politics

Biden hosts Indo-Pacific leaders as China concerns grow

45 Comments
By AAMER MADHANI

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Mr. Biden and AOC are very much on different policy wavelengths. She and the most liberal Democratic members of Congress have deep differences on immigration, climate change, health care and support of Israel.

He's openly disagreed with many of her policies as well. But they don't tell each other that in the far right-wing channels.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

In geopolitics, nothing is absolute. That is its nature.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The further right you are, the farther a left-of-centrist like Biden appears. It's not that Biden has become any less centrist, it's that the extreme right has become further right.

That has been my own experience my entire adult life. Policy ideas like pollution credits and universal basic income were both originally conservative ideas that liberals were horrified of. None other than Milton Friedman came up with the idea of a universal basic income, which he termed a "negative income tax" and it was championed by Richard Nixon, only to die in the Senate Finance Committee two years in a row before Nixon abandoned the idea. It was two attorneys in the Reagan administration, John B. Henry and C. Boydon Gray, who came up with the idea of making companies pay to pollute. This was the genesis of pollution credits. Liberals and environmentalists were horrified but us economists immediately saw the potential to introduce market forces in the effort to reduce pollution. Polluting was free to the polluter (others paid the bill however in terms of suffering the effects of pollution). If pollution can be priced into the production of the polluting activity, there will be less pollution. Read literature on negative externalities to understand more. It took three decades for both ideas to gain acceptance with progressives, and just as soon as they came around, the right wing labeled both ideas socialist conspiracies and opposed them. Originally conservative Republican advocated concepts now labeled as socialist. Only in America it seems.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Extremism is bad - that’s why I oppose biden’s policies on…. well, everything. He just takes whatever AOC serves up and regurgitates it to his base - lies, propaganda, and racism and all. Yes, extremism is bad.

Mr. Biden and AOC are very much on different policy wavelengths. She and the most liberal Democratic members of Congress have deep differences on immigration, climate change, health care and support of Israel. Not being in the US apparently you are unaware of these differences.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

 China is no great threat militarily - its power is economic. It has no plans to engage in military adventures in foreign countries, unlike the US, which has invaded Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and involved itself in disassembling & destroying sovereign nations.

Before you say China is not a threat to anyone please explain the hundreds of new ICBM silos being built in northwest China. Please explain the PLANs ardor to build aircraft carriers and big deck amphibious assault ships. Please explain the J-20 and J-35. Please explain the thousands of IRBMs near the Taiwan Straits. Please explain how none of this constitutes "no great military threat".

Second, how can you say the US invaded Korea? The US had a small occupation force and no actual combat formations in South Korea at the conclusion of WWII. Remember it was a Japanese colony under US occupation while the UN attempted to negotiate national elections with the Soviet supported North Koreans. Ultimately the UN could not get the North Koreans and Soviets to agree to the terms of conducting a national election and forces from North Korea invaded South Korea. Now someone comes along 70 years after the fact and baldly states the US invaded Korea. How can you say that?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The Phillipines will soon join the Quad. LOL

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The intent should be: White Man out of Asia and the Aussies should learn their place as a suordinate and second world country - its only worth to supply raw materials to China. Japan should join with its neighbors and not a dwindling empire to the east.

A very racist and offensive post. Should I respond by saying China is not worthy of cleaning Australian boots and they should learn their place in the world as a third class country under the rule of megalomaniacs and racist leaders with no right to tell anyone what to do until they become civilized?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The Indian government also has concerns about the influence it believes Pakistan's intelligence service exerted in how factions of the Taliban divvied up government offices in Kabul.

Classic AP styled narrative.. does not even mention the name of the Pakistan's intelligence service, does not mention that Taliban was all created by the Pakistani army/ISI and is all but managed by them.. the ISI chief himself was supervising the operation against NRF.

https://theprint.in/opinion/global-print/what-isi-chief-faiz-hameeds-visit-to-kabul-has-to-do-with-new-taliban-govt/729165/

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The current American leadership is not able to deal with global affaires based on the Afghanistan fiasco and it’s inability to control its illegal immigration situation. I am skeptical that this new Quad initiative will lead anywhere but to a dead end and a strengthened CCP.

I completely agree. 100% on the dot.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

The Chinese economic powerhouse, created and paid for by USA corporate interests thru offshoring manufacture and assembly. Brought to you by among others, a man who spent the entirety of his life in the US Senate, topping it off with VP and now, a senile old man inhabiting the presidency, emplace by fatcat donors and big finance. He assisted in paving the way for China's rise.

Now the witless buffoon, following the lead of the vacuous Obama, is ready to take on China - not by besting the manufacturing & assembly behemoth, but thru flexing military might - which is all that remains of an Empire teetering on edge - its treasury drained by insane expenditures on its war machine. A war machine twice defeated by peasant armies in Asia. A country that produces reality teevee shows & elects one of its 'stars' el jeffe, following up with another witless fool. The USA manufactures and produces nothing. It's technological expertise, soon to be surpassed by China, India, Korea and Japan.

So. It turns to a baffling 'pivot to Asia', the be all which is simply to antagonize China and will bear no great accomplishment except to further drain the US treasury. China is no great threat militarily - its power is economic. It has no plans to engage in military adventures in foreign countries, unlike the US, which has invaded Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and involved itself in disassembling & destroying sovereign nations.

The intent should be: White Man out of Asia and the Aussies should learn their place as a suordinate and second world country - its only worth to supply raw materials to China. Japan should join with its neighbors and not a dwindling empire to the east.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

This is capitalism. Money talks. India and Japan will soon find some kind of "common ground" with China.

As soon as China ends its empire building and attempts to extend its territory, I am sure Japan, India and the world will accept a friendly China, if it ever comes to pass.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

At worst from a Chinese perspective, most of the rest of the Indo-Pacific is neutral.

From an allied perspective they are either openly with the allies or they are silently behind the allies.

Few will be neutral when it matters.

Most importantly, China is the largest trading partner for USA, India and Australia.

Trade with an enemy is not relevant if China starts a war.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Remember what happened last year when all the factories in China came to a grinding halt?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Modi endorsed Trump

Both are far right ultra-nationalists.

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China is the largest trading partner of over 120 countries in the world.

Including Japan, Russia, USA, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam, the EU as a whole and Germany separate from the EU. This is capitalism. Money talks. India and Japan will soon find some kind of "common ground" with China.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

China is the largest trading partner for USA, India and Australia.

China is the largest trading partner of over 120 countries in the world.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

No, it is all behind the Quad. Absolutely nobody is behind China. China is on the losing side.

I think it would be better if you stopped deluding yourself. At worst from a Chinese perspective, most of the rest of the Indo-Pacific is neutral. Most importantly, China is the largest trading partner for USA, India and Australia.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The former president was not known for cooperating with anyone, ever!

45 had his Proud Boys squabbling with each other, same with his Boogaloo Boys, and the different KKK factions loyal to him, and others in US Extreme right white nationalist movements, look at how his planned Jan. 6th insurrection failed even with his militias getting support from higher ups in the Trump sect of his QGOP, and other right wing pro-authoritarian/anti-democracy groups and media around the globe.

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"Biden and Modi also met prior to the summit for a one-on-one meeting. The president played up ties to India - referencing Vice President Kamala Harris' Indian heritage and even his own family ties to the subcontinent."

Wonder if Biden also brought up the fact that Modi endorsed Trump and exhorted Indian-Americans to vote for him at the Howdy Modi event in Houston 2 years ago, where Kamala Harris was also present.

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So if it's Japan, India, Australia along with the US, does that mean the rest of the Indo-Pacific is behind China?

No, it is all behind the Quad. Absolutely nobody is behind China. China is on the losing side.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

So if it's Japan, India, Australia along with the US, does that mean the rest of the Indo-Pacific is behind China?

If so, I hope Japan becomes neutral soon because it's on the losing side.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

The current American leadership is not able to deal with global affaires based on the Afghanistan fiasco and it’s inability to control its illegal immigration situation. I am skeptical that this new Quad initiative will lead anywhere but to a dead end and a strengthened CCP.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Desert Tortoise: the closure of Subic Bay was not really the end of the story. People should know.

Thanks to Chinese aggression, in 1998, less than six years after the closure of Subic, the Philippines and the U.S. signed a Visiting Forces Agreement, laying out the rules for American personnel deployed in the Philippines. In 2014, in the wake of a new round of aggressive Chinese actions,, the VFA was supplemented by an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which permitted the U.S. to rotate conventional forces through Philippine military bases. At around the same time, navy ships started berthing again at Subic Bay.

Finally, from 2016, the US military is permanently installed, once again, in. bases throughout the Philippines. These bases include: Antionio Bautista (strategically located near the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea), Basa Air Base, Fort Mangsaysay (the largest base in the Philippines, also now the largest training base for Philippine troops, too), Lumbia Air Base and Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base.

True, these are not giant new "Exclusively US Owned" Subic Bays. But to China these real, permanently established bases housing real US troops and air projection once again aren't exactly chopped liver, either! These bases make the country exactly the type of place one should NOT move to attack.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

"...as China concerns grow..."

What? Don't worry about a thing, China! Just like your "Peaceful Rise", this is simply a "Peaceful Pact" to "Peacefully Contain" any "Lone Wolves" out there in Diplomacyland.

Everyone knows that "wolves" are bad, and all agree that any reckless, overconfident and chauvinistic "Lone Wolves" (especially in diplomacy) need to be "Peacefully Responded To" with things like "Peaceful Intel Sharing," "Peaceful Patrols and Peace Gaming" and "Peaceful Nuclear Power".

Again, China, if you're going to "Peacefully Rise" like you keep telling everyone you are, then you have NOTHING to worry about! (And very soon, as the rest of Asia moves to once again get on the Winning Side of History, we, too, will all have far less to worry about, either!)

Say "hi" to the Soviet Union while you're at it for us, huh? Oh, wait...

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Democracies?

To a degree, perhaps. There is an appearance of democracy, yet the real leaders are hidden.

What on Earth are you talking about? The members of both houses of Congress and the President of the US are elected in very public elections and everybody in the world knows who they are. Same thing for the Japanese, Australian and Indian leadership and the members of their respective parliaments. Who are these "real leaders" who are "hidden". Be very clear with your answer.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

The Philippines will soon join the Quad.

Eh probably not. Strategically located, yes, but weak, corrupt and indecisive. Probably half the population doesn't want to be aligned with anybody and do not want foreign forces based there. Remember it was the Philippine Senate that forced the US to close its bases there. The US wasn't happy paying the amount of money they paid the Philippines either so there was no love lost either way. Just not a place I want to shed blood and treasure to protect.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@BertieWooster

It means the countries on America's side.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Democracies?

To a degree, perhaps. There is an appearance of democracy, yet the real leaders are hidden.

But then North Korea is the "People's Democratic Republic of Korea."

I wonder what this word really means ...

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

The Philippines will soon join the Quad.

If by "soon" you mean 5-10 years, hopefully right. The Phillippines absolutely need to greatly increase funding and modernization of their Military first, though.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Who cares what the Commies think.

QUAD is militarily very strong, it is the NATO of Asia, embraces democracy, and it is here to stay. In coming years, as they build up their militaries, we hopefully welcome Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, and of course Taiwan.

Taiwan - QUAD has your back.

5 ( +14 / -9 )

Under Joe's great leadership they will surely be able to deal with China

Your joking, right?

Joe has effectively undone what Don did with the arrest of Meng and Huawei. I am sure he had to have worked behind the scenes on this.

Meng keeps her integrity and does not plead guilty. Both the US and China are able to save face. This is a new chapter in Sino-American relations.

Joe may stutter and not recall names of foreign dignitaries, but this de-escalates tensions in the bi-lateral relations and something Don was incapable of doing.

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

"We are liberal democracies, believe in a world order that favors freedom," Morrison said. "And we believe in a free and open Indo-Pacific, because we know that's what delivers a strong, stable and prosperous region.

Well said.

It is good to see President Biden taking a lead on this and build a strong coalition. The former president was not known for cooperating with anyone, ever!

0 ( +11 / -11 )

Under Joe's great leadership they will surely be able to deal with China

Your joking, right?

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

Wakari, I’m sure Joe has China shaking in its boots.

-13 ( +5 / -18 )

Under Joe's great leadership they will surely be able to deal with China

-17 ( +5 / -22 )

The BRICS is nonfunctional, and in SCO, nobody listens to India. The US wants to sell expensive military equipment to India and restrict buying from Russia. By the way, India is the second-highest arms importer in the world.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Modi,is a Hindu national wingnut,who need to clean up his own act

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Wars are good for the economy some say!!!

-13 ( +4 / -17 )

Now that NATO is almost done with destroying the middle east, with plenty of war assets and destruction machines sitting in warehouses the time has come to dispose of these assets and start another war.

-7 ( +9 / -16 )

Given that India is a member of BRICS and SCO, this is just a paper alliance

-15 ( +5 / -20 )

A next breaking news: China applies to join the QUAD :D (and followed by application from Taiwan).

4 ( +10 / -6 )

The QUAD and it's further expansion are the only way to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific in the face of the threatening Chinese dictatorship.

6 ( +14 / -8 )

The Philippines will soon join the Quad.

12 ( +18 / -6 )

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