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Tehran, Iran - Ever since the end of the Vietnam War and the Nixon visit, the Chinese regime has adopted a long-term policy of "deal and verify" in all major political developments. China is waiting for a regional deal before taking action on North Korea.
Tehran, Iran- It seems that North Korea has taken its best shot with its nuclear program. It first opted out of NPT, then tested its 1960's vintage missile technology and it has now experimented with a crude nuclear device.
China is an emerging economic power, likely to power the world economy for the foreseeable future. Between its domestic growth and international investments, China is an expanding market for commodities and industrial materials.
Yes....the Red Chinese are coming, the Indians have taken over world’s steel, and London real estate is now Russian and Arab occupied territory! Putting the wagons in a circle ought to fix the problem. Why not add pseudo-protectionism, brew a more confused cocktail, and satisfy the residual hype of the cold warriors? Does it make sense to go beyond the odd simplification that skews globalisation, capitalism and development in the same breath?
The Current Discussion: Protests over the Olympic torch relay have led to a crackdown in Tibet. Is Tibetan independence a lost cause? If not, what should its supporters do to win it?
Mixing Olympics sports and short-term political issues is a toxic and self-defeating cocktail. Sports, especially championship events like the Olympics and the World Cup, are about contact between people of different countries on commonly agreed rules -- staying away from politics, race, religion and the short-term aims of politicians and their diktat. Sports aim for friendships, brotherhood and a decent cultural exchange of athletes with simple ambitions, long-term plans and years of training. These athletes are from small towns with modest backgrounds, with little exposure to the rest of the world or opaque political agitations in foreign lands, trade deficit frustrations, sub-prime disorders, oil and gas, NATO or Plato.
First, a few thoughts on the wording of this question: The modern vocabulary in use is probably the most noticeable, and dangerously undiplomatic, of all. Lately, the word “threat” and off-the-cuff sounding of false alarms is used in a faux, if not disingenuous, debate. Those who cannot see the light insist on turning up the heat, quick to dispense irresponsible labels.
The Current Discussion: The Olympics open in two weeks, and offer a perfect platform for anti-government protests by ethnic minorities and dissident groups. Who's likely to protest and how should Beijing respond?
China has come a long way since Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. It is fair to say that over the last 19 years, China has transformed beyond recognition as both sides in that episode have learned to soften their rigid stance. The generation of 1989 students are now enjoying unprecedented economic benefits and a relative comfort that was a distant dream for their parents. Concurrently the older, first generation revolutionaries are now replaced by a class of younger “revolution babies,” technocrats with a softer, more confident approach to management and governance of a giant. As such, I think this question is an unnecessary speculation, and perhaps a typical ill-conceived perception from a distance.
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