Is today’s India also repeating the mistakes of the West and past Indian leaders? India held 17 rounds of Corps Commander Level Meetings with China, where China tried to twist every discussion point in its favour, and the talks failed…. Read More ›
Beijing
China claims territories of 23 countries, even though it only has borders with 14
The total area of China’s claims on other countries exceeds the size of modern China itself, but Beijing refuses to budge on its claims. Many are based on unsubstantiated (outside China) and unprecedented “historical precedents” dating back centuries. And while… Read More ›
When Beijing was burning, Xi was playing personal games
A great fire destroyed Rome for six days in the summer of AD 64. Famous Roman historian of that time, Tacitus, recorded that 70 percent of the city was destroyed and half of the city’s residents were displaced. Roman ruler… Read More ›
Why China will “reclaim” Siberia
China has made no secret that it will one day enforce its claims on much of Eastern Russia, which it sees as rightfully belonging to China. With Russia fast becoming the weaker partner in the alliance formed after the west… Read More ›
Success or failure, Beijing Winter Olympics is bad news for the world
Fourteen years ago, China conducted the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The games were a success, and the biggest beneficiary was Xi Jinping. He was Vice President of China and competing for the presidency with present Premier Li Keqiang. The… Read More ›
23 of the world’s top 25 greenhouse gas emitting cities are in China
Ponder this: A new tally of global cities’ emissions finds that the top 25 are responsible for 52% of the planet’s urban greenhouse gas emissions. 23 of those are in China. New York City is the first American city to… Read More ›
June 4, 1989: The Date CCP Wants to Forget
China was going through massive changes in the 80s. The Chinese Communist Party had opened up its economy to foreign investment. Leaders like Deng Xiaoping were credited to have put China on the path of prosperity. His move raised the income… Read More ›
Beijing told to brace for more heavy sandstorms
Beijing and sweeping tracts of northern China suffered dangerous levels of air pollution last weekend when another sandstorm hit the region. The capital city’s squares and skyscrapers were barely visible as the second sandstorm in a month kept people off… Read More ›
Beijing skies turn orange as northern China hit by sandstorms
Beijing’s 21 million residents saw familiar buildings and landmarks swathed in a thick, orange haze on Monday, as sandstorms swept across the region, bringing unprecedented air pollution in their train. As the sandstorm peaked, levels of PM10 particulates showed readings… Read More ›
Record cold weather in China sends power demand through the roof
Frigid weather across north Asia has caught utilities and liquefied natural gas importers off guard as demand for power lowered inventories and pushed spot prices to record levels. China’s Central Meteorological Station released the first cold warning in 2021 earlier… Read More ›
The Forbidden City at 600: How China’s imperial palace survived against the odds
When the American writer David Kidd arrived in Beijing in 1981, having not seen China’s capital for three decades, he found the city almost unrecognizable. The fabled city walls were gone; its temples turned into schools and factories. Only in… Read More ›
Sino-African relationship: Win-win or debt trap diplomacy?
China has had unparalleled involvement and success in Africa across trade, investment, and infrastructure financing in the past decade. As Africa’s biggest trade partner and the largest supplier of overseas construction projects, the Sino-African relationship is transforming the African economy… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, August 10, 2020
China received two-and-a-half slaps in the face this week: financial sanctions against a few Chinese and Hong Kong leaders, who don’t have money in the US anyway, and the first formal diplomatic visit from America to Taiwan in over 40… Read More ›
Cadence of Conflict: Asia, May 25, 2020
Taiwan has a new Vice President: Former Premier William Lai, known for his pro-independence posture. China won’t be happy, but China is rarely happy these days. The Chinese made two loud omissions in their rhetoric this week. When talking about… Read More ›
Beijing to quarantine all arrivals as economic life struggles to pick up
The Chinese capital Beijing on Friday imposed a 14-day self-quarantine on people returning to the city from holidays to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, and threatened to punish those who failed to comply. It was not immediately clear… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, February 10, 2020
The words of US President Trump set an unsettling policy for Communist China: “We’re also getting our allies, finally, to help pay their fair share.” This is far-reaching. By having multiple nations with multiple militaries operating with appropriate budgets, China… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, January 27, 2020
Trying to be polite or indirect while not taking no for an answer does not give anyone a right to make trouble. When someone gives a decisive, “No,” decent people accept that answer, then move on somehow. But, China doesn’t… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, January 13, 2020
The overwhelming, earth-shattering, landslide re-election victory of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-Wen sends a shocking message to Beijing: If you plan to take Taiwan, prepare for greater opposition than you got from Hong Kong. But, like the house cat who doesn’t… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, December 30, 2019
We are headed toward a massive inquisition of police. It could be known as the “Hong Kong Trials”, where each police officer who served since June is combed over and evaluated for every step taken at every single protest, then… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, December 2, 2019
Opinions on Asia aren’t just flying, but swarming the Pacific. Hong Kongers vote against China in an unmistakable slap to Beijing’s face, then Beijing blames the US—because Beijing still thinks that voters only vote how the government tells them to…. Read More ›
Prague refuses Beijing’s demand to recognise Taiwan as part of China
On a typical day, Prague’s City Hall is buzzing with discussions about contracts to upgrade the centuries-old city’s network of cobblestone streets or sewers. But this month, assembly members have been debating a bigger topic — China, and what to… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, October 28, 2019
China is playing a dark game with Taiwan over the murder suspect in the case that sparked the spark of the Hong Kong liberation protests. A young man from Hong Kong traveled to Taiwan with his girlfriend where he murdered… Read More ›
Beijing’s new 63 billion dollar mega-airport begins international flights
Beijing’s new $63 billion Daxing airport began its first scheduled international flights on Sunday as it ramped up operations to help relieve pressure on the city’s existing Capital airport. Shaped like a phoenix – though to some observers it is… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, September 2, 2019
Reuters broke the story. According to unnamed sources, Beijing refused to let Hong Kong’s government grant free elections, withdraw the extradition bill, and crackdown on police brutality. If this report can be proven in court, a case could be made… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, August 12, 2019
China instructs Hong Kong not to confuse restraint for weakness, notwithstanding that China is making that very mistake with the West in not sponsoring the demands of Hong Kongers that Hong Kong’s government keep the Sino-British promise of 1984. China… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, July 29, 2019
China says that Hong Kong CEO Carrie Lam may not resign because she must remain in power to clean up the mess China started and blames on her. Albeit, staying in power to clean up her scape-goat mess is impossible… Read More ›
Cadence of Conflict: Asia, June 17, 2019
Trump’s so-called “trade war” with China was never any failed attempt at relations. It was a way to get American companies out of China before the inevitable crud hit the fan. With Hong Kong’s government ignoring it’s people, we can… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, March 25, 2019
Now, China has become the dark example of why not to be a Democrat in America. This is a new low. As much as being compared to China makes Democrats appear bad, it makes China appear all the worse because… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, January 21, 2019
The US government shutdown is stalling Beijing’s action against Taiwan. With the US slightly less-able to respond and prepare, Beijing has an opportunity to bide time and grow its military. No doubt, Beijing will see advantage and seize opportunity. At… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, December 17, 2018
While China would attempt to send the US out of its backyard by shocking the US with an invasion of Taiwan, that motive in itself would not be enough to push China to war. Beijing believes that controlling more territory… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, December 10, 2018
The “Huawei arrest” sends yet another a irritatingly mixed message to China. China believes that a “strong response” concerning Taiwan will convince the US to back away from support for Taiwan. Conveniently for China, the recent provincial elections in Taiwan… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, May 21, 2018
Talk only went so far this week. I looks as if North Korea might not be dismantling its nukes, but hiding them, then threatening to close talks when exposed for this, then threatening to cancel the summit for some other… Read More ›
Ann Tyson, Pearl Buck and their feelings about China
When Ann Scott Tyson revisited China after three decades, she still found tons of issues she dislikes or disapproves here and there although many things have changed. Nevertheless, by the end of the trip, for “looking for her old neighborhood… Read More ›
Israelis, Palestinians to attend forum in Beijing after Trump’s Jerusalem recognition
It is undeniably painful to the Arabs in general and the Palestinians in particular for facing the cruel reality that the Trump administration officially recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. However, despite the high profile protests raised by President Erdogan of… Read More ›
Cadence Asia: Asia, October 30, 2017
In the daily governance of Hong Kong, China has proven itself as a competent overseer. Hong Kong’s “Basic Law”, a kind of mini-constitution imposed not by referendum, keeps the SAR autonomous. Hong Kongers have only two reasons for complaint, having… Read More ›
China could accept US strike on North Korea as prelude to Chinese occupation
A Chinese state-run newspaper said Saturday that China would not engage militarily if the US conducted a surgical strike on North Korea’s nuclear facility, noting it would only resort to diplomatic channels to oppose such a move. Beijing’s position was stated… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, March 27, 2017
North Korea is ready to nuke, Hong Kong has a new CEO, and China is talking. In fact, China is talking with almost everyone, even Taiwan, as headlines would have us believe. Hong Kong’s new CEO, Carrie Lam, is ostensibly… Read More ›
Cadence of Conflict: Asia, February 13, 2017
After three weeks, President Trump finally had his phone call with Chinese President Xi. The report is that Trump will uphold the United States’ long-standing “One China” policy, in which China proper and the island of Taiwan are one country… Read More ›
China planned Tianamen Square massacre weeks in advance, and the UK knew about it
“Two hundred dead could bring 20 years of peace to China,” former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping was quoted as saying in recently declassified documents. His words were spoken weeks ahead of the bloody military crackdown on student protesters in Beijing’s… Read More ›
China clears convicted killer 21 years after his execution
A Chinese man has had his conviction for rape and murder overturned, 21 years after he was executed. Nie Shubin was killed by firing squad in 1995 at the age of 20 after being found guilty of killing a woman… Read More ›
Cadence of Conflict: Asia, November 28, 2016
A government defining marriage only claims to be about marriage between humans, but it is actually about marriage between Church and State. By asking government to define human marriage, Americans have already returned to the Church of the Holy Government,… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, November 14, 2016
The news in Asia is Trump. Having put their chips with Clinton, some governments in Asia are scrambling to guess what Trump’s next move will be. Japan didn’t interfere. So, things are “business as usual” in Tokyo. While Asian politicians… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, October 31, 2016
Chinese President Xi has been hailed with a personality cult akin to support for Chairman Mao, at least in some circles. As if the Xi personality cult wasn’t enough, China also saw a bloodless victory in the Philippines. In an… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, September 19, 2016
The investment company of Taiwan’s former-controlling political party—because, yes, a political party owning investments is not yet illegal in Taiwan—is attempting to sell assets in Japan. This comes as the same party sent a delegation to China made up of… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, August 15, 2016
While Taiwan accepts yet another slow-delivery weapons deal, one of the slowest to date, China continues to build on the ocean to face off against the United States. It’s pure war strategy, East to West. The argument goes that China… Read More ›
China criticises US, Japan, Australia for ‘fanning’ tensions in South China Sea
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticised the United States, Japan and Australia for a joint statement on the South China Sea that he said was only “fanning the flames” of regional tensions just as countries have agreed to cool them… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, July 25, 2016
The words “China” and “tariffs” are appearing in headlines together again. Cambodia is seen as a Chinese puppet in ASEAN. And, one dissenting opinion from Forbes claims that tariffs are only about consumers, not about jobs and whole economies. Contrary… Read More ›
Cadence Column: July 11, 2016
Abe’s landslide re-election in Japan, a US shield deployment in South Korea, and $2B USD pumping into Taiwan’s navy won’t exactly be sweet music to countries on the other side of the line. China isn’t in a position to make… Read More ›
Cadence Column: July 4, 2016
We see the psychology of Chinese cultural leadership on full display. China stopped communicating with Taiwan. An accidental firing of a live missile, killing one and injuring two, on a parked Taiwanese naval corvette was judged to indicate a “loose… Read More ›
Taiwanese warship accidentally fires missile towards China
A Taiwanese warship has mistakenly launched a supersonic “aircraft carrier killer” missile towards China, the navy said, as ties between the island and its once bitter rival deteriorate. The domestically developed Hsiung-feng III missile flew about 45 miles before plunging… Read More ›
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