Cadence – Page 55

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, September 14, 2015

China managed to stay out of the lime light this week, while its satellites shined. There seemed to be some chest thumping. Chinese police ordered local Taiwanese police to investigate a Taiwanese suspect without going through their normal international channels.

According to a statement from Zhang Xiaoming, chief of the Hong Kong liaison office from Beijing, the Hong Kong CEO has supremacy over the other branches, which have separation of powers “under the leadership of the executive”. On the surface this seems to run contrary to HK’s Basic Law as well as other statements from Beijing officials. HK remains under Beijing ultimately and there doesn’t seem to be much evidence of power abuse. But, they are thumping their chests.

Singapore remains free and independent, with more seats up for grabs and more voters than any time in history. Japan is having a bad year with a flood; 3,000 evacuated. North Korea thinks it is humanitarian and that the UN is wrong. · · · →

In Cadence

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, September 7, 2015

SymphonySeptember 7, 2015January 31, 2019

China’s pushing into the water. Beijing celebrated America’s victory over Japan in 1945. The Communists who took over China four years later seemed to take much of the credit. And, they are still angry that, even after 66 years, they don’t control Taiwan. A “victim of its own propaganda”, Beijing believes Taiwan doesn’t want to fly the Communist flag from lack of “communication” rather than, perhaps, Communism being communicated all to well. So, Communist China’s PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) is going to Alaska where Russia has more interests than China. So, is China a victim of it’s own propaganda—or of someone else working behind the scene?

China also seems to be having trouble on the money front. Even as its currency plummets, the world’s currency doesn’t. G-20 only loses trust in China.

Respect for Russia, however, is unchanged. Russia is playing some of its own games that will echo in the Pacific waters. · · · →

In Cadence

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, August 31

SymphonyAugust 31, 2015

Kim’s dismissal of top military leaders mirrors the downfalls of history. Top leaders are Kim’s strongest supporters. North Korea’s power could be imploding. “One Korea” could happen peacefully.

Japan prepares to make it’s military more deployable. The US gave the nod in recent months. Now, the Japanese government is ready to follow suit. Japan has maintained a “defense-only” military as a condition of the WWII surrender. Soon, Japan will be able to aid in regional conflict, such as with Korea or, say, Taiwan and Beijing.

China’s spotlight is more of a laser. Taiwanese officials take domestic flack over attending a Chinese V-Day celebration. The US isn’t happy about spying. China isn’t happy about reporting. Sanctions are on the way.

China

U.S. developing sanctions against China over cyberthefts

China says 197 punished in crackdown on online rumors

Japan

Thousands protest Abe, security bills at Diet rally

…Soon to be allowed to deploy troops for wider range of reasons

Korea

North, South Korea agree to defuse crisis after marathon talks

North Korea’s Kim ousts top officials, credits nuclear weapons with securing deal

South Korea Red Cross proposes family reunion talks with North

North Korea agrees to talks with South on family reunions

Taiwan

Why Taiwanese leaders should skip the Victory Day parade in Beijing

…Inside baseball on the China-Taiwan conflict. · · · →

In Cadence

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, August 24, 2015

SymphonyAugust 24, 2015

North Korea does it’s annual late summer saber-rattling while the US and South Korea run their annual pre-autumn laps on the peninsula. Everyone’s in an uproar and “this time” it could be dangerous—again. Back to school.

China’s market slows while it’s naval activity rises. Chinese business is no longer the talk of town, though banking is as Beijing goes liquid. 400 deep pockets lost $182B USD to China’s sinking tech.

Taiwan’s election season continues to heat up. In this week’s episode of old school v democracy, DPP Mayor William Lai threatened to close the KMT-Nationalist-controlled Taiwan Control Yuan if the Control Yuan tries to close him, but not Speaker Lee who was found guilty in a lower court of buying the votes that gave him his speakership. Apparently, the Control Yuan is not even a Constitutionally legal entity. China does is own gossip among Americans about the DPP. So, it’s clear how important the Taiwan 2016 election will be. · · · →

In Cadence

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, August 17, 2015

SymphonyAugust 17, 2015

Chinese marketing, Taiwanese elections, and new military toys. Both Taiwan and China have been touting their military equipment. This goes a bit beyond the usual saber rattling; it’s more like sabre “show and tell”.

China launches a recruitment video for it’s Navy (PLAN). Though, China is facing an aging labor force and lacks the resources to make the Navy in the video become a Navy much father from its own coast. Perhaps it’s lack of range is why China seeks to build new islands. The video of dropping bombs does not ease concerns that China wants to expand in other territories. But the fact that it’s marketing has gone to such lengths does provide some reason for confidence that it’s dreams are only dreams.

Taiwan’s elections are heating up and it’s nothing the international community should ignore. While an old pro-unification third party (PFP People’s First Party) candidate, who helped persecute the Taiwanese’s own native language, is slightly rising in the polls, Taiwan’s own “game of thrones” politics could offset the balance. · · · →

In Cadence

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, August 10, 2015

SymphonyAugust 10, 2015

A typhoon and some bad follow-up weather beat up Pacific Asia over the weekend and it’s not over. China’s controversial island building got ASEAN’s attention and John Kerry’s time. Beijing claims that island reclaiming has ceased, Kerry has not confirmed.

The typhoon was an interruption to many things this week, including the curriculum controversy in Taiwan: The demonstrators packed-up and now the government must clean up. But the typhoon was also a warning that Beijing should not be so concerned about whether its man-made military islands are safe from Kerry and ASEAN, but from typhoons and tsunamis.

China

China’s island building faces scrutiny at ASEAN forum

Kerry Urges China to Halt All Activities in Disputed Sea

Soudelor to Continue Flooding Risk in China, Expand Threat to South Korea

Taiwan

Curriculum talks with MOE break down

Teacher awarded compensation for Sunflower beating

Sorry Beijing, But Taiwan Isn’t Turning its Back on History—You Are

Two Myths About Taiwan’s DPP That Need to Be Laid to Rest

…How a prof at Missouri State University echos the same propaganda as China’s puppets in Taiwan

Nation attempts to regain its footing

…Taiwan in one of the strongest typhoons in over a decade