Everyone here understands that, it's still disgusting to see it in practice.
Not everyone. I disagree, because the absolutist view does not mesh with history.
As long as I been alive, American influence in the region, the periphery of China, had been declining, every single year.
There was a big naval base in Vietnam. There was a big naval base in the Philippines. There was a big American air force base in the Philippines. All gone, and not to return in my lifetime. We can be sure of that.
And we do not even have to talk about the economic realm.
Even with South Korea, I think that over the decades, US troop levels have declined. That sounds more like that they are on their way out, instead of on their way in.
To suggest that everyone will listen to what the Americans tell them to do because they have troops on their soil, that is propaganda.
China will continue with the diplomacy, and deepen economic ties, and persuade the regional neighbors of the win-win outcomes.
While the Americans will try to sabotage that, relying on the basis of having dominion over those countries hosting US troops, in that the military is the final arbitrator of power. That, in my view, just more propaganda.
So, that is where we are. One side with the win-win. The other side with military bases and unrelenting propaganda of how important that is, how important the military is.
Peace or war? This question in Asia today naturally frames itself.
My view is that American diplomacy has reached a dead end in Asia, and it will not recuperate.
Any country that adheres to American demands too closely, will be stuck in that same dead end. How that serves that country's interest? Not my problem.
There is a real fracture there, but it takes time for history changing events to materialize.
To be an absolutist, means history cannot change.
That is not the case in Asia these past few decades.
