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 ›

Mainland China
Cadence of Conflict: Asia, June 20, 2016
Last week, Taiwan’s president forgot the law that his own political party created as a means of controlling the other political party, that won in a landslide. The Japanese seem to have a better memory. Abuse of international agreements has… Read More ›
Cadence of Conflict: Asia, February 15, 2016
Ri Yong-gil was said to be executed in Korea. He wasn’t seen in his usual place in public with Great Successor Un. This just after the satellite launch, which led to more sanctions approved by the Senate. Hong Kong cracked… Read More ›
Prelude to Conflict: Asia, November 10
After political defeat in the US, Obama looks to China. Taiwan’s Ma gets snubbed by China in the shadow of APEC. Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement inches toward the discovery that they weren’t shaping Beijing policy as much as they have… Read More ›
Hong Kong pops the China bubble; the “China Dream” is a hoax
The Hong Kong protesters know that what’s hailed in the West as ‘the China dream’ is a hoax. Whatever comes next with the demonstrations in Hong Kong, they’ve already performed a historic service. To wit, they remind us of the… Read More ›
On day of Hong Kong mass protests, China shows military strength by opening barracks to public
As tens of thousands gathered in Hong Kong on Tuesday to demand greater democracy and freedom from Beijing’s control, China’s military garrison stationed in the freewheeling capitalist hub launched its own offensive – to charm them. The People’s Liberation Army… Read More ›
Hong Kong Legislative Council Stormed
Unarmed protesters overran security and occupied another legislature, this time over construction projects and what is reported to be something like “crony capitalism”. Here is a link to a video from Apple Daily and another link to an article from… Read More ›
An open letter to the Chinese Communist Party concerning press freedom in Hong Kong
Dear Chinese Communist Party, I’m not one of those Americans who thinks the way we do things in ‘Murica is always better than the way others do them, but when it comes to propagandising and controlling its population…well…USA #1!. Comparing… Read More ›
Air-Sea Battle: A dangerous way to deal with China
On the face of it, the Pentagon’s Air-Sea Battle plan makes eminently good sense; it is a clear response to a clear challenge. China has been developing a whole slew of weapons (especially anti-ship missiles) over the past two decades… Read More ›
Hong Kong nets record cocaine haul bound for China
Hong Kong customs seized a record haul of cocaine at its international airport this week, foiling two passengers who tried to smuggle 58 million Hong Kong dollars (US$7.5 million) worth of the drug in their luggage. One 35-year-old man arrived Tuesday… Read More ›
The Chinese on a personal level: White man in China
I went to China in 2011 by way of Hong Kong. I met up with a friend of mine I had met in Vietnam who was living in Hong Kong; he offered to show me around. Hong Kong, of course,… Read More ›
Chinese government persecution of Christians
ChinaAid releases 2012 Annual Report On ‘Chinese Government Persecution Of Christians & Churches In Mainland China’. Government persecution of Christians and churches in mainland China deteriorated for the seventh straight year, ChinaAidsaid in its annual report, with the defining characteristic… Read More ›
Alarm over shrinking coral reefs in South China Sea
China‘s economic boom has seen its coral reefs shrink by at least 80 per cent over the past 30 years, a joint Australian study found yesterday, with researchers describing “grim” levels of damage and loss. Scientists from the Australian Research… Read More ›
China’s recent trade statistics have been artificially inflated
Until now, Beijing’s monthly import and export numbers have been considered absolutely reliable, yet there is growing evidence to suggest that in recent months they have been distorted by fabricated transactions. Especially suspect are the export figures for this September… Read More ›
Unlike in Monaco, China mainland and Hong Kong systems do not mix
There is a very unusual street in Monaco. No fence runs down it, no barbed wire has been erected along it and no one patrols it. Yet home prices on one side are multiples of what they are on the… Read More ›
Warming-up between Taiwan’s pro-independence DPP and mainland China
Hong Kong’s Singtao Daily reports, “Since its defeat in the presidential election, pragmatism in dealing with the cross-strait issue has become the mainstream view in Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).” It decided to bring back its China Affairs Department that… Read More ›
Big protest against China as new Hong Kong leader sworn in
A pro-democracy heckler interrupted a speech by Chinese President Hu Jintao at the swearing-in of Hong Kong’s new leader on Sunday and tens of thousands of residents marched to protest Chinese rule on the 15th anniversary of the Asian financial… Read More ›
Google takes on China’s censors
Google has fired a new salvo in a censorship battle with Beijing by adding a feature that warns mainland users when they use search keywords that might produce blocked results and suggests they try other terms. Google’s announcement on Thursday… Read More ›