Miscellaneous News

Blitzo said:

I think you're misreading the signs and causation a bit.

I recall she only became a more notable personality online (here and in other places, including Chinese social media) after some western/US individuals expressed anger and consternation at her choice to represent China at the winter olympics last time.

Being a cause of consternation and frustration in a geopolitical context is the primary element of her elevated profile. Ironically if the the usual suspects in the US had kept quiet about her, not many people would know who she is

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I understand that was the source of her original fame, but I would have expected at least some understanding - several years after the fact - of the nuances around her situation and background. Eileen Gu may have been unknown to the larger Western public in 2019, but her mother had been cultivating her business and sponsorship in China since the age of 9. It's hard to miss the fact that her switch to representing China over the US in 2019 coincided with a calculated advertisement push in China of her brand - and that, at the time, she was just 16 years old, not even an adult.

Any way, I don't want to speak too poorly of Eileen because she's likely been groomed by her mother for the role since birth. Separating her own opinions, her own self, and her own identity from her mother's business empire is not something I can currently do. I just hope that people here, at least, would have less of an idol worship take on Eileen and her "Chinese identity."

In4ser said:

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I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet. Another person shot and killed in Minneapolis today by ICE. It's still only January!

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Trump open big can of worm when call Rene Good terrorist. We all know how US treating "terrorist". First they kidnapped without evidence. Then jail in some off record place. Get torture and inhumane treatment until broken. Finally executed without trial. Those Judge Dredd wannabes happy to jumping to final phase. Suprise suprise.

Eventine said:

I understand that was the source of her original fame, but I would have expected at least some understanding - several years after the fact - of the nuances around her situation and background. Eileen Gu may have been unknown to the larger Western public in 2019, but her mother had been cultivating her business and sponsorship in China since the age of 9. It's hard to miss the fact that her switch to representing China over the US in 2019 coincided with a calculated advertisement push in China of her brand - and that, at the time, she was just 16 years old, not even an adult.

Any way, I don't want to speak too poorly of Eileen because she's likely been groomed by her mother for the role since birth. Separating her own opinions, her own self, and her own identity from her mother's business empire is not something I can currently do. I just hope that people here, at least, would have less of an idol worship take on Eileen and her "Chinese identity."

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Nobody here is thinking about Eileen Gu as an idol except you.

I am curious, how do people here interpret the Gen. Youxia situation and the persistence of the corruption crackdown in the military in general? I know that these events are portrayed sensationally in foreign media, but do you think anything about it is legitimately concerning? As an outsider, I would have hoped that corruption is rooted out by know. Is a political element suspected?

Intention said:

I am curious, how do people here interpret the Gen. Youxia situation and the persistence of the corruption crackdown in the military in general? I know that these events are portrayed sensationally in foreign media, but do you think anything about it is legitimately concerning? As an outsider, I would have hoped that corruption is rooted out by know. Is a political element suspected?

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I am glad that he is booted out. There have been persistant rumour that he was creating an alternative power center, that he is getting too powerful and bla bla. We don't know how true any of it is, but I didn't like that anyone was being portrayed as trying to challenge Xi's authority.

I think Xi Jinping is extremely smart and agile leader. He has only made the best moves for China given the circumstances. So, I have trust in him to have absolute power and anyone that is even a bit less loyal should be kicked out. So, I am okay with Zhang Youxia out and getting replaced with younger people.

I have always considered Chinese elites in the CCP to be too much western worshipper and money worshippers. Many have children staying in the west and have assets in the west. So, its paramount that those older and compromised elites should be cleaned out and only Xi Jinping can do it.

As far as corruption is concerned, we know how corrupt China was during the Jiang-Hu years. I am sure they can find some dirt on literally any top leadership in not only the PLA but also the entire Government. The only question is, what kind of those corruptions are too severe to not let go and what kind of those corrupt leaders are harmful to China's future.

The current corruption purges will likely make the PLA more disciplined and more of a fighting force.

Lnk111229 said:

Trump open big can of worm when call Rene Good terrorist. We all know how US treating "terrorist". First they kidnapped without evidence. Then jail in some off record place. Get torture and inhumane treatment until broken. Finally executed without trial. Those Judge Dredd wannabes happy to jumping to final phase. Suprise suprise.

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Honestly don't know how this will turn out. Trump has an uncanny ability to find the option that causes max social division..

Without the generals refusing last time, Trump would have ordered martial law and they'd shot hundreds of BLM protestors on the streets. We'll see what happens when there's no minders any more.

Eventine said:

I understand that was the source of her original fame, but I would have expected at least some understanding - several years after the fact - of the nuances around her situation and background. Eileen Gu may have been unknown to the larger Western public in 2019, but her mother had been cultivating her business and sponsorship in China since the age of 9. It's hard to miss the fact that her switch to representing China over the US in 2019 coincided with a calculated advertisement push in China of her brand - and that, at the time, she was just 16 years old, not even an adult.

Any way, I don't want to speak too poorly of Eileen because she's likely been groomed by her mother for the role since birth. Separating her own opinions, her own self, and her own identity from her mother's business empire is not something I can currently do. I just hope that people here, at least, would have less of an idol worship take on Eileen and her "Chinese identity."

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I think you're reading too much into the weight of whatever her identity is, so much as the enjoyment of people reacting to the western response of her self-proclaimed identity.

In a geopolitical context, the ability to have generated fairly substantial butthurt at the time garners more than a bit of goodwill in certain circles, and makes everything else mostly irrelevant. The fact that it is in context of a fairly prestigious event like the Olympics is more adding a cherry on top.

Shaolian said:

Nobody here is thinking about Eileen Gu as an idol except you.

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She is very much viewed as an idol in China, and often for the wrong reasons. Being critical of this fact is healthy. Her success is not particularly reflective of anything that can be attributed to being Chinese, outside of maybe the Chinese government investing in young foreign athletes to bolster sports power.

Blitzo said:

I think you're reading too much into the weight of whatever her identity is, so much as the enjoyment of people reacting to the western response of her self-proclaimed identity.

In a geopolitical context, the ability to have generated fairly substantial butthurt at the time garners more than a bit of goodwill in certain circles, and makes everything else mostly irrelevant. The fact that it is in context of a fairly prestigious event like the Olympics is more adding a cherry on top.

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Fair enough, but the reason I responded is also because some people were taking the identity aspect a bit too far. Eileen frequently credits her American upbringing for her success, and we know she was primarily trained in the US, so the perspective that she's an American athlete objectively makes more sense than trying to place her as "Chinese."

Chevalier said:

hang on, doesn’t the U.S. have veto rights over trade deals that Canada makes under the USMCA?

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Canada should just scrap the USMCA, and then welcome China into the CPTPP. Mexico will just follow Canada in this.

lube said:

Honestly don't know how this will turn out. Trump has an uncanny ability to find the option that causes max social division..

Without the generals refusing last time, Trump would have ordered martial law and they'd shot hundreds of BLM protestors on the streets. We'll see what happens when there's no minders any more.

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Trump could still order ICE to literally do summary executions in the streets on dozens if not hundreds more American citizens and besides some big protests and light riots, nothing more will happen. Americans have such a comfy standard of living right now, even despite recent pains like inflation, that they have lots more room to suffer before "something" happens. I don't think the inflection point will be until a large plurality of Americans are unable to feed their kids sufficiently for months straight. But it will come so gradually that it won't really click for them until deep into the suffering.