Many Of China's Neighbors Prepare For War

Boys Toys vs. Geography -- Alessio Patalano, The Diplomat

Wall Street Journal: China’s Neighbors Bulk Up Militaries

Despite Beijing’s efforts to cool tensions, many nations prepare for potential conflict

MANILA—China’s neighbors are moving forward with the modernization of their militaries with new fighter jets, submarines and other hardware, even as Beijing has tried to tamp down territorial tensions in the region.

The military buildup is an indication that many Asian countries see little reason to adjust their long-term preparations for potential friction with China, despite Beijing’s diplomatic and economic charm offensive.

China made a dramatic shift in its diplomatic approach at a summit in Beijing in November, adopting a more conciliatory tone. This included the first face-to-face meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe since both took power in 2012.

WNU Editor: China has territorial disputes with all of its neighbors .... and the Chinese have made it very clear that they have no interest in "backing down". Faced with such a position .... China's neighbors are getting nervous.

China Is Ramping Up Its Anti-West Message

In New China, ‘Hostile’ West Is Still Derided -- New York Times

BEIJING — Even as his government was making red-carpet plans to host President Obama this week, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, praised a young blogger whose writing is best known here for its anti-American vitriol.

In one widely circulated essay published by state news outlets titled “Nine Knockout Blows in America’s Cold War Against China,” the blogger, Zhou Xiaoping, argued that American culture was “eroding the moral foundation and self-confidence of the Chinese people.” He compared unfavorable American news coverage of China to Hitler’s treatment of the Jews. In another essay, he said the West had “slaughtered and robbed” China and other civilizations since the 17th century, and was now “brainwashing” it.

Mr. Xi, at a forum last month aimed at tightening political control of the arts, said the blogger exhibited “positive energy.”

Read more ....

My Comment: Anti-Western coverage and reporting is nothing new in China .... I have been seeing it for years. But no one in China believes this coverage (including its top officials), and if given the chance to immigrate and become U.S. citizens .... I would say that 80% of the Chinese population would take that offer right away. Where this negative coverage is having an impact is against countries like Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam. In these cases the anti-sentiment goes back generations, and it is deeply rooted because of history. Case in point .... while almost every Chinese citizen would jump at the chance (if given) to go to the U.S., none would take the offer of immigrating to a place like Vietnam or Japan.