Cadence of Conflict: Asia, November 16, 2020

America is one of the most cunning nations, almost as much so as Britain. Chinese are known for signing contracts early, then negotiating after—something the West calls “reneging”, which breaks the contract. London always knew China wouldn’t be able to keep a promise, let alone a promise to not control and interfere.

But, almost as cunning is the appearance of election-based chaos stirring in America. Republican and Democratic voters have been building mutual hatred for a long time. Fighting within the country is real and believable. It was sparked by ambiguity, the cause of which is easily explained by what appears, for all intents and purposes, as vote fraud. That doesn’t take much manipulation of the masses, only a small push to send society tumbling over the ledge of insanity. And, China was sure to believe it.

But, there is a difference between America and China which the Chinese cannot understand: centralized power. Chinese-based governments, including democratic Taiwan, struggle to think outside the box of micromanagement. China doesn’t know that the US Navy in the Indo-Pacific region is capable of operating and responding, even if all communication is cut off from Washington. That was the purpose of the “boomer” submarines.

The Chinese people are beaten down. It’s a culture-wide mental state akin to groupthink Stockholm syndrome. The Beijing government truly believes the Chinese people will never rebel. So, when they see America in disorder, they will think democracy itself has failed. But, they don’t understand that the people of a nation are always stronger than the institutions they create, including government, which only derives its power from the people who allow it to be so powerful. Not only can America’s government continue to function with American society in a level of chaos, China’s government cannot be stronger than its own beaten-down people.

If China wanted to be strong enough to stand against America, it could have started by living up to the name of its army and actually “liberating” its people from a culture in which everyone is an oppressed-oppressing slave. Yes, America can deal with riots at home and kick China’s ass in the Pacific at the same time. China doesn’t think so; that’s exactly what the Pentagon hopes.

Indo-Pacific

Faulty Chinese Military Hardware Is Paving Way For India To Emerge As A Global Weapons Exporter // EurAsian Times

Trade & Tech

World’s largest free trade agreement signed in coup for China // Yahoo News

Taiwan

Taiwan’s Buckskin beer bags 16 gold and silver medals in 2020 // Taiwan News

Approved! AMD and Nvidia foundry will make tiny things in Arizona desert // pcgamer.com

TSMC to spend US$3.5b on Arizona subsidiary // Focus Taiwan

How post-election US-China ties may affect Taiwan semiconductor sector // DigiTimes

Tainan, Taiwan
Uni-President Lions clinch Taiwan Series title in 7-4 win // Taiwan News

Horde of earthworms scare in eastern Taiwan // Taiwan News

US Marines officially training in Taiwan for 1st time since 1979 // Taiwan News

Hong Kong

Swire’s dilemma over Cathay as China tightens grip on Hong Kong // Financial Times

India

Visual explainer: Who has the upper hand in China-India border dispute? // SCMP

Military Faceoff

Ford Carrier Strike Group Commences First-ever Integrated Operations // Naval News

The Air Force Is Putting Death Rays on Fighter Jets. Yes, Death Rays. // Yahoo News

Royal Australian Navy hosts French Navy Submarine and Support Vessel // Naval News

USS Nimitz Leaves Persian Gulf Headed to Exercise with Indian Aircraft Carrier // USNI News