Cadence of Conflict: Asia, April 4, 2016

Cadence

Last was definitely a week of over-reaching. Asian Communist leaders, like American second-place primary candidates, clearly don’t know when they are losing. They just keep going, no matter the dangers, no matter the doom.

China’s hardline is beyond hardline. This came out so clearly as an ambassador explained that there is no negotiation with China. Beijing truly sees itself as entitled to everything; any discussion serves to inform China of how to get it and to help others discover that the world is as much wrong as it is China’s birthright. So, when the US plans another sail-by, the US isn’t just wrong, it’s ignorant and needs to learn. Right.

North Korean sabre rattling is normal each spring, as are the US and UN responses. It always has a different flavor, year by year. The difference this particular time was that the same “beyond hardline” stance of Bejing also became annoyingly glaringly apparent from Pyongyang.

China

One Envoy’s Take on China’s Hardball Diplomacy | NY Times

U.S. plans third patrol near disputed South China Sea islands: source | Reuters

China rights lawyer condemns ban on her receiving US award | Daily Mail

North Korea

North Korea declares state of ‘semi-war’ and confirms nuclear policy | Sydney Morning Herald

North Korea Bans Facebook, Declares Semi-War On U.S. | ValueWalk