The Irrational, Racist Fear of China

CCP

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The Irrational, Racist Fear of China » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names

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The Spratly Islands could actually be the only proof that China is 'flexing its muscle', or that it is ready to defend its interests.

The Government of the Philippines, a former US colony, is at the fore-front of harsh criticism directed at China.

I went to talk to Philippine academia, to top scholars in Manila, and I managed to speak to several of them.

Opinions were generally similar, summarized by Roland G. Simbulan, Senior Fellow and Professor in Development Studies and Public Management at the University of the Philippines, explained:

"Frankly speaking, those Spratly Islands are not so significant to us. What's happening is that our political elites are clearly encouraged by the US to provoke China, and there is also a big influence of the US military on our armed forces. I would say that the Philippine military is very vulnerable to such type of 'encouragement'. So the US is constantly nurturing those confrontational attitudes. But to continue with this type of approach could be disastrous to our country. Essentially we are very close to China, geographically and otherwise."

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Srinivas_K

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China is the main reason for destabilization of Asia and disturbing peace in this region.
 

t_co

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China is the main reason for destabilization of Asia and disturbing peace in this region.
You are coming to this conclusion a priori, and then applying it to the evidence at hand.
 

W.G.Ewald

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It would be difficult to believe that China's leaders didn't expect a negative reaction from its neighbors and the United States when it announced the creation of an expansive air defense identification zone over the East China Sea in late November. But that raises the question of why those leaders are behaving the way they are when China has so many domestic problems that need urgent attention, and when China's continued growth and ability to deal with those problems depends on a stable international order. Why pick fights now?

Indeed, for many years, the public rhetoric from Beijing was centered on China's "Peaceful Rise." Unlike the emergence of other great powers, China's move to the front ranks of nation-states would not, the Chinese argued, be accompanied by a militancy aimed at displacing hegemonies.
Why the suddenly aggressive behavior by China? - Los Angeles Times
 

W.G.Ewald

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The chief of U.S. intelligence said Tuesday China's aggressive pursuit of territorial claims in the seas of East Asia is driven by a sense of historical destiny and is causing great concern among countries in the region.

Director of Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said China has pursued a very impressive military modernization that is designed to address what it sees as America's own military strengths.

Clapper was responding to a question on China's recent actions in the East and South China Seas posed at a House Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats.
Yahoo!
 

W.G.Ewald

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From this city's perspective, China looks like a rising giant, liable to dominate its smaller neighbors unless America stands firm. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will likely carry soothing words of reassurance on this very subject to Seoul and Tokyo when he travels there next week.

From Beijing's point of view, however, it is China that looks like the underdog – and, at least in the near term, they've got a point. Unfortunately, this sense of relative weakness doesn't make the dragon pull in its horns. To the contrary, feeling vulnerable makes the Chinese skittish in dangerous and provocative ways.

Despite two decades of investment, China's military is still outgunned by Japan, let alone by the US. "Japan has the strongest navy and air force in Asia except for the United States," leading analyst Larry Wortzel said Wednesday at the Institute of World Politics, pointing at a map of northeast Asia: "This shows their air force bases and how they're postured"¦."

"You said Japan?" interrupted an incredulous member of the audience.

"Japan, that's correct, absolutely," said Wortzel. "The most modern, the most effective. [They're] still restricted by Article 9 of the Constitution" – which "forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation" – "but you don't want to mess with them."


China's Dangerous Weakness, Part 1: Beijing’s Aggressive ‘Self-Defense’ « Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary
 

Phantom

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Didn't know the Chinese were a separate race.

Wait, so the Indians knew about this all along? #-----i :confused:
 

Known_Unknown

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If the fear of China was based on *race*, then why would the fear be about China alone? Would it not be of all East Asians since they all belong to the Mongoloid race? Empirical evidence suggests that at least four (Japan, SK, Philippines & Taiwan) East Asian countries are strong US allies and the rest are at the very least, friendly to the US. In contrast, China only has one strong ally in its neighbourhood, the failed state of NK.

So it may even be that Americans like East Asians far more than the Chinese do, and ergo, the *racist fear* may actually be harboured by China than the US.
 

arnabmit

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You are coming to this conclusion a priori, and then applying it to the evidence at hand.
And the fact that PRC claims/claimed territory and has/had border disputes with almost each and everyone of its neighbors says what exactly?
 

CCP

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And the fact that PRC claims/claimed territory and has/had border disputes with almost each and everyone of its neighbors says what exactly?
How about India and her neighbours?
 

t_co

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And the fact that PRC claims/claimed territory and has/had border disputes with almost each and everyone of its neighbors says what exactly?
Nothing, because most nations have or have had border disputes with most of their neighbors throughout their existence.

Also, Srinavas' argument revolved around the present and future destabilization of Asia, not necessarily past disputes...
 

arnabmit

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Nothing, because most nations have or have had border disputes with most of their neighbors throughout their existence.

Also, Srinavas' argument revolved around the present and future destabilization of Asia, not necessarily past disputes...
Even in the current context, PRC still claims territories of almost half of its neighbors.
 

t_co

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Even in the current context, PRC still claims territories of almost half of its neighbors.
'Almost half' is not 'most'.

What's more, plenty of countries have boundary disputes with more than half their neighbors. For example, Japan is an island country, but it has disputes with South Korea, Taiwan, Russia, and China - in fact, all the countries that neighbor it. Since Japan is also in Asia, and we are assuming that the % of disputed borders shows whether a nation is 'aggressive' or not, then the country that is the main aggressor in Asia should be Japan, should it not?
 

arnabmit

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Not really. What Japan has are disputes emerging out of WWII. Japan wanted to settle dispute with SoKo in the International Court of Justice, but SoKo declined. Japan is trying to settle war disputes with Russi through dialogues and treaty. As for the Senkaku, Japan legitimately bought the islands from private owners.

Not like PRC which claims territories of India, Bhutan, Vietnam, Philippines, SoKo, Japan etc. etc. merely by claims contrary to all international norms, by waging war, and by hegemonic military muscle flexing.

'Almost half' is not 'most'.

What's more, plenty of countries have boundary disputes with more than half their neighbors. For example, Japan is an island country, but it has disputes with South Korea, Taiwan, Russia, and China - in fact, all the countries that neighbor it. Since Japan is also in Asia, and we are assuming that the % of disputed borders shows whether a nation is 'aggressive' or not, then the country that is the main aggressor in Asia should be Japan, should it not?
 

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