Hong-Kong Protests

[AssassinsMace]

Slightly off topic, but still relevant to this thread. Am I alone in thinking that there was something desperate about Pompeo's rant yesterday, as he called for an alliance of democracies to stand up to Chinese Tyranny?
Is not the US the leader of the free world and head already of an alliance of democracies?
It seems as though the rest of the world may no longer be automatically listening seriously and following the line that comes out of Washington.....

Yes. It's the death by a thousand cuts tactic by the US that's not working. Whether it's blacklisting Chinese companies one by one to sanctions for crocodile tear human rights abuse or shutting down consulates. Trump's tariffs have done little to stop China especially in light of coronavirus. The "rest of of China exports" that Trump threatens to slap tariffs and now seems to be forgotten are all exports of US companies that outsource to China. If China only makes $10 off a $1000 iPhone, how is that China gets hurt more when they're losing $990 from that very same iPhone when there are no iPhones to sell to anyone? The US made some deal with or threat to Great Britain promising support if they turn their backs on China. Now China is threatening to end economic relations with England when hopes of a Brexit deal with the EU are fading quickly. That leaves the US alone having to make big promises if China cuts off Great Britain. I'm sure Pompeo was counting on China keeping economic relations with the UK so the US doesn't have to do more than they have to in order to keep the British happy. The US's whole philosophy on China is it needs the West more so they're not going to back away but since it seems to be happening and Five Eyes allies are all whining how China is punishing them for doing what the US wants, I'm sure that's adding pressure on the US.

 

[EtherealSmoke]

Not only that. The desperation pervades to a sense that the US is overwhelmed and is frantically calling for backup. If America felt like it had the cards to meaningfully and confidently battle against China, the tone would be one of which it arrogantly shows off to the world what it can do to countries that don't fall in line. "I alone have the power to defeat this mighty foe of democracy and thus, I alone am fit to rule as your leader," would be the message if America wasn't rolling on the ground trying to pick up its teeth from everything that's happened to it this year.

In my opinion however the desperation itself is the concern.

Look back to January/February.. China undergoes an unprecedented lockdown with assumed localized economic consequences and US-China relations were relatively excellent with the concluded Phase 1 trade deal. The narrative was solely about
how much economic damage China would suffer and that supply chains would have to relocate because of Chinese unreliability.

Fast forward to today. Huge, crippling economic damage in the US while China is steaming full speed ahead in recovery.

I don't think its a coincidence tensions are ramping up now that US looks to fall hugely behind China with COVID.

The American China hawks cannot allow China to steal a march on America with COVID and get too far ahead. China's relative power gains must be curbed at all costs!

Trump acquiesces because his reelection hopes are dwindling and he needs a scapegoat and distraction.

Other members have mentioned the possibility of kinetic action and its hard to rule out. As they say, a wounded and desperate animal is the most dangerous.

 

[BMEWS]

In my opinion however the desperation itself is the concern.

Look back to January/February.. China undergoes an unprecedented lockdown with assumed localized economic consequences and US-China relations were relatively excellent with the concluded Phase 1 trade deal. The narrative was solely about
how much economic damage China would suffer and that supply chains would have to relocate because of Chinese unreliability.

Fast forward to today. Huge, crippling economic damage in the US while China is steaming full speed ahead in recovery.

I don't think its a coincidence tensions are ramping up now that US looks to fall hugely behind China with COVID.

The American China hawks cannot allow China to steal a march on America with COVID and get too far ahead. China's relative power gains must be curbed at all costs!

Trump acquiesces because his reelection hopes are dwindling and he needs a scapegoat and distraction.

Other members have mentioned the possibility of kinetic action and its hard to rule out. As they say, a wounded and desperate animal is the most dangerous.

Yes the Pentagon own study after study shows that the longer they wait, the more initiative they lose and the more advantage goes to China in a hot SCS situation... so its clear that there is a "window of opportunity" that is fastly closing, if not now then never sort of mentality. Time is on China's side, but that means the US will act soon, which means ironically time isn't on China's side.

US has said there is no way to win the SCS against China short of war, its not saying it won't go to war, but that going to war is the only way to win. If its going to go to war, then sooner would be better. With a Trump reelection in the balance, they would have to do it before November.

US always goes to war to protect the Petrodollar hegemony. Look at the US shale in shambles, look at the COVID situation that backfired, look at China launching digital Yuan and the Iran signing multidecade deals with China/Russia, NordStream 2 still proceeding as planned, Artic opening up, all these spells doom for the Petrodollar... If they don't go to war this year to last ditch attempt salvage the dollar, they might as well throw in the MAGA hat and call it quits for being world superpower/policeman.

 

[manqiangrexue]

US always goes to war to protect the Petrodollar hegemony.

But the US never goes to war against nuclear powers even as small as North Korea much less a country like China or Russia.

 

[BMEWS]

But the US never goes to war against nuclear powers even as small as North Korea much less a country like China or Russia.

Yeah but this year (2020) is the turning point (fourth turning) and the point of inflection... too many things are converging rapidly...
I don't think the US has a choice, not unless its willing to give up the #1 spot to China, which I know it isn't

20 years ago China was no threat to US the way China is/could become today. Had Bush 2 had foresight not to pursue 9/11 path and kept to his China containment plan that he started when first entering office maybe it would have bought the US another 20-50 years...

But like they said, hindsight is 2020

 

[manqiangrexue]

Yeah but this year (2020) is the turning point (fourth turning) and the point of inflection... too many things are converging rapidly...
I don't think the US has a choice, not unless its willing to give up the #1 spot to China, which I know it isn't

Well, "willing" is a relative term. Is is so unwilling it would risk death in a nuclear war before capitulating? Or is it unwilling to go down without trying as hard as it can with its own preservation in mind?

I think it's a good time for China to stockpile some nasty hypersonic nukes to make sure it's the latter rather than the former.

 

[localizer]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1286698785255706629

Why do they lie so much?

What's next? Chinese offering babies to Satan?

 

[SPOOPYSKELETON]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1286698785255706629

Why do they lie so much?

What's next? Chinese offering babies to Satan?

Nope, I hope its true. Black lives matter

 

[Surpluswarrior]

From Toronto radio...


Canadian MSM and Political Hacks Work to Destroy Hong Kong Courts

July 13th, 2020
Taylor Report Commentary.



Audio File:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Description (26 minutes):

Phil Taylor comments on how the Canadian media and various political hacks are working to undermine the courts in Hong Kong.

China / Canada commentary starts at 7 minutes 50 seconds.

Hong Kong courts commentary starts at 18 minutes 30 seconds.

 

[localizer]

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

LAZER NO HURT LEL, truth is, the Hongkong terrorists know lasers can hurt people, that's why they use lasers.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Asked whether they would consider the U.S. government to be "more of an ally or more of a threat to Hong Kong and its interests," 38 percent of respondents felt it was more of a threat, 29 percent chose it being more of an ally and 21 percent said it was neither. At 37 percent, slightly fewer chose the Chinese government as a threat and 34 percent called Beijing an ally, while 16 percent thought it was neither.