Ah , there there chaps I’m sure he doesn’t really mean it , here have a dry hanky, let me get you a new bottle, bar keep a bottle of your best rot guy for our …distraught friends here.
As for the rest of us , how about a round for the great dictator?
👏 👏 👏👏👏 there’s more in that speech including something about a voluntary green thingamagik that I need to get a bit more information about.
Posted by: DunGroanin | Nov 17 2023 22:05 utc | 293
I like the steadfast way he refuses to be our enemy, no matter how much we try to make him one. Even genocide Joe cannot pull it off.

Posted by: Bemildred | Nov 17 2023 23:16 utc | 603

No Peter, the rebels are actually ethnic Chinese. They’ve been clamoring to join China politically, but China doesn’t want to encroach on what they consider an independent Myanmar.
Empire supports the rebels because they want the junta to go bust, in favor of Ann San Suu Kyi. China does not support the rebels because of non-interference principle in other nation’s domestic affair.
But right now China is assisting the Gan Guo rebels. They are routing the junta good!

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Nov 17 2023 23:22 utc | 605

Latest news bit: China’s T-Bill holdings has just sunk below $800 billions. Currently at $778 B, $28 B below yesterday.
I guess Biden failed to sell any debt to Xi.

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Nov 17 2023 23:24 utc | 607

@Bemildred, #302:
Yeah, cheers! I just gulped your hanky and applauded DunnGroanin

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Nov 17 2023 23:28 utc | 609

HB_Norica | Nov 16 2023 17:28 utc | 87
***…. we can do much better … perhaps a system where we hire professionals to manage some aspects of governance like defence, trade and foreign affairs and elect our mayors and dogcatchers.***
But the “Western” countries already hire “professionals” for the top positions. They are bought (but not by the public). They decide which big-money lobbyists to favour, and which foreign arses to kiss or who to murder.
All you suggest is hiring the representatives of such vested interests directly.
Still leaving the public unrepresented, persistently lied to, fleeced and powerless.

Posted by: Cynic | Nov 17 2023 23:31 utc | 611

@Bemildred, #302:
Yeah, cheers! I just gulped your hanky and applauded DunnGroanin
Posted by: Oriental Voice | Nov 17 2023 23:28 utc | 305
Thank you, I agree with you about Myanmar too. A failed state in the grip of a bunch of warlords. Another product of British meddling, incompetence, and greed.
With regard to Xi: Watching the people who “represent” me stumble from one debacle to another, it is nice to see a man (Xi) who knows how to handle himself, his friends, and his enemies, all without batting an eye or having to yell at anybody.

Posted by: Bemildred | Nov 17 2023 23:53 utc | 613

Re “Xi is a dictator”, doesn’the US like dictators? Ferdinand Marcos, Augusto Pinochet, many others? But they were all very submissive and Pres. Xi is not submissive. Nor were his predecessors, nor are his siccessors likely to be.

Posted by: lester | Nov 18 2023 2:21 utc | 615

A question:
Why does Hindutva India spend so much time fellating Zionist Isreal when Zionist Isreal spends so much time fellating Communist China?
I mean, looking at the meeting Xi had with U.S Business “leaders” (i.e a bunch of Zionist Jews), one realises that the Jews would throw India under the bus for China if Xi cracked even the slightest of coy smiles in their direction …
(Question to those like antonym who spend much time under the table blowing Zionist Isreal on these forums)

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Nov 18 2023 3:25 utc | 617

Pres. Xi is not submissive. Nor were his predecessors, nor are his siccessors likely to be.
Posted by: lester | Nov 18 2023 2:21 utc | 308
This is the power of nuclear weapons made manifest.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Nov 18 2023 3:26 utc | 619

“..(Question to those like antonym who spend much time under the table blowing Zionist Isreal on these forums)..” Arch Bungle@309
You more or less answered your own question- antonym desperately wants to substitute India for China in the international economy. He hates China and its Communist Party the way a jealous man hates a successful rival.

Posted by: bevin | Nov 18 2023 3:43 utc | 621

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Nov 17 2023 22:45 utc | 297
@Scorpion, #296:
…Modernization kicked in around the 70’s, no?…
No! Modernization kicked in right after Mao took reign of governance. His slogan in the early 50’s was “Overtake England and catch America”.

Good correction. But they started exporting much more in the 70’s, no?
No matter, I still think there will be various phases in this ‘PRC Dynasty’. The first was establishing a republic; the second was to modernize – still a work in progress though in some aspects they are world leaders already and in others have a ways to go – though thus far is already miraculous. That said, it was miraculous too for all countries who have done it starting with the UK, though the later each one starts the more rapid and expansive the change due to the nature of modern technology. It’s an exciting, if largely only materialist, period of measurable development.
But there will be a subsequent phase once the basic modernization boom is over. I am positing this next phase will involve the BRI making China the new Center of World Gravity. Yes, multipolarism but some poles are more influential than others.
And after that there will be the greatest test of all: when a hopefully now stable, no longer permanent revolution, China starts to explore increasing cultural sophistication of mores, arts, philosophy etc. Which is when it will finally be clear if the principles now driving this current phase still work. My best common sense guess is that some karmic maturations will be good and some bad, seeds of which are now present – no great insight, just a universal given.
The Yi says: #54 – 1,2,3,5 > 62 < 37. Hmmm....

Posted by: Scorpion | Nov 18 2023 3:43 utc | 623

lester@308
A good government whether it is a bloody dictatorship or whatever is one that carries out the instructions given it by the US Ambassador.
That is all that matters.
Following the US Embassy’s dictates is Rule #1 in the Rule Based Order.

Posted by: bevin | Nov 18 2023 3:47 utc | 625

Oops, misprint: 58 (vs 54) > 62 < 37. Much clearer!

Posted by: Scorpion | Nov 18 2023 4:08 utc | 627

Oriental Voice | Nov 17 2023 23:22 utc | 303
Who is the group that tried blowing up the pipeline? That woman, I forget her name that was ousted by the military – she was greatly applauded by the west. The fascist Abbott government here in oz supported her a number of Australians where over there working with her, helping to bring empire type ‘democracy’ to Myanmar. It was under her that we saw the Rohinga refugee or boat people problem. The ‘rebels’ kicked off when she was kicked out.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Nov 18 2023 4:36 utc | 629

Why the hell did President Xi agree to this visit?
Posted by: Jan Sobieski | Nov 16 2023 19:14 utc | 128
Hello?
Xi agreed to this meeting as a perfunctory exercise of big power diplomacy, to placate the minds and expectations of RoW and commercial sector audiences that China is not interested in direct conflict with the hegemon as yet.
Oriental Voice | Nov 16 2023 18:47 utc | 117
sln2002 | Nov 16 2023 19:29 utc | 139
Why – or how – should China be in direct conflict with itself??
Xi wouldn’t go to San Fran personally if his FM Wang Yi hadn’t reached a deal on his Washington visit. Crossing the ocean, only to come back empty-handed, would mean losing face.
Beijing agreed to keep buying US debt; Washington agreed to keep out of Israel/ Gaza. Deal.
We immediately saw the effects – stopgap budget w/o money to Israel & Ukraine, UNSC resolution passed.
Further signs of US withdrawal from ME conflict theatre(s) in coming days/ weeks, I suppose.
(financial markets now completely discount any possibility of escalation, btw)

Posted by: smuks | Nov 18 2023 7:33 utc | 631

Below is a Xinhuanet posting link about the Xi/Biden meeting which I encourage barflys to go to, scroll down and see the picture of Xi and Biden walking after their talk….reminds me of the Blinken pic after Biden called Xi a dictator
Xi, Biden hold historic summit, charting course for improving bilateral ties
The proof is going to be measured in actions…..
Read between the lines of this quote from the posting

They agreed to resume, on the basis of equality and respect, high-level communication between the two militaries, the China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks, and the China-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement meetings, and to conduct telephone conversations between theater commanders.

I wonder if there will be more ballon incidents?

Posted by: psychohistorian | Nov 18 2023 7:34 utc | 633

Below is a Xinhuanet posting that provides back up for the CEO’s wanting to meet with Xi

BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) — A total of 41,947 new foreign-invested companies were established in China during the first 10 months of the year, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed Friday.
The figure marked a 32.1 percent increase from the same period a year earlier.
During the period, foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Chinese mainland in actual use came in at 987.01 billion yuan (about 137.6 billion U.S. dollars), down 9.4 percent year on year.
Specifically, FDI in manufacturing rose 1.9 percent year on year to 283.44 billion yuan, with that in high-tech manufacturing logging an increase of 9.5 percent.
FDI from Canada, the United Kingdom, and France surged 110.3 percent, 94.6 percent and 90 percent, respectively, the data showed.
China has reiterated the country’s commitment to market opening up and its efforts to ensure a level playing field for foreign investors.
The country will shorten its negative list for foreign investment in a reasonable manner and scrap all restrictions for foreign investors entering the manufacturing industry, said Li Chao with the National Development and Reform Commission at a press conference on Thursday.

It is interesting that the posting/report does not include the US or other countries like Germany.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Nov 18 2023 7:45 utc | 635

Oriental Voice | Nov 17 2023 23:22 utc | 303
Haven’t read much about the so-called ‘rebels’, who supports them etc.
Was just wondering: What does this mean for the rail & pipeline connection from China?
The Rohingya rebellion broke out right next to the planned Sittwe port.
Pure coincidence, I’m sure…

Posted by: smuks | Nov 18 2023 8:49 utc | 637

Peter AU1 | Nov 17 2023 23:11 utc | 301
Oriental Voice | Nov 17 2023 23:22 utc | 303
smuks | Nov 18 2023 8:49 utc | 319
In response to all 3 points, I think you are all correct. Myanmar is a state that was designed to fail, a grouping of ethnic groups that have been constantly warring with each other.
There is the Chinese affiliated ethnic group in the south which I believe have connections to the old KMT golden triangle (hence the anti-communist/China elements). Then there is the brotherhood ehich is also close to or ethnically Chinese, and I believe their weapons and training come from China (even though China simultaneously supports the Junta too). They are the oldest and strongest ethnic army, and have largely sat on the sidelines until now, so most likely they have been given the green light by China.
Certainly the pro-junta groups think so, and this is the main reason why we have seen such a turn of events in Myanmar (according to the article below).
https://www.irrawaddy.com/specials/junta-watch/junta-watch-humbled-regime-helpless-as-china-demands-border-security-hiding-the-scale-of-defeat-and-more.html
I remember that when the Rhoyinga genocide began Aung San Suu Kyi was largely complicit, as were many Buddhist ethnic groups who took part in the killing, but that seems to have been whitewashed from our media (although I don’t take blame from the Junta either). During her diplomatic isolation much of the infrastructure deals were pushed through with China, and although she was pro western they weren’t particularly happy with the coup.
All in all a pretty messy situation.
I ended up doing a huge post which I was trying to avoid, but here is a couple of articles.
This is a rather weird article on former KMT soldiers in Myanmar:
https://theworld.org/stories/2019-08-28/they-were-cia-backed-chinese-rebels-now-you-re-invited-their-once-secret-0
And this is that mentions the Malacca dilemma, or the trade route, as well as some other interesting stuff:
https://www.cfr.org/blog/review-wa-myanmar-and-chinas-quest-global-dominance-bertil-lintner
They are rather western centric so you have to forgive some of the language, but some nice facts hidden within the jargon.

Posted by: Wee_Scot | Nov 18 2023 16:36 utc | 639

Myanmar,
Probably a couple of years ago I speculated about where the trained jihadists and Uyghurs would be deployed to after they got their head chopping training and experience in Syria and weren’t able to be deployed back to where they were supposed to in Chinas periphery. Xinjiang. Which was part of the Great Plan. And had been built up with lie propaganda in our mass media.
Just as Hong Kong and the ukraine had.
Given that the Syria Campaign had failed. They needed to be moved out quickly.
I speculated it would either be a new front in Myanmar or Ukraine. HK having failed. They couldn’t be sent to the Color crap being set up on the Chinese borders of where they were recruited from.
Many had to be sent to Libya pro temp – I guess it’s been decided that the remainder will be sent to cause mischief in Myanmar now.
Remember they have families! Many had Turkish passports.
There they will die to the last Uyghur, Muslim strangers in largely Buddhist country.
They obviously can’t go back to Xinjiang and fulfil their primary function as yet another proxy of natzio empire.
Unless they ask nicely and Xi lets them return and undergo a bit of de-natzio-fication.
After all apparently there are plenty of concentration camps there for re-education and de jihading. 🫢
Or they can try to start the new front in Myanmar.
The Myanmar peoples like the Taiwanese must be pretty trepiditious of their fate now seeing how it’s gone for Ukraine and Syrian proxies. Hopefully Japan and India are also watching and thinking thrice.
I guess Xi’s message hasn’t quite got through to the various Interests and there are a few Jack D Ripper crazies still in the Collective Wastes echelons. (Strangelove reference).
It will be all over by Xmas – this third world war which has been decided after 23 years, Our side lost – fingers crossed, eh? I’m looking forward to a peaceful last decades of my life. Not being euthanised as some Usless Eater and not being eligible to be Golden Billionaire.

Posted by: DunGroanin | Nov 18 2023 17:57 utc | 641

@Wee_Scot, #320:
Thank you for a great wrap up of an often ignored regional (the so-called golden triangle) situation that’s 75 years old, following the retreat and trapping of a remnant KMT army in Myanmar/Thailand. Thank you especially for the article about Gen Tuan Shi-wen. You seem to know the story background better than all three of the commenters you addressed. The story you linked to largely rhymed with the titbits I know since my early youth reading about opium trade in news papers of Hong Kong, and continued learning since then due to the ever present rivalry between KMT and PRC.

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Nov 18 2023 18:52 utc | 643

Wee_Scot | Nov 18 2023 16:36 utc | 320
Thanks. I have read in the past something of the many ethnic groups in Myanmar. I haven’t looked up the origins of its borders, but presume them to be imperial drawings on a map.
There appears to be a large area in that part of the world, from far eastern India to southern China, French indo China ect where in centuries past, many different ethnic groups have migrated to in times of turbulence in whatever part of the greater region they originated from.
General inaccessible and remote area for large armies to get into.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Nov 18 2023 19:16 utc | 645

Posted by: Wee_Scot | Nov 18 2023 16:36 utc | 320
Thanks for your posts and links. I would like to visit the village now exporting tea instead of importing CIA bullets!

Posted by: Scorpion | Nov 19 2023 12:36 utc | 647

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Nov 18 2023 18:52 utc | 322
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Nov 18 2023 19:16 utc | 323
Posted by: Scorpion | Nov 19 2023 12:36 utc | 324
Thanks for the reply. It was hard to sift through all the articles out there, so I am glad those couple were of interest 🙂

Posted by: Wee_Scot | Nov 19 2023 17:59 utc | 649

Biden’s panic over a Chinese “Spy Balloon” is particularly stupid. Spy balloons existed in the 1940s, along with zoot suits and Victrolas. But spy balloons were replaced by spy airplanes in the 1950s. Remember the U2? It replaced spy balloons. Spy planes, in turn, were replaced by spy satellites in the 1960s. China definitely has spy satellites and does not need to rely on random winds pushing a spy balloon some place interesting. Weather balloons, on the other hand, still exist and record winds, clouds, etc. They don’t need to go anywhere particular, so ramdom winds are fine.
Blinken is apparently is as ignorant as Biden, with less excuse. I presume he is not senile, anyway.
I’ve been puzzled by how many conspiracy experts immediately fell for Biden administration propaganda about “Spy balloon! Spy balloon! Panic!” Why do conspiracy fans trust the government? It’s a mystery.

Posted by: lester | Nov 20 2023 2:35 utc | 651

“Obviously any western imperialist critique of China is worthless crap, but are you saying that any critique of the Chinese government is useless?”
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Nov 16 2023 17:12 utc | 81
It depends on the critique, but most at MoA are probably too ignorant to be useful. Anyone who thinks PR China is still “marxist” or “communist” is too far our of touch with reality to deserve much attention.

Posted by: lester | Nov 20 2023 2:47 utc | 653

Does anyone know what Xi meant by this statement?
“We realized the poverty reduction goal of the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. In the process, over 1,800 CPC members lost their lives in the line of duty.”

Posted by: wagelaborer | Nov 20 2023 16:18 utc | 655

This is a terrific video that provides a good overview of Israeli thinking.
See- NURIT PELED : Palestinians do not exist in Israelis’ consciousness. Frank Barat Nov 7, 2023; https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=MBNpSvwnxHo

Posted by: Paul | Nov 21 2023 18:20 utc | 657

Is Biden one of those people, like Trump, who think it’s manly to be rude? It is in fact childish. Courtesy, by contrast. is adult behavior. In many cojntexts, it is even a survival trait.

Posted by: lester | Nov 21 2023 23:16 utc | 659

Does anyone know what Xi meant by this statement?
“We realized the poverty reduction goal of the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. In the process, over 1,800 CPC members lost their lives in the line of duty.”
Posted by: wagelaborer | Nov 20 2023 16:18 utc | 328

In case you see this, it means that over 1,800 CPC cadres doing poverty relief work in rural villages etc. died whilst on the job from things like sudden heart attacks, the car they were in getting trapped in a flood, etc.

Posted by: Beatrice | Nov 22 2023 10:08 utc | 661

In case you see this, it means that over 1,800 CPC cadres doing poverty relief work in rural villages etc. died whilst on the job from things like sudden heart attacks, the car they were in getting trapped in a flood, etc.
Posted by: Beatrice | Nov 22 2023 10:08 utc | 331
Thank you for that explanation. It still seems an odd thing to say. As an American, I’m used to that meaning there were gunfights or something.

Posted by: wagelaborer | Nov 23 2023 18:26 utc | 663