quercetum comments

Falun Gong members abroad are persecuted widely by Chinese goons.

As they should be clamped down upon. They are no different from the Aum Shinri Kyo オウム真理教 targeting and exploiting the mentally weak and their savings.

He also said that Chinese Social media has many people from Taiwan asking for China to rescue and free them from tyranny and was shocked when I told him that most Taiwanese are happy to maintain the status quo and are not in need of rescuing by China.

When the Mississippi River is below normal levels, you can apparently catch easily, huge catfish as big as a dog, boasted my American friend to our Japanese guide in the mountain streams of Okutama this summer. He wondered if all the trouble of going down to the river and up the streams to catch little yamame 山女 or iwana 岩魚 was worth the trouble.

Catfishing is popular when the Mississippi is shallow around 6 to 8 feet of water - shallow enough to catch blue catfish but not deep enough to sink a submarine.

Catfishing also refers to the practice of luring someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona. Any victims here of a man posing as a beautiful woman on dating websites?

The social media sites in China with posts by imposters of Taiwanese beseeching the help of the motherland to free them from tyranny are done by pranksters caught up in the China Taiwan conflict wishing to create false evidence of Taiwanese discontent.

Most Taiwanese imo as well wish for the status quo to be maintained. If anything, they are making noise about Lai selling out to the US like Marcos for weapons and kickbacks. Here, I’m sorry to say, is the real mafia at work collecting its protection fees in the neighborhoods of the Asia Pacific.

These posts are no different from cnn articles of nuclear submarines sinking in the shallow Yangtze River with scattered sandbars.

There have been numerous examples, including a balloon, fridges, coffee machines, cranes, electric cars, subway cars, students, Confucius Institutes, Huawei, and TikTok. The list goes on and on and all are linked back in a malign way to a Communist Party conspiracy.

These pranksters and their posts target the naive to lure them into false beliefs. They are just another form of catfishing.

From long ago, Chinese were conditioned to regard themselves as being in a "parent-child" relationship with their government. This led to restrictive social controls and application of joint responsibility, failure of which could result in group punishments.

You might be referring to one of virtues and relationships of Confucianism but the ruler's main function in the Confucian state, as it is taught, was to educate and transform the people not by legal regulation and social coercion, but by personal rule, moral example, and mediation in disputes by the emperor and his officials.

The opposing thought would be legalism and so you had foils in the first emperor who united China 秦始皇帝 in the Qin Dynasty 221–206 BCE and the emperor who ruled with benevolence 漢高祖 and 漢文帝 in the Han Dynasty 206 BCE–220 CE.

This was similar, commented a Western teacher in China once, to be similar to an elder or a priest who’d settled disputes in the role of an ombudsman in the Biblical tradition.

The point is you lead by moral example and you would never be in that position unless you practiced these social mores. Someone like Donald Trump would never make it that far up in a system of Chinese meritocracy its system of Confucian mores, which shows how low, from the Chinese perspective, the bar is for US political leaders.

failure of which could result in group punishments.

Human nature is at play here along the lines of the practice of social exclusion Mura Hachibu 村八分 in Japan. This without a doubt exists in China from ancient times with plenty of examples in literature. Not everything is to the credit of the CPC.

The organization's interviews with 25 people, including those from Xinjiang, Tibet and Inner Mongolia, revealed that Chinese police or the Chinese Embassy in Japan have contacted them or their relatives in China, pressuring them to end their activities in Japan.

The CIA program in Tibet was an anti-China program with designs to keep the political concept of an autonomous Tibet alive within Tibet and among foreign nations.

The Americans promised to help make Tibet an independent country. All that went out the window when the Republicans changed tunes in rhe 70’s and chose China PRC over the ROC and threw Tibet along with Taiwan under the bus.

Now that the US is friendly with the ROC again, Tibet should appeal for hope.

These activists in Japan passing out paper fliers without even a QR code in Shinjuku aren’t going to get anywhere without separatist structure and a financial foundation.

A movie with Brad Pitt is not going to cut it. Why not start up the CIA program again?

Isabel, you are indeed confused.

Your celebration over the snap election reveals your lack of understanding and inability to draw the right conclusion. Ishiba was not going to call for an election but he changed as soon as he was chosen. You as an effervescent evangelist for Japanese democracy should be disappointed.

Ishiba has not even been installed as the Souri Daikin and some are saying that the kingpins are discussing whom to install after Mr. Ishiba. He unfortunately seems destined to be an interim prime minister which shows the sad state of Japan’s stagnant democracy and its incessant game of prime minister musical chairs.

The people, contrary to your clamoring, do not get to decide. It’s the party and its factions - much like the CPC - that decide: Aso faction, Abe faction, Nikai faction, Motegi faction, Komeito. Then they distribute the cabinet ministers accordingly: four ministers to the largest faction, two here and two there.

This closed group is akin to a neo-feudal aristocracy and we, not you though, are seeing pessimism and people losing faith in democracy as seen by the authoritarian nationalist gaining popularity and finishing runner up to another conservative who will become the temporary prime minister.

My assessment of Japan’s democracy is in the majority opinion here as you can see for yourself: nothing will change and we can expect the LDP elected and more of the same wash rinse and repeat.

Impossible to compare one countries Army Branch to the entire US military !

Thank you. It’s obvious English is not the native tongue of Daniel Neagari or myself Yes, Japanese military vs US military. That would make sense. A stronger military may upset the sole cart but is good for Japan imo.

Ishiba, per Asia Times, has some support in the Pentagon from his experience as Defense Minister and his interest in weapons development but has a reputation as a Japanese Gaullist, someone willing to forge a more independent path for Japan.

I am with Ishiba on this. Japan should and will carve its own path.

Sadly my Japanese sources tells me that Ishiba is chosen for the snap election on October 27. After the LDP keeps the majority rule, they’ll replace him. So much for the democratic Japan, Isabel. They are already grooming the next prime minister for after the election. Mr. Ishiba is just an interim prime minister. The real prime minister is Aso who supposedly calls the shots. .

The difference is that as far as we know, Ishiba is not in favor of reducing the US presence, whereas you are are in favor of reducing it and bringing in the PLA.

You are in favor of unwarranted assumptions and lacking in reading comprehension not to mention many other things. He wrote in his new book 保守政治家　わが政策、わが天命 (The Conservative Politician, Our Policies, Our Destiny) that he doesn't think Japan is a truly independent nation. I agree. What this means is that Japan needs to be stronger and needs to militarize to do so.

 share some Ishiba's view in this... but probably, a Japan Army that is able to be on par with the US military, may not seat well with some coutries around.

I share the same view with Ishiba. Japan is not independent if it depends on the US. I also am in favor of a Japanese Army that is on par with the US military.

Tell me how the US is not an authoritarian state. The police in China are like your family members and are addressed as uncles 叔叔.

I always thought flying aircraft off ships was more dangerous but what do I know. I was just a Navy pilot paid half of what a mid career police officer in San Diego was paid.

You didn't weigh in on this, Desert Tortoise, can a nuclear submarine sink in a river with a depth of 6 meters? Please enlighten Taiwan.

Well, were the videos and TV programmes completely unbiased, do you think?

Yes, that was redundant. Supporters are biased and subjective of course. Yes, who knows who the uploaders are in real life. Yet, they don't seem like crazies to me.

I wouldn't be surprised if these bullet trains are in the same condition 50 years from now. The standards are very high in Japan.

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Is there any minister who has not been recycled five times already? Any attempt at new thinking or any kind of vision?

New ideas and vision are not required. You listen and follow your superiors in this case Mr. Ishiba. If you tried or are the type that tries, you probably wouldn’t have been selected in the first place. Here are the new ideas.

Ishiba’s proposals include joint ownership of U.S. bases in Okinawa, with Japan taking an active role in their management, and the permanent stationing of Japanese troops on American soil to create a more balanced and equal alliance.

Ishiba believes that Japan cannot achieve full independence under the current one-sided security treaty with the U.S. He has outlined several proposals to address this imbalance. One key change he advocates is amending the treaty to create a more reciprocal arrangement, as it currently requires the U.S. to defend Japan if attacked, but does not obligate Japan to do the same.

I have found someone who can say exactly what I think of Japan, and I quote Ishiba, “I don’t think Japan is a truly independent nation yet,”

It may be a hassle to think but using your mind is better than just accepting fake news at face value.

I trust the link I posted which mentions nuclear subs over CCP disinformation but keep flailing.

Your link does not even claim Wuhan is building nuclear subs. Back it up. Show us where it says so.

The US from time to time puts out fake news. There is a budget of $1.6 billion to put out these kind of news.

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/china-cold-war-2669160202/

You have to produce something and not just pocket $1.6 billion dollars.

*The coronavirus was created by a lab in China

*China's economy is collapsing

*China commits genocide of Uyghurs (later turned to slave labor and then later cultural genocide)

*China only subsidizes Chinese EV companies

*Reports of cracks on Chinese aircraft carrier

*China's Three Gorges Dam is collapsing

*China lost control of its space station

Every single one of these is US propaganda.

I trust the link I posted which mentions nuclear subs over CCP disinformation but keep flailing.

Your link does not claim Wuhan is building nuclear subs. So back it up. Show us where it says so.

6 bankruptcies

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Yeah, a smashing “success”…

People choose a candidate based on different criteria. One way to choose is if a candidate is bought for and paid by the Oligarchy. The US is democratic among the capitalists. It is indeed a plutocracy and the election is a competition among the candidates put forth by Garchs but very little to do with the bourgeoisie.

Trump is different in that he will make his own decision instead of doing what he's required and obligated to do such as previous Presidents and Nikki Haley, Victoria Nuland, Kamala Harris and so on.

What might be happening is that nuclear subs are secretly being built in Wuhan and during a major construction accident, which the CPC is still making great efforts to conceal, radioactive materials spilled into the Yangtze River which flows into the Pacific Oceans. Many lives will be affected not to mention fish and marine food source. US officials are investigating the possibility of the coronavirus being tested in submerged ships. Live from Wuhan with more to follow.

Your pdf link says ships and submarines are built in Wuhan. It does not mention nuclear subs are manufactured in Wuhan.

Your pdf does not show a sub has sunk let alone a nuclear sub.

The CNN photo with a bunch of cranes presented as evidence is just that, cranes used in ship and submarine building. It does not show anything beyond that.

It is important to use one’s critical thinking skills to judge.

If I told you a nuclear sub sank off the pier in Memphis, Tennessee, why would you need a pdf that shows ships are built in Virginia to disprove that?

You wouldn’t if you can put two and two together.

It is fake news from CNN. I’m glad you brought it up to show how they try to fool the American public.

Wuhan does not make nuclear-powered submarine. The shipyard in Wuchang only makes regular diesel-powered sub. Nuclear subs are made somewhere else. See my post on this before and offer your refutation.

Wuhan is located in Yangtze River. The river around the shipyard is shallow, about 6 meters. Do you know how tall a nuclear sub is? No sub can "sink" there at all.

That photo, besides the points above, shows that a sub sank? Can you not think for yourself?

That’s like propaganda saying a satellite photo of a warehouse is evidence of genocide.

How would a nuclear sub sink up the Colorado river? Look up the words depth and shallow waters.

China is clever. They get these countries all bunched up wasting money militarizing while they win the economic war where the real battle is. Insert military strategist quote here _____.

The battle front is still with the chips, EV, AI, BRICS, non dollar international transactions and so on. The Chinese government support with the bottom up drive of Chinese entrepreneurs is a blazing bullet. Trump is aware of the dedollariization but says countries not using the dollar will be punished. Freedom is not for these countries.

The second battle front is in the global south where the majority of the population is. Here in this important geopolitical battleground, yet the US allies are missing in action and playing maritime activities in the Pacific. The US just keep deflecting and using its $1.6 billion Anti-China campaign with the latest on nuclear subs sinking in rivers 6 meters deep in Wuhan. An Australian submarine sank in the Todd river in Alice Springs. Who’s stupid enough to believe that? The US keeps procrastinating and putting off investing in Africa and Latin America.

Chinese products are flooding markets around the world yet the US keeps talking about missiles and getting Japan to buy more and pay more. China controls 75% of India’s smartphone market and 86% of Latin American EV market. What is the US and its allies doing?

The third battle front is still market access to the 1.4 billion market which is more than lucrative but not without hard competition. Volkswagon is closing down two factories in Germany (300,000 jobs) and its Audi factory in Belgium. It is investing in China but still has to close down factories in China.

Why waste your time and money in the Pacific? Why not subsidize your EV or AI industries? You need to have economic power for military power to be sustainable.

Whatever litter we have we take it home or back to the hotel if we stay in one. Too many Japanese do litter, especially discharging stuff from their cars.

They want the revenue from foreign tourists but are unwilling to pay a few hundred yen for stickers for trash. Put out trash cans and the littering will be reduced.

It's a popsicle stick. Just pick it up.

This is standard protocol. Wang Yi has to make a statement and the same with the statement on Ishiba visiting Taiwan. This is just noise.

The battle front is still with the chips, EV, AI, BRICS, non dollar international transactions and so on. Instead of missiles think top level Chinese government support with the bottom up drive of Chinese entrepreneurs. This is a blazing bullet.

The second battle front is in the global south where the majority of the population is. Here in this important geopolitical battleground, the US is missing. China welcomes a fight of completion. The US just keep deflecting about human right abuses, cotton picking Uyghurs, and nuclear subs sinking in rivers 6 meters deep. Yes, an Australian submarine sank in the Todd river in Alice Springs. Who’s stupid enough to believe that? The US is missing in Africa and Latin America.

Chinese products are flooding markets around the world yet the US keeps talking about missiles and getting Japan to buy more and pay more. China controls 75% of India’s smartphone market and 86% of Latin American market. This is like a forfeit. It’s no fun when there’s no competition.

The third battle front is still market access to the 1.4 billion market which is more than lucrative but not without hard competition. You don’t need to make any finished products or anything. Being a middleman or a supplier is more than sufficient.

When someone walks a dog past your house, your dog is going to bark every time. Does that mean the door to your house will all of a sudden automatically open and the two dogs will at each other and bite each other’s necks?

There will be no war in the Pacific. Go and compete against China in the economic war. That’s where China is decimating the competition that can only put up flimsy white flag tariffs.

ordinary Japanese still hold the US with highest regards, try to be more American and Anglicize their language every day a little more.

It could be related to the defeat of Japanese in the Pacific War, but the Japanese seem to have an inferior complex towards Americans whereas the Chinese are the opposite and have an arrogance, believing they are intelligently superior to the average American.

The Chinese are quick to point to their higher literacy rate than the Americans and do not think they’re inferior at all.

I have never met a Japanese who think they’re inferior to the Chinese or any other Asian nationalities.

Blinken's deputy, Kurt Campbell, recently told a congressional hearing that China posed a broader challenge to the United States than the Soviet Union did during the Cold War.

No, your narrative is China is collapsing. A collapsing regime poses no challenge to the United States.

Gavin Newsom visited China and he didn't come to see the Great Wall. Apparently he offered China the opportunity to invest $150 Billion into California Debt (Not Federal Debt).

China is the only country on earth who can cut a cheque of this amount without needing to borrow money from its public or print money.

You don't make such a request of a collapsing economy, do you?

But their real estate market is in shambles. Look at all those empty condos.

Is there a submarine shipyard in Wuhan? Why yes, yes there is:

They are insulting your intelligence. They literally think you would believe a nuclear sub sank up the Colorado river.

Nuclear subs are big. China doesn’t build nuclear subs in Wuhan. It’s too shallow in the Yangtze River.

China launched an IBCM. This is your country’s sorry response.

Harumi Yoshida of the CDP didn't. She came from an ordinary background, worked in London for 3 years in the financial sector and when she came back to Japan she beat an LDP incumbent who had been re-elected ten times.

My impression from watching Tiko Tok and YouTube short videos posted by Japanese in Japanese and from TV panel discussions is that Takaichi seems to have a positive reputation and high expectations from her supporters, who to me seem like ordinary Japanese and not the speaker blaring black van types. To finish second in the first round is a good start. Maybe she has to put in her dues and wait for her turn.

whether is Ishiba or Noda, Japan forever will be a leashed lapdog of US.

We don’t want the IJA of 80 years ago but we don’t want a vassal as well.

This is where Takaichi could have made an attempt to change things being conservative nationalist.

being a useful female mouthpiece for bigots and sexists in the LDP, never achieved anything in any of her ministerial portfolios, associated with neo-nazis and then lied about it

Perhaps as a female politician that’s what you gave to go through to first get your foot in the door?

On the other hand, the masses read the media and believe a nuclear sub has sunk in Wuhan. So gullible.

Oh but you....you know better, right? Because you just know things, am I right?

If you are intelligent and just add two and two together, you will know it’s absolutely fake news.

They don’t build nuclear subs in Wuhan. This is the same as selling Americans beach front property in Montana. So yes I do know.

I wonder how far Ishiba's plans for an 'Asian NATO" and joint management of US military bases in Japan will go.

No very far I reckon.

Last guy who tried back in 2009, Hatoyama Yukio, didn’t have any success at all and was sacrificed. Ishiba has a better chance.

Takaichi would have shaken things up a bit as Japan's first female PM. I feel sad that it's not going to happen in my lifetime.

I believe Takaichi would have been best for Japan to become independent from the US. Ishiba was next best and so I am not complaining. Ishiba had more votes than Abe in the initial round back in 2012 but was defeated by Abe in the second round per newstalk.

Right, the clapping penguin show comes with the national people's congress where the words of the Glorious Leader are endorsed.

Do you think it is sincere applause? It's just a formality, tatemae. On the other hand, the masses read the media and believe a nuclear sub has sunk in Wuhan. So gullible.

It is so childish.

It's like they want you to think, "hmmm Wuhan, I've heard of that before. That's that place where they researched the Coronavirus, isn't?"

I wrote this and then I read the following:

stormcrowSep. 27  09:10 am JST

Not surprising. As with Covid, the Chinese will dump anything into Earth's environment without giving anyone a heads up.

@sormcrow

You are the model citizen obediently falling for their fake news hook, line and sinker.

If a Chinese nuclear submarine sanked, why would US intelligence wait 3 months to report it?

If you say, they just found out about it? The evidence is a photo taken in June. It takes 3 months to figure out a nuclear submarine sank?

These days if a Submarine sinks, the signals alone can ensure that the Western Intelligence Agencies know that a submarine has sunk, and they would have reported it within a few days at the latest.

Where is the evidence? That photo there convinces you that a nuclear powered sub sanked? This is along the same lines as the satellite photo of some warehouse served to you as the evidence of Uyghurs are being killed in concentration camps.

To the Americans here, are you not insulted in the least bit by these fake news, okay by this fake news?

They think you are not smart enough to figure out where nuclear submarines are built in China: Tianjin, Qingdao, Bohai I can think of. They are all near the oceans, you know, where submarines go?

It is so childish.

It's like they want you to think, "hmmm Wuhan, I've heard of that before. That's that place where they researched the Coronavirus, isn't?"

There is a shipyard in Wuhan but nuclear submarines are not built in Wuhan. And subs are not built in Missouri.

Have you forgotten the "Connecticut incident"? That sub crashed at the sea mountain almost polluting the south China sea and the Pacific Ocean. Still not yet back to service after three years? Must be a very bloody nose.

Notice it was an "incident" and not an "accident." I do not believe it was an accident but a glimpse of how war will be fought in the South China Seas 21st century style: take out their system and subs become blind.

I am sure the US knows about what really happened.