great profits they are making for you. But don't bother to go back to India, don't back. Tell your yourself that you are doing charity to the Indians and be happy about it.

When you have given everything to the Indians, the Indians cannot rob you any more. You are safe. Your investment and capital are safe, in Indian hands. But, this is an important caveat, do not pump in more good money in the hope of getting your capital and investment back in the future, in the long run. If you do harbour such naive thoughts, then you deserved to be cheated by the Indians. In your first investment, you are not cheated, because you decide to give them away to the Indians. What you have given away is not being robbed. QED.

My business proposal on how to invest in India and not be robbed can be submitted as a case study to the best business schools in the world, for MBA courses.

Americans really wanting to help Africa?

 Building castles in the air is easy. Trying to convince that the reality is possible is not that easy. Even the Africans, more than a decade after promises by Barack Obama in his 2013 visits to many African states, supposedly to garner closer ties leveraging on his African American roots, are asking where is the development being promoted by the USA after more than a decade. Even Kamala Harris tried the same trick in her recent foray into Africa, and got roasted. Africans do not even trust USA blacks, prefering to trust the Chinese, Russians, North Koreans and Cubans.

In the meantime, China has done myriads of projects, all completed and on show in Africa for decades - in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania and many others. Some projects have even been constructed and given as 'gifts' by China to Governments in some African countries. Does that tell us why Africans are so protective of China, knowing that all the USA and the West are intent on doing is demonising China in Africa with the narrative that China is evil and the USA and the West are angels. They think Africans cannot differentiate good from evil, and who has their interest at heart and who is openly exploiting them.

The most ridiculous event last year was Biden 'inviting' African leaders for the USA/African summit, with veiled threats that there will be 'consequences' if they do not attend. At the event, African leaders were each given 5 minutes to talk, after making that trip of thousands of miles to Washington. African leaders felt greatly slighted, being looked down with contempt and treated as if they are slaves like their forefathers. The Anglo Saxon Whites did in fact called Africa a 'shit hole' and this remark is coming back to haunt the USA and the West. The same backfiring resulting from Biden calling Mohammed bin Salman a 'pariah'.

Even before Blinken touched down in Beijing today, the USA already knows it is a mission of failure, trying to garner co-operation from China. China knows the visit by Blinken is just to gain political advantage by showing that the USA wants peace, and if China fails to reciprocrate, it will be branded as not wanting peace. How is China to believe that the USA really wants peace, when it is taking all the steps to annihilate China's development? How can China take the USA at face value when its foray into a peace mission in Ukraine is deemed unacceptable? Why is the USA intent on escalating the Taiwan issue with one visit after another by top USA leaders and expects China to believe in Blinken's mission of peace?

Hope China gives Blinken its piece of mind, loud and clear.

Anonymous