If Taiwan Is The Next Ukraine, Better Start Studying

Source: China Protests US Navy, Coast Guard Ships in Taiwan Strait, VOA

My last blog post made reference to a RAND study on perceptions of U.S. space programs in both Russia and China. The report noted how much more difficult it is for people in the West to understand Chinese attitudes and beliefs. Indeed, the authors could not even select ten space developments in recent decades that were seen as significant by Chinese publications they studied.

As U.S. warmongers clearly signal their intention to use Taiwan to weaken China

in a move analogous to using Ukraine to weaken Russia, it's time for me to do some studying.

Since information rather than propaganda is so hard to come by these days, I've compiled a digest that goes partway toward addressing that problem. I don't read Chinese so I'll have to rely on English translations or, in some cases, messaging prepared with a Western audience in mind.

I acknowledge that this is a very incomplete list of worthwhile readings, so I welcome your feedback and further suggestions in the comments.

China digest

outsider perspectives

Taiwan and the making of an 'Asian NATO' - Monthly Review Online, Danny Haiphong

China chip ban a US exercise in extreme self-harm - Asia Times, David P. Goldman

Countries struggling against US domination are inevitably turning to China - Friends of Socialist China, Margaret Kimberley

'China knows it's getting stronger' George Yeo on US-China tensions - South China Morning Post, Talking Post with Yonden Lhatoo

'Peaceful modernization': China's offering to the Global South - The Cradle, Pepe Escobar

Screenshot from a video of former Communist Party of China (CPC) Chairman Hu Jintao, age 79, being removed from the closing day of the 20th National Congress of the CPC. Xi Jinping is seated to his left when a man in a mask comes to escort Hu out.

The interpretations of this odd event are indicative of 1) the difficulty for Westerners to understand what's going on in China and 2) the often knee-jerk hostility where most commenters assumed this was like a Mafia hit or purge.  Other commenters said: Hu has Alzheimers and may have needed to attend to his personal hygiene. 

It is well nigh impossible for me to know the truth of what happened. So, I'll keep reading.

Chinese perspectives

Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects - Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, October 16, 2022, Xi Jinping

Special report on the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China - People's Daily Online (in Google English translation, for what it's worth)

‘Who Am I,’ video about CPC’s growth, purposes and goals, goes viral - Global Times

Who Am I? - YouTube