Foreword by the Saker: Just as I was about to publish this interview with Jeff J. Brown, I got the following email for Larchmonter445:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/
english/2015-05/26/c_ 134269678.htm Yang, the man in glasses next to the woman interpreter, is top Councillor for Foreign Policy and often deals as a second Foreign Minister. They hide his importance by describing his portfolio as less than his actions and interactions. He is a brain on policy formation.I see this as the nuts and bolts of the upcoming SCO and actions against the Hegemon that they will coordinate in Iraq, Syria, Black Sea, Mediterranean and Pacific, as well as in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Ufa meetings are going to be huge. SCO and BRICS.These guys know they are in an octagon with a Komodo dragon, the Hegemon. There is no way out but victory. If they lose, it is the end of their civilizations.
In the meanwhile, George Soros warns of a possible war between the USA and China, and an influential Chinese newspaper agrees.
In this context, I think that the interview below is most timely and extremely interesting. I am immensely grateful to Jeff for agreeing to it.
The Saker
——-
The Saker: Please introduce yourself and explain your connection with, and experience of, China.
Jeff J. Brown: I have learned over the last 61 years that getting de-brainwashed takes a lot of effort, humility and personal courage. I get inspired reading about others people’s journeys to discovering the truth. Please allow me to share mine.
I grew up in Oklahoma, USA, in the 50s-60s. Red scare. Commies. Nuclear bomb shelters. Teachers practicing with us, “When you see the flash of light, duck and cover”. Sputnik. The space race. Kennedy (since learned it was a coup d’état). RFK and MLK murdered (since learned done by the deep state). Vietnam. Nixon. Sex ‘n drugs ‘n rock ‘n roll. Spent half my time in the city and half on a family farm. Driving a tractor, harvesting crops, cleaning manure out of animal pens, helping ewes give birth to newborn lambs at 3am in the freezing cold, riding a horse, hunting and fishing – all this left an indelible mark on my psyche. Getting your hands dirty and living the science and art of agriculture will do that to you.
Got a BS (Oklahoma State, 1976) and MS (Purdue, 1978) in Animal Sciences, thinking I was going to go back home and farm. But the Brazilian community at Purdue adopted me and I quickly learned Portuguese, discovering that I had a knack for languages (along with all the hard work to learn). Went to Brazil to seek my fortune as a soybean farmer. Couldn’t get anybody to lend me the startup money. In retrospect, I am not disappointed. Had I done so, I would probably be impoverishing local natives, clearcutting rain forest and destroying the environment, while getting very rich, at the expense of the aforementioned. Looking back, it’s not what I want to be during my time on Planet Earth.
Brazil whet my appetite to see the world. I became a volunteer for the Peace Corps, in Tunisia, as an agriculture extension agent (1980-82), learning fluent Arabic, speaking, reading and writing. This background got me into international agricultural marketing in Africa and Middle East (1982-90). During this time, I learned French, met my Parisian wife in Algeria in 1988, whereupon, we left for China in 1990.
We lived in China 1990-97, during what I call the “Wild East Buckaroo Deng Days”. I learned Mandarin fluently and became a naturalized French citizen. I continued to work in ag marketing (which gave me the opportunity to travel over much of rural China) and then built and managed the first McDonald’s bakery in the Mainland. Our two daughters were born while we were in China at this time. Needless to say, these seven years are a huge part of our lives.
Then, my wife and I owned and managed a retail business in Normandy, France (1997-2001). Since I had left the US in 1980, we moved back to Oklahoma, so we could spend time with my parents. I actually returned on the first flight (United from Paris) that was allowed back into US airspace, a few days after 9/11 (now known to be a false flag coup d’état). What a symbolic way to return home, for what was to transpire.
The America I left and the one I came back to, were two different countries. I was shocked by how rundown everything was, all the poverty below the surface, how superficial and self-centered everyone was, and how reactionary and insular the people were. It was buy-buy-buy-me-me-me. Given our eclectic experiences, my wife and I were like exotic, Dr. Seuss creatures from an alien planet. We never fit in, but the time with all my extended family was wonderful. We built up a big real estate business and lost everything we owned in the 2008, thanks to the “Save the Big Banks” middle class implosion. Our plans of becoming teachers for our retirement years got moved up in a hurry. We started working in Oklahoma City urban, minority schools that same year.
In 2010, we moved back to Beijing to teach in international schools, bringing our younger daughter with us. As depressing as it was returning to America in 2001, it was just as amazing and jaw dropping seeing China, after being absent for 14 years. Wow! I so much wanted to share what was happening, thus, I started a blog, doing extensive research in the process. Then I took my solo trip across China in the summer of 2012, to journal about it. This morphed into my first book, 44 Days, whose travels are really a metaphor about discovering China in history and current events, and how it all relates to the West. I then began writing my column, Reflections in Sinoland ( http://44days.net/44-days-blog/ ), which will be edited into an ebook, for release in summer, 2015. My classroom experiences inspired me to develop a method to teach English, which was just published, Doctor WriteRead’s Treasure Trove to Great English.
After Xi Jinping was elected president of China, I was and am still so impressed with him, that I am now writing an historical fiction, Red Letters – The Diaries of Xi Jinping, which will be out in print and ebook, the summer of 2016. It involves a massive amount of research, but I’m having the literary time of my life.
My arc of personal enlightenment about how the world really works has been a long, slow hyperbolic curve that has skyrocketed upwards in the very recent past. In 1972, if my draft lottery number had been drawn, I would have patriotically gone to Vietnam. That year, I voted for Richard Nixon, not George McGovern. Working and living with peasant farmers for two years in the Peace Corps opened my eyes to how the other 80% of the world lives, as well as eight years traveling all over Africa and the Middle East. Since I was involved in agriculture, my work got me out of the big cities and into the hinterlands of each country where I traveled, so I got the see “the real” Africa and Middle East. It was very educational and humbling.
While sensing the inequities and injustices, I was still firmly rooted in the myths of America’s moral superiority and divine righteousness. It was not until we returned to the US in 2001 and living in Bush World for nine years, that I began to see the rot of empire. Still though, I clung to the nobility of the “democratic” process and the mainstream media’s mind numbing consensus. I still believed at the time that the New York Times and The Economist were cutting edge journalism.
It was when we came back to China in 2010 that all the scales really started cascading off my eyes, traveling, researching and writing. Since then, I have spent thousands of hours studying genocide, empires, societal collapse, war, capitalism, colonialism, socialism, communism, fascism, false flags, the deep state, etc. (see http://44days.net/?p=1828 ).
I had now given up on the US, but being a dual national French-American, I still clung to the illusion that Europe, with its socialism, UN Charter on Human Rights and the lessons learned from two world wars, was the world’s last great hope for moral recovery. And then, like an amped up Hurricane Katrina, came the Western junta’s genocide in the Ukraine. For months, I followed with morbid horror (and continue to do so), the ugly face of not only American, but European fascism. My utter disgust and disillusionment with my ancestral home, Europe, was bitterly expressed in a column I wrote in September, 2014 (see http://44days.net/?p=1938 ).
So now it is all very clear to me. Western colonialism, false flags and color revolutions have never stopped since 1492. The methods and instruments of destabilization, exploitation and resource extraction have simply adapted. Empire, with its capitalism, war and fascism, is a three-headed Hydra, and it is insatiable.
There is a titanic struggle for the soul of humanity, our survival as a species into the 21st century, and it is Western Empire versus China, Russia, BRICS, ALBA CELAC and NAM. It is Xi, Putin, Maduro, Castro, Correa, Kirchner, Zuma, Afwerki and all the hundreds of world leaders the West has assassinated or deposed, versus Obama, Cameron, Hollande, Merkel, Abe and their thousands of satraps in the hallowed hall of imperial power.
The world needs a million more voices like The Saker, Pepe Escobar, Andre Vltchek, Kevin Barrett, Rory Hall, Dave Kranzler, Greanville Post, and the many other journalist/authors involved in this worldwide struggle for humanity’s very survival. It is an honor to lend my voice from the viewpoint of China’s people and their leaders, the latter whom I wryly call Baba Beijing.
The Saker: There is very little known in the West about Xi Jinping (Larchmonter445 sent me a thick volume entitled “On Ruling the State” with 79 of Xi’s political articles but to my knowledge, it has not been translated into English). How would you describe the man, his ideas and his goals? What kind of man is Xi?
Jeff J. Brown: If you are a member of the Western elites, their military and/or the deep state, you should be very, very worried, now that Xi Jinping is in power (ditto Putin in Russia). To better understand Xi, it helps to know about his father, Xi Zhongxun, as Xi is a proverbial chip off the old block.
Xi Zhongxun was a committed revolutionary from an early age. He was sent to prison at the age of 14 for trying to poison a teacher, whom he and his schoolmates considered to be a lackey for the foreign colonialists. He joined the Communist Party of China behind bars, in 1928, at only 15 years of age. Quite an auspicious adolescence.
Xi Zhongxun was also a very successful military leader in the Red Army and had fabulous organizational and managerial skills. Without him setting up operations in Shaanxi Province, where Mao & Co. arrived after the Long March ended in 1935, the Red Army may not have been able to push on to defeat the fascist Japanese and KMT, and kick out the Western colonialists, towards eventual national liberation in 1949.
Xi père and Xi’s mother, Qi Xin, were unfailingly committed to the Party and the Chinese Communist revolution. Herculean and bitter personal sacrifices were made by Xi’s parents for their country and Party. All their lives, they never gave up on the cause of socialism for the Chinese masses, even though they were purged, imprisoned (father) and sent to hard labor on farms (mother), 1962-1976.
Xi’s father was also very empathetic, being a successful conciliator and negotiator in Western China, before and after liberation in 1949, with local Tibetans and Muslim Ouighers. Xi’s father avoided as much bloodshed as possible and the more violent aspects of revolution. It was Xi’s father, who Deng Xiaoping sent to Guangdong Province, across the border from Hong Kong, in 1978, to defuse the volatile discontent among the locals, who were clamoring over the border, into the British colony, seeking work and a better lifestyle. It was Xi’s father, not Deng, who came up with the brilliant idea to create little Hong Kongs inside Guangdong, where the masses could work and realize their dreams. Thus, Shenzhen and the other Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were signed off on by the National People’s Congress, Central Committee, Politburo and Deng. Deng & Co. didn’t have any money, but they had the power of the pen to make Xi’s SEZs legal. The rest is history.
Xi’s father was also incredibly well read and erudite. Their house was full of dog eared books. Xi Jinping was sent to the countryside in 1969, to work as a peasant for seven years, during the Cultural Revolution. Xi did backbreaking, barefoot labor and learned to live with fleas and lice, while developing his nascent leadership and managerial skills. He arrived with boxes of his father’s books to keep him company. He read every one of them, many in the evenings, reading out loud under a kerosene lamp, to his less educated rural neighbors.
To this day, Xi Jinping is probably one of the best read world leaders in office, having and continuing to read hundreds of Russian, Greek, French, German, English, Spanish and American classics (fiction and nonfiction), all the huge canon of Chinese works, as well being extremely well versed in Marxist-Leninist-Maoist writings. Xi even got an additional college degree in Marxist Theory and Law, 1998-2002, while he was governor of Fujian. He never stops reading and learning, claiming that it is his greatest personal passion.
It also needs to be pointed out that Xi Jinping, like his father, is a military man. He has been in the PLA since 1980 and held high level, military command posts everywhere he went throughout his 35-year career, at the local, provincial and finally, national level. His wife, famous revolutionary songster Peng Liyuan (she sings Russian folk songs like a native), is also a lifelong member of China’s military. Like Xi’s mother and father, he and Peng are proud Chinese soldiers and communists, through and through.
Finally, like his father, who also saw the highs and lows of the human condition, Xi Jinping’s broad life experiences and empathy make him an excellent judge of character, which is invaluable as a leadership trait. As president and top military leader of China, he is involved in choosing hundreds of team members, and he has a knack for picking the right people, as well as removing the ones who don’t perform.
So, all of this was imbued in Xi Jinping from birth. While a child of privilege, due to his father’s legendary standing in China’s modern history, his parents emulated and taught Xi Jinping empathy, frugality, simplicity, humility, hard work, sacrifice, fairness, reasonableness, tolerance for other people’s differences, a thirst for knowledge and loyalty to country, revolution and Party. If much of this sounds like Buddhism-Daoism-Confucism, well it is. When Xi was in Fujian Province, 1985-2001, he was in contact with many Taiwanese visitors. While an avowed atheist, Xi became very interested in this ancient foundation of Chinese society, which richly flavors Taiwan’s people. Today, Xi is reaching back to this tripartite cornerstone of Chinese civilization, to invoke his “moderately prosperous” Chinese Dream (much as Putin has with Russian Orthodoxy), and to hone his decidedly anti-Western Empire sentiments.
Lastly, unlike his father, who always preferred to work in the background, Xi Jinping is showing himself to be a master of media and public relations. He deftly uses TV and print media to the Party’s advantage. His books are being translated into several languages and, The Governance of China, has already sold four million copies overseas. The Chinese Dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation, is also available internationally.
All of his books and speeches are now available for free via a phone app in China. Over the Chinese New Year, the Party produced three short animated cartoons that went viral, depicting Xi cleaning up corruption and working for the masses to achieve the Chinese Dream and Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation. His wife, Peng Liyuan, and Premier Li Keqiang, add savvy media support for Baba Beijing at home and around the world too. No other modern Chinese leader, apart Mao, has used the media as masterfully as Xi.
As I have said in a number of radio shows and columns, the West has no answer for Xi Jinping (nor Putin, for that matter). The world is officially in the Xi Era (and you could just as well add, Putin Era). All of this will be fleshed out in fascinating detail, from his birth to the present, in Red Letters – The Diaries of Xi Jinping (including all those meetings and phone calls between Putin and Xi).
The Saker: Both Larchmonter445 and myself see the new relationship being built between China and Russia as one of symbiosis. Larchmonter445 speaks of a “double Helix” and I call a “symbiosis”. In my opinion, this symbiotic relationship between two empires/civilizations/superpowers is something unique in history and possibly one of the most important events in world history. Do you think that we are exaggerating the importance of what Putin and Xi have put in motion or not? If we are, how would you characterize and assess the type of relationship which is being built between Russia and China?
Jeff J. Brown: While clearly coming from very different backgrounds and civilizations, Putin and Xi have much in common philosophically, because so many of the aforementioned human values transcend cultures. The key is whether peoples’ leaders choose to follow them, and clearly the West’s haven’t done so, for the last 500 years. I think it is clear that Xi and Putin are trying to change the sordid dynamic of Western colonialism and are working hand in hand to make the 21st century different from the past.
Putin and Xi obviously like and respect each other as humans and leaders, but both countries and their peoples also have much in common. Yes, Russia and China committed genocide, as they expanded across Siberia, and out of the Yellow and Yangtze River basins, respectively, to create their “natural” borders. But other than China colonizing Vietnam from about 100BC-900AD, neither country poured across the planet like Europe and then America and Israel, devouring, like locusts, everything in their colonial/settler paths.
Also, both China and Russia have spiritual foundations that are different to the Catholic/Protestant/Jewish West, with China’s aforementioned 3-in-1 religion and Russia’s Orthodox Church. Yes, Russia has dirty hands for colonizing China, along with Westerners, during the 19th-20th centuries, but both countries can empathize with each other for constantly being invaded: Mongols, Japanese and Europeans. Both have had huge impacts on world philosophy, literature, the arts and music. Both countries have non-Latin languages, which are hard to learn for outsiders, making cultural connections with the rest of the world that much more difficult. Ironically, they often have to use an imperial European language to communicate with outsiders, even between themselves.
Appreciating all this commonality, it is an interesting speculation of history to wonder what would have happened if Mao and Khrushchev had not had their infamous, and ultimately, disastrous split in 1960. Just think of the possibilities for the world, if they had hung together against the West, especially now that we know Khrushchev was an early day Gorbachev, working tirelessly with John Kennedy behind the scenes for world peace, until America’s deep state coup d’état on Dealey Plaza, three years later.
So in fact, the Putin-Xi-Russia-China alliance is not an anomaly. It was simply put on hold for 55 years.
The Saker: There has been amazingly little coverage in the West of the new Russian Chinese Strategic Partnership (RCSP) and when there has been coverage of it, it was mostly looking at the tree and missing the forest, that is to say that contracts between the two countries were mentioned, joint military maneuvers described, and even some commentaries were made about a “rapprochement” between the two countries. But the staggering implication of the two countries essentially joining each other at the hip in economic and military terms are never discussed in the West. How much coverage of this new symbiosis has there been in China? Are most Chinese people aware of the fact that Xi and Putin have basically made the two countries interdependent?
Jeff J. Brown: You can talk to any Chinese person on the street and they know the score. Russia good. America bad. Right now, Western Europe is getting a pass, for the most part, in the media. Like Putin & Co., I think Baba Beijing is hoping that Europe, especially Germany, will break the chains of its demonic slavery to all things Uncle Sam, and come over from the dark side. That is still very much open to debate, especially after the shameless war crimes against humanity unfolding in the Ukraine, and now Macedonia, and Serbia, and Gladio, and NATO, and Greece, and NSA/MI6/BND – did I leave anything out?
Everytime Putin and Xi talk on the phone, every meeting between their foreign ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi, every Russian dignitary who comes to China for an official visit, everytime Baba Beijing sends someone to Russia for a tête-à-tête, every deal signed – it all gets reported in China on Page One. The May 9th, 70th Anniversary Great Victory Moscow parade, with Xi sitting on Putin’s right side, as they watched the PLA proudly marching on Red Square below, was an 18 month culmination of Baba Beijing planting in the consciousness of the Chinese their commonality with the Russians, in victory over fascism. This new consciousness is going to be brought to dizzying heights in Beijing, on September 3rd, when Putin sits with Xi on Tiananmen Square, as China celebrates its 70th anniversary and an official, new national holiday: “Victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and World Fascism”. By including Japan’s name in the new holiday, Baba Beijing is almost daring Western leaders not to attend the parade, thus bonding China’s and Russia’s unique role in World War II history. In effect, it is not Russia’s celebration, nor just China’s celebration. It is their and their peoples’ collective victory. The importance of these two parades, their massive show of military force and solidarity, in the face of Western Empire, cannot be understated.
The Saker: There is little doubt that the US has done everything possible to alienate and antagonize Russia. As for Europe, it has convincingly shown Russia that it is a US-run colony with no opinion or policy of its own. So the Russian re-direction to the East, South and North is rather easy to explain. But what has motivated China to decide join Russia in such a symbiotic relationship? Did the USA not have much more to offer to China than Russia?
Jeff J. Brown: Both Russian and Chinese leadership know the classic book, Admiral Alfred Mahan’s The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660–1783 (1890). Its thesis is simple: control the high seas around Russia, China and the rest of Eurasia/Middle East, and you control the human and natural resources of Earth’s biggest continent. Then, in post 1990 Russia and with China’s meteoric economic rise, both sides saw the light (actually, until Putin was elected Prime Minister/President in 1999-2000, it was Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nazarbaev, who was reading Sea Power). At first independently, and then together, Russia and China informally wrote their own Eurasian manifesto: Western Empire can control the high seas around us, but they cannot control the landmass of our continent, unless we let them. And thus, organizations like China’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Belts and Roads Initiative (B&R), and Russia’s Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) have become part and parcel of Asia’s lexicon and vision.
Foreigners laugh when I say this, but the Chinese simply don’t like the West. And with America as the Empire’s viper head, Uncle Sam comes in last place. The Chinese understand history much better than Westerners. They will never forget their Century of Humiliation, 1840-1949, when the UK and the US engaged in what is called, “the longest running and largest global criminal enterprise in world history” – enslaving the Chinese people with opium. They, along with the European colonial powers, then proceeded to cart off the nation’s silver bullion and rob it of its agricultural, mineral, forest and human resources.
When the slave trade was abolished in the United States in 1865, it was the Americans who took this fabulously profitable business model to China, where US flagships kidnapped and enslaved an estimated one million Chinese coolies, who were sold all over the New World. The Americans raked in this filthy lucre, until they were shamed into finally stopping it in 1874.
During WWII, the Americans plied the corrupt Chiang Kai-Shek with billions in cash and weapons (much of which he stole or sold to the Japanese), to fight Mao and the Red Army. Then the US made sure that Chiang and his mafia KMT made it safely to Taiwan, to be the West’s “real” China.
Since liberation in 1949 up till today, the US has relentlessly tried to destabilize and overthrow China’s Communist government, via Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Burma, Vietnam, Japan, Korea and on and on.
For the Chinese, what is there to like about the West, especially the USA?
The Saker: You have recently recorded three very interesting radio shows about China and Russia (see here http://44days.net/?p=2439 , http://44days.net/?p=2451 and http://44days.net/?p=2493 ). Can you please summarize for us what you think the Chinese want from their relationship with Russia in the middle to long term? While the two countries will not fuse to become one, or even form a confederacy, do you think that China would be interested in joining the Eurasian Union or negotiate some kind of open borders agreement with Russia?
Jeff J. Brown: I earlier mentioned the CSTO, EEU, SCO and B&R. The first two are Russian inspired, the latter two are Chinese. The first of each pair is security and strategy oriented. The latter pair are trade based. During his May trip to Moscow with Putin, Xi stopped and met with Nazarbaev in Kazakhstan and then with Belarus’ President, Alexander Lukashenko. The Chinese press said they all talked about synthesizing these organizations into a holistic whole. Obviously, both sides want their influence, but I am confident they will sort it out. They have to. America’s Sixth fleet is parked off China’s and Russia’s Eastern shores, the US is militarizing Japan, threatening them both, not to mention, banks of NATO missiles are all pointed their way from Europe.
For cross border relations, rail and transport bridges are open across the Sino-Russian border. Just this week, China and Russia proposed a high speed rail line between Jilin Province (in Manchuria) and Vladivostok. The largest engineering project in human history, the gas and oil pipeline system between Russia and China is being built. All of this is going to continue to intensify and diversify. While I don’t think we will see a Maastricht Treaty, with the free movement of nationals moving from one country to another, I do foresee a day when Russia and China have a border like Canada and the US: no visa, register your passport and go through customs, coming and going. I think Mongolia will eventually be included in the deal.
The Saker: Russia and China have engaged in unprecedented joint military exercises and Chinese officials have even been given access to Russian strategic command posts. Russian and Chinese admirals have given joint reports to Xi and Putin during a video conference organized by the Russian military. Russia is now facing a direct US/NATO threat in Europe while China is threatened by the USA from Japan, Taiwan, Korea and over the Spratlys. If it ever came to a real, shooting, war between the USA and Russia or between the USA and China, do you expect that Russia and China would be willing to get involved and actively support their partners even against the USA?
Jeff J. Brown: Great question, Saker. If the US strikes either China or Russia first, it’s probably World War III and humanity ceases to function as we know it. While there is no announced treaty alliance, we have no way of knowing what Russia and China have agreed to secretly. It is also possible that China and Russia have told NATO back channel to the effect, “You mess with one of us, you deal with us both”. I’ve always wondered if that might be the case, given America’s reluctance to push the pedal to the metal in the Ukraine and the South China Sea. The helping China and Russia wouldn’t even need to fire a shot. Just use all their technology and tricks of the trade to neutralize NATO’s satellites, radars, communications, computer systems, etc. Or either one of them could start selling off their mountains of US Treasury debt. In fact, both of them may have told Obama that if he pushes too far, they will start dumping bonds. Napoléon Bonaparte famously said that whoever is the creditor calls the shots.
What if Russia feels the need to intervene militarily in the Donbass, or if the Americans can get the Japanese or Taiwanese to do something really stupid? Or of course, the tried a true method of manipulating history: a big, fat false flag in either region, to get the desired result? I guess we will find out the hard way. But think of it this way: the B&R/SCO-EEU/CSTO framework and all its tremendous synergies and potential, just dissolve away, if either China or Russia fall to Western Empire. If you were Putin or Xi, would you just stand there and let the 21st century and humanity go down the drain?
Then again, both getting involved probably means WWIII and we know how the history books will probably be written as a result, if there is anybody left to write them. What is so scary about all these ponderings is that while Putin and Xi are keeping their heads down and taking care of business around the Asian continent and across the planet, America is so wantonly reckless and out of control. Uncle Sam is like an overdosed meth freak on PCP. It makes me shudder.
The Saker: It is rather obvious that both China and Russia need a de-dollarization of the world economy, but that they don’t want to trigger such a brutal collapse as to crash their own economy. This is especially true of China which is heavily invested in the US economy. Russia is trying to slowly and smoothly pull herself out of the dollar-centered markets. What is China doing? Do you believe that there are plans in China to “de-Walmartize” the Chinese economy or is it still way too early for that?
Jeff J. Brown: Let’s face it, Saker, when the US dollar economy collapses, it could easily trigger WWIII. It is going to be that cataclysmic. And when it does happen, Israel knows they can start counting the days when the gates of Jerusalem change hands for the 45th time, in that city’s heralded 5,000 year history. Israel is at least as out of control as the US, maybe even more so. Their 200-300 undeclared nukes would surely make a mess of Mother Earth and what they started would surely trigger WWIII, with all the depressing outcomes to go with it.
So I think Baba Beijing, as well as everybody else in the world, Russia included, are hoping that the Western financial house of smoke, mirrors and cards can keep going on for as long as possible. Why? Because like ants harvesting for the winter, BRICS, CELAC, NAM and all the other anti-Empire coalitions are working feverishly to organize, plan, implement, found and institute as many entities, agreements and systems as possible, to soften the eventual economic Armageddon. Great examples include the Sino-Russian CRIFT (anti-SWIFT), UCRG (anti-big three credit agencies), BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Banco del Sur, PetroCaribe and on and on. Just today, China announced that it is setting up the world’s largest gold fund ($16.1 billion), with 60 countries already signed up, to develop gold mining and commerce along, where else – the Asian continent’s Silk Roads, which Admiral Mahan’s ghost can only dream about controlling.
About the Chinese economy de-Walmartizing itself: ironically, to get over the need to drive the economy based on exports and capital investment, Baba Beijing is doing everything in its power to increase internal consumption. Environmentally, with 1.3 billion citizens, that’s kind of a frightening thought, if the Chinese try to imitate the US model of gluttonous, Hampshire hog overconsumption. But the key words in Xi’s Chinese Dream are, “moderately prosperous, socialist society”. I believe Xi, with all his upbringing about frugality and simplicity, finds American “shop till you drop” consumerism to be a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah. After 35 years of the Deng Era, with its crass, US style materialism, Xi is setting a new philosophical course for the Chinese nation: the very Buddhist mantra of “less is more”. A jet ski, a Harley and a SUV in the three-car garage are not going to buy you inner peace and happiness, nor is the newest model BMW or Hermes handbag.
The Saker: What about India in all this? There apparently still is a lot of suspicion in India about the true motives of the Chinese, not only about “South Tibet” and border issues, but also about Chinese support for Pakistan and a general suspicion that China might use military force as it did in 1962 and 1967. What are, in your opinions, Chinese goals towards India. Does China still have expansionist plans towards India? Are Indian suspicions still warranted? Furthermore, Russia, China and India are members of the BRICS. It appears to me that for Russia to achieve a comprehensive and long term peace treaty between China and India would be a top strategic objective as tensions between China and India only benefit the US Empire. Likewise, it appears to me that for China it would be far more important to achieve a comprehensive and long term peace deal with India than to resolve petty border disputes and give support to Pakistan. Am I correct here, or am I missing something? Do you think that Russia and the other BRICS countries have the means to push both China and India away from their current “cool and cautious” relationship and into a real alliance? What kind of relationship with India would China ideally want?
Jeff J. Brown: India truly is the $64,000 dollar, er, yuan/ruble question, isn’t it? We have to go back to postwar history to get a proper perspective. Comparing China and India since then, has been nothing but a study in contrast. India got its independence in 1947, two years before China’s. It was (and still is) the world’s largest “Western” democracy. China’s liberation launched one of the greatest experiments in human history, in political, social and economic revolution. India was the Crown Jewel of the British Empire, with decent infrastructure, governing bodies, institutions and “civil society”, at least among the country’s educated elite, who helped run India during the UK’s 300 year, colonial rule.
Mao inherited a devastated, 19th century hellhole, with drug addiction and almost no infrastructure, outside what the colonialists built to ship in the opium and haul off all the loot. The British Raj made sure he would leave a legacy of tension and religious strife, by partitioning off Pakistan and messing up the borders between India, China and Pakistan. The US made sure that the Communists had their anti-China, by helping Chiang Kai-Shek and his fascist KMT escape to establish Taiwan. Both China and India had vast land masses and huge populations to drive their economies.
Before Russia and China ended their split in 1989, Deng Xiaoping famously said that if the 21st century was to be Asia’s, then China and India had to do it together, to make it happen. But it hasn’t turned out that way, at least until now, has it? India had what the French call, a “champagne and caviar” revolution, where the local Indian colonial elite took over where the British left off. Departing Lord Mountbatten appointed Jawaharlal Nehru as prime minister, King George VI’s royal pick, Mr. Indian Establishment. The colonial hierarchy and all its institutions largely stayed, only to be managed by the Indian elite. This sclerotic, corrupt system was kept in place.
Contrast that to China’s dictatorship of the people, where Mao and the Communists cleaned up their political, social and economic house. Out with the colonial compradors and running dog capitalists, in with taking China from the 19th to the 20th century in one generation, standing tall and proud, without any help from the West. And they did it, with massive success across the country (listen to http://44days.net/?p=2386 for the amazing story). The Mao Era transformed China and dramatically improved the lives of the vast majority of the people, while “Western democratic” India floundered economically and politically, going through prime ministers like poop through a goose.
It was a bitter pill for Indians to swallow. And that was even before the Deng Era, with its double digit growth and another economic and social revolution, which world history had never seen before, and probably never will again. So, it is easy to see why Indians are a little bit techy about comparing themselves to the Chinese, and why they have a bit of a chip on their shoulders. It’s only human nature.
Recently, more frustrations set in, with the Xi-Putin-China-Russia Express flying at breakneck speed. Wasn’t Russia India’s longtime friend? What’s going on? Again, the Indians felt slighted by the Chinese. However, it often boils down to leadership and India seems to have finally gotten a prime minister worth his salt, someone who can belly up to the geopolitical bar and state India’s case, Mr. Narendra Modi. With the Indian Grenadier regiment marching alongside China’s PLA in Moscow on May 9th, reciprocal Xi-Modi state visits, Putin’s state visit to Delhi and Modi’s scheduled two visits to Russia later this year, it looks like Deng’s vision may finally be realized. Western Empire is still a dangerous giant straddling the world. I am sure that Deng is smiling in his grave, knowing that his China-India dream now includes China’s long lost socialist brother-in-revolution, Russia.
But it will not be all that easy. The British Raj intentionally left that terrible border legacy between China and India, and with Pakistan as well. China and India had a border war in 1962, which the Chinese won. Ouch. More Indian egos bruised. But India got even, taking back Sikkim in 1967. The fact that much of it is religiously fueled, makes it that much more intractable. Hindus believe that the map of India is in the shape of Bharat Mata, the Mother Goddess of India, and any land conceded to China or Pakistan is tantamount to removing part of her head. Nor are we talking about a few islands in the Amur River and some slivers of land between Russian, Mongolia, North Korea and China, all of which have signed formal treaties in the last 25 years, to settle their boundary disputes. Modi and Xi have 138,000 km2 on the table, with Tibetan Buddhists, Pakistani Muslims and Indian Hindus glaring menacingly over their shoulders. It’s a nightmare. The world’s highest highway, running between China and Pakistan over the Khunjerab Pass, then down to the Port of Gwadar, which the Chinese are managing? Baba Beijing pitched it to India first and was given the cold shoulder, largely due to public pressure on the government not to “give in” to the Chinese on the border dispute.
Leaving out Pakistan for the moment, the Indians have much more to lose over this than the Chinese. While it would be hard for China to give all its disputed land back to India, I think Baba Beijing could go to the Chinese people and explain why they gave back, not all, but more than half. I believe this is what Modi meant, when he gave his speech this month in Beijing, asking the Chinese to please consider India’s “special situation” (about the border dispute). He asked publically, like a gentleman, rebuffing India’s very vocal and volatile nationalists.
Huge steps were taken during Modi’s visit. There has been no diplomatic or military contact between China and India, since the 1962 and 1967 wars, to address the issue, just pot shots over each other’s heads and the occasional skirmish. Now there are red phones installed in Beijing and Delhi. Generals along the border will now regularly meet to discuss any sore spots. And most importantly, there will be high level, diplomatic discussions every six months, to specifically settle the border terms. The Raj was a demonic genius and it’s been a long, destructive half century.
The Indian-Chinese border dispute is the biggest weak link in forging an alliance between Russia, China and India. Russia, with its historical warm relations with India, has signaled a willingness to play the intermediary. Let’s hope these three countries prove the Washington-London-Paris-Tokyo consensus wrong. A locked-arm, trident alliance between China, Russia and India might even give Western Empire pause. Throw in Iran and maybe Uncle Sam might even want to sit down to talk.
The Saker:There are regular rumors and speculations about a new joint reserve currency to replace the dollar. Some speak of a Ruble-Yuan currency, others of a “BRICS” currency, possibly back by gold. This rumors are strengthened by the fact that both Russia and China have been and, apparently, still are buying all the gold they can. Is there support in China for such a “gold-backed BRICS currency basket”?
Jeff J. Brown: China and Russia are the two largest gold miners in the world. They are both buying gold at a prodigious rate (although I have not checked Russia’s purchases since the Western oil-ruble gambit was put into play). It is no secret that China wants to have as much gold as the US’s supposed 8,500MT. China’s gold reserves are a state secret, but estimates are Baba Beijing has somewhere around 3,500MT, maybe a little more. China will be required later this summer to officially declare its gold reserves, in order to have the renminbi considered as a currency in the IMF’s special drawing rights (SDR) basket. I think they will want to be able to say they have more gold reserves than #2 Germany, which officially has 3,400MT (if only the Bundesbank could get it out of American vaults, which seem to be having a hard time coughing it up).
There is a talk of the “Brisco”, a BRICS currency. The new BRICS NDB will help make that vision become a reality. That would pull in Russia and China together for trade and financing, along with India, Brazil and South Africa. Russia has apparently just invited Greece to join BRICS too, and would have not done so, without consulting the other members first.
Yuan-ruble trade will increase exponentially, when the gas and oil pipelines start flowing in 2018, with CRIFT and UCRG humming at full speed. But I don’t think Russia and China are envisioning a “Ruyuan” binational currency. There is just not enough critical mass there. The Brisco seems much more fungible and international.
The Saker: Lastly, what kind of future do you see for China in the next couple of decades? Where is this country headed and what kind of role do you think it sees for itself in the future world?
Jeff J. Brown: For hundreds of years, China had the world’s largest economy. Finally in 1872, in the depths of opium addiction, coolie slavery trade and extractive colonialism, it fell from its longstanding pinnacle, against the rapidly expanding settler/colonial American Empire. So, China is accustomed to greatness. Becoming the world’s biggest Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) economy last year just feels natural around here, and that Century of Humiliation was simply a nadir not to be repeated.
China had the world’s greatest naval fleet 200-300 years before Europe, possessed gunpowder and invented firearms. They sailed all up and down the Asian, African and Middle Eastern coasts and into the Indonesian archipelago, long before Columbus. Unlike the West, it only wanted one thing: win-win trade and cultural exchanges. Other than Vietnam, China has never had imperial ambitions, nor a hegemonic drive to control the world’s resources, while enslaving the natives who owned them. It has always been, “Let’s do business”. Xi’s “win-win” diplomacy is not Potemkin fluff. Baba Beijing means what it says. Xi and Li Keqiang (China’s Premier) are crisscrossing the globe, signing billions upon billions of bilateral and regional trade, energy, aerospace, infrastructure, cultural, educational and scientific deals, all at lightning speed. But historically, this is what the Chinese have always been doing with the outside world, for the last 3,000 years: Maritime Belts and Silk Roads.
Saker, whether the West likes it or not, Napoléon’s oriental sleeping lion is back in historical form. The West has two choices: come to the negotiating table with BRICS or take our Pale Blue Dot down in a fog of nuclear oblivion. Empire is so evil and corrupt, I’m leaning towards the latter scenario, to be honest. But I am also an eternal optimist. Here is to hoping that some superhero, American Vasili Arkhipov or Stanislav Petrov (they both defused potential nuclear war with the US, back in the day) can somehow short circuit the Joint Chiefs of Staff/CIA/Wall Street deep state, which has been ruling the United States since WWII, and bring humanity back from the brink.
Either way world, welcome to the Xi Era – and the Putin Era – and with fingers crossed – the Modi Era too.
Greetings from the belly of the New Century Beast, China.
Jeff J. Brown
Beijing, 2015.5.25
Jeff J. Brown is the author of 44 Days (2013), Reflections in Sinoland – Musings and Anecdotes from the Belly of the New Century Beast (2015), and Doctor WriteRead’s Treasure Trove to Great English (2015). He is currently writing an historical fiction, Red Letters – The Diaries of Xi Jinping , due out in 2016. He is a member of The Anthill , a collective of authors who write about China, and also submits articles on Oped News and Firedog Lake . His articles have been published by Paul Craig Roberts, Greanville Post, The Saker, Ron Unz, Alternative News Network and many other websites. He has also been a guest on Press TV and the Truth Jihad, Daily Coin and Shadow of Truth radio shows.
In China, he has been a speaker at TEDx , the Bookworm Literary Festival, the Capital M Literary Festival, the Hutong, as well as being featured in an 18-part series of interviews on Radio Beijing AM774 , with former BBC journalist, Bruce Connolly. He has guest lectured at international schools in Beijing and Tianjin.
Jeff grew up in the heartland of the United States, Oklahoma, and graduated from Oklahoma State University. He went to Brazil while in graduate school at Purdue University, to seek his fortune, which whet his appetite for traveling the globe. This helped inspire him to be a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tunisia in 1980 and he lived and worked in Africa, the Middle East, China and Europe for the next 21 years. All the while, he mastered Portuguese, Arabic, French and Mandarin, while traveling to over 85 countries. He then returned to America for nine years, whereupon he moved back to China in 2010. He currently lives in Beijing with his wife and younger daughter, where he writes, while being a school teacher in an international school. Jeff is a dual national French-American.
Jeff can be reached at 44 Days , jeff@44days.net , Facebook , Twitter and Wechat/Whatsapp: +86-18618144837.
thanks Saker and Mr.Brown
I bet majority of the readers of The vineyard would have had a different side to understand China now and the correaponding moves on the geopolitical matrix
regards
Baaz
Xi Jingping’s The Governance of China, is in Russian, German, French, Japanese and English at Amazon. The Chinese translated it into many languages for global distribution.
Today, the Chinese published a new Military White Paper describing their new strategy. It states clearly a defensive strategy has changed to defensive/offensive in full spectrum AirSeaLandCyber Space battle configuration.
You might say, a shot across the bow of the Pivot to Asia and unleashing of the Abe Imperial Military. The full text link is below
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2015-05/26/c_134271001.htm
Your are absolutely right, Larchmonter445. The US would do no less if the Chinese had Hawaii, the San Juan Islands or the Catalina Islands patrolled by Chinese or Russian war ships, just outside the 22km maritime limit for international waters.
BTW, I really enjoyed your double helix article. Jeff in Beijing
Thanks, Jeff.
It would have been better if I had your knowledge and experience. But your comment is appreciated.
Saker enabled it to see the wide distribution and China and Russia are fulfilling it.
Really enjoyed your comments in response to his queries. I’ll be hunting down your other writings for certain.
Interesting person this Jeff. And interesting words of him.
But is that an interview? Surely not. The few lines from Saker to make impression of journalism are useless. It would be another blog post of Jeff and that would be enough.
Oh yeah, praising someone who started his career trying to poison own teacher?
Or even better: giving a credit to communist party and Maoism?
Mr. Brown, you are a wise man by experience, but I will not follow you.
Is this some communism revival blog community?
I thought the same and not only there. Reads like a big PR from some chinese agency and also like a book advert.
IMO the guy totally off the mark. Just the fact that he “does not know” that most of China belongs to the US is a sure pointer that he has very little real knowledge.
What to expect from an ex-Nixon voter who “discovered it all ” in 2010… heavens. Red flags all over, I counted over twenty in the first few paragraphs alone.
ah, what to expect from people who don’t live in China and probably did not spend one second there, to comment on someone who has lived there for years.
You both are sad, sad, little brains. For everybody else who respectfully disagreed intelligently, thank you, Jeff in Beijing
Alan, sorry, I meant this for Anonymous and T2015. You have been very engaging. Thanks, Jeff in Beijing
One more thing: to disagree intelligently, I would need as much place as your article, at least. There is simply too much fantastic stuff in there to discuss in a forum post.
Not that it would be worth the effort to begin with.
Lot’s of time to develop consciousness between Nixon and 2010. Non starter on that one.
RR
All the mass killings (in Russia and China both) were done by dictators, who happened to claim to be communists as well. Since those times both have become normal countries that now DO care to make their citizens better off. The big “democracies” have killed many many times more people — the only difference was they killed other countries’ citizens, not their own. The USA is still murdering people by bombing them as you read this….and not to improve life for its own people, but to make more money for its billionaires.
Communism of some sort is a better way to share resources than a “free” market. Where you get nothing unless you pay for it, children, the sick or disabled and the old end up getting nothing. Where laws are made by the people with the money, they won’t make laws that will disadvantage them, just to be fair to poorer people. Actually both Russia and China have modified market economies; business is encouraged, but not allowed to take control of the whole country to its own advantage.
If you don’t like this, you’re welcome to keep voting for the billionaires in your country. Most of us here are hoping for better than that for the next generations.
Excuse my stubborn brain,
but the very basics of communist ideology is terror.
Against masses, own people.
In every country where communists prevailed first they had to cut off 10% from their society, mostly by killing! There is that stupid idea of class fight, workers as the ruling class, dictature of proletaries. One of Marx´s ideas was export of communist revolution, as it can win only totally. It means as far as there is just one non-communist country the slaves have a place to dream of and run from the “communist paradise”. The whole idea is stupid and Lenin already had to change it into “Hey comrades, do not aim for world revolution”, it is (difficult) enough to win (destroy) one country (the USSR).
And then there was Stalin, again blood bath, first we have to destroy anyone (incl. his family and whoever he was seen with) who ever could think bad of the communist party…
When he was caught with pants down by Hitler he immediately forgot about party, ideology etc. and addressed his people as a nation, like tsar used to!
Because as some of you already have learned, the stupid communist ideology even made own people (in Ukraine) to raise against Moscow grouping with German nazis.
You obviously need to read some of the material Jeff Brown has mentioned to get a more balanced view of China and communism. Did you never wonder why Chinese were synonymous with opium? Now I know. There are many things in the interview that are verifiable truths. You just haven’t opened your mind to those facts. My daughter worked in China for 3 years. And on a visit there my impressions were the people work hard, everyone has a job, they want the goodies the West has and the old is making way for the new. This hasn’t been always a good thing with some of the real China coming 2nd best to ugly, insipid Western structures. However, i always felt safe there and did mot have to clutch my purse like I did in the European countries I visited prior to my visit to China. Neither did I feel intimidated by cops like I did in Seoul. It is in fact the safest country in the world to visit. My son loved his visit there. The people were very friendly and helpful. My daughter is now back home and misses her colleagues and friends she made while in China. So West is not always the best.
I am not supportive of any system of government. They are all prone to evil and corruption. However, during the last 500 years of so called Western democracy, one billion human were massacred, killed, wiped out during genocide – some historians say as high as 1.5 billion. All of the worst governments that call/called themselves communist can’t even come close to the devastation wreaked by the West. Jeff in Beijing
Mr. Brown’s glossing over the red terror(s) ostensibly because they were necessary out of resistance to the colonial powers (west) would be more palatable if he also provided the same amount of breathing room for other dictators that have stood up to the Zionists.
It is important to remember that the USSR, and Mao, fought on the same side with those dreaded western Zionists (colonialists) to defeat and destroy Germany, the one western power that rose up against Zionists.
I know Saker and most Russophiles here probably will not agree that Stalin and the Soviet army were on the verge of invading Germany on behalf of the Zionists when Hitler beat them to the punch. We know that Stalin signed the non-aggression pact with Hitler and divided up Poland. We also know that Stalin, and the Zionists, murdered all the old Polish elite at Katyin forest and then with the collusion of the Zionist left, managed to lie about it until the fall of the Soviet empire.
The point here is that after such a crass world history changing lie as Katyin Forest, just like the lusitania in the war before, we have to completely discard the entire narrative we have been told from that point forward, and attempt to reconstruct the truth.
This of course implies that the Nuremburg Zionist “war crimes” Trials were a complete sham, and I think Mr. Brown would agree that the West should have been on trial as much as Germany. Of course Stalin and the Soviets had plenty to answer for too (katadyn). But for the second time in under 30 years Germany was blamed for the entire Zionist staged conflagration that ended in the deaths of hundreds of millions of Orthodox and Western Christians, dwarfing the number of Jews that actually died by a factor of hundreds.
Mr. Brown writes: “Western democracy, one billion human were massacred, killed, wiped out during genocide – some historians say as high as 1.5 billion. “. I have come to believe that all the wars in “modern” Europe, and throughout all their colonies, fall mostly on the shoulders of the Zionists who have been running the financial systems of the western “democracies” since the founding of the Bank of England.
Finally, I would like to mention the entire issue of the Banderian Ukrainian Militias. If they are really the “Fascists” as Saker and so many others insist, then how can they allow themselves to be such tools of the Zionists? Is it possible that the Nazi’s were not the racists that the Zionists managed to make them look like at the sham Nuremburg trials? Is it possible that Hitler reacted perfectly reasonably in response to the Zionist war against Germany, declared in 1933, and the looming Zionist inspired war against the Soviets and the Anglo-Zionists?
More about Stalin and Germany:
Was Stalin Really a Capable War Leader?
U.S. historian Albert Axell draws upon his own extensive research to offer an alternative view of Stalin’s war leadership and the role in the defeat of Hitler
It is little known that far from trusting Hitler, Stalin in the critical days and weeks prior to the invasion, took a number of steps to strengthen Soviet armed forces and the border area. In the words of General Ivan Bagramyan, these steps prove “that a titanic effort was made to prepare Russia for war”.
These efforts included:
Mid-May, 1941 – as many as 28 divisions began moving to border districts on General Staff directives.
May 27 – the General Staff ordered the western border districts “urgently” to build up from command posts; on June 10 the Baltic, Western and Kiev Military Districts were ordered to move their front commands to the newly built posts.
Early June – 800,000 reservists were called up for field training and sent to reinforce the western military districts. The vital Odessa Military district (on the Black Sea) had obtained permission to do this earlier.
Early June – instructions were given to naval vessels to intensify patrols. A number of naval bases were moved to safer locations. On the eve of the German invasion, the Baltic, Northern and Black Sea Fleets were placed on battle alert.
June 12-15 – all military districts were ordered to bring their divisions closer to the border.
Mid-1941 – Russia’s armed forces had been boosted to more than five million, almost triple that of 1939.
http://russia-insider.com/en/was-uncle-joe-stalin-great-military-leader/ri7390
Until 1973 Canadian government got interest free loans from the Bank of Canada to develop infrastructure. We switched to interest bearing loans in the private sector around that time under the axiom that it would guard against inflation and over spending nonsense. That was the beginning of the end for us.
RR
Hitler killed Jews not Zionists. And a whole lot of other people to-non Jewish. But yes I would look to the House of Rothschild and the Bush family as well. A lot of people make money off of war. Not just Jews.
RR
It seems that you have not seen the tv. program with Ursula Haverbeck from German atav recently – about ten days ago I think. AMAZING that it was allowed, and it is rivetting. Hitler did not kill Jews or Zionists. Watch that program and watch the David Cole Youtube video too.
Kat Kan,
“The big “democracies” have killed many many times more people — the only difference was they killed other countries’ citizens, not their own.”
Kat Kan, there are 2 errors on your lead sentence.
Even though you placed quotations over the word “democracies” the inference is that the ‘Western’ Nations, including the United States, which is “big” are democracies of some sort.
Read my lips; “no new taxes” -er, the United States is not by any stretch of the imagination, a democracy. It lost all claim to being a democracy, or a Republic, on November 22, 1963. Jeff Brown refers to the Coup d’etat in Dallas, and makes that point very clear. No democracy.
Your phraseology stems from a half century old attack on Democracy, and Democratic Republics, by both Fascists, and Stalinists. Listen! Russia is actually (believe it or not), a Democratic Republic. Ask Vladimir Putin; he will tell you.
Let’s sum up point #1, The United States is a totalitarian Oligarch controlled Police State. Former President Jimmy Carter, Governor Jesse Ventura, Congresswoman Cinthia McKinney, and Congressman Ron Paul, among other American notables, have been saying that for years.
Conversely, Russia is a functioning (I did not say smoothly functioning), Democratic Republic.
Point # 2, is that the United States has killed thousands of its own citizens since WW2. It has destroyed the industrial cities of Detroit, and Camden, (utterly), and heavily damaged hundreds more. Sections of Camden, Detroit, Milwaukee, and a hundred more, remind one of Donetz. Block after block of burned out rotted homes.
Additionally, (and I know you know this), America operates the largest and cruelest prison (Gulag) system on the planet. Upwards of 3 million prisoners occupy (the real Occupy), small cells. Their only entertainment is poor food, brutal fights and beatings, and anal sex.
Half the prisoners are serving many year terms for minor non-violent offenses connected to drug and alcohol abuse. Prisons are exclusively for the poor, unless, as in the case of Bernie Madoff, a rich person robbed important persons from the wealthy elite.
Neither, Hilary Clinton, nor Hollywood Obomber can resolve these problems. They serve those who are the problem.
Yes, the imperialist Oligarchs have murdered millions since WW2, and millions berfore WW2.
Humans cannot live well without Liberty defended by Constitutional Democratic Governments. At least that is how I see it.
For the Democratic Republics!
IMAGINE
I guess the American revolution is the only revolution to be revered is that it? And America’s civil war. Was Lincoln a brutal dictator? The Slave holders in the south thought so. Or was it Lee? Funny how those that never apply those terms to their own history are pretty quick to condemn others who faced similar circumstances as brutal dictators. Capitalism kills more people in a decade than all the socialist revolutions in history. Of course revolution wouldn’t be necessary other than 1% of the global population wants to Lord it over the other. Something must be done about this or it will result in calamity. Socialism or Barbarism folks. No two ways about that one.
Cheers,
RR
Anonymous, you are what the Chinese call a “Wumao”. That’s five mao, or one-half of a renminbi. That’s what trolls get paid here to pollute comment sections.
To everybody else who responded intelligently, thank you. Jeff in Beijing
What a great interview with fascinating insights. Thanks so much for posting this.
Saker,
I was on the way out of the door when I read The Saker’s interview with Jeff J. Brown.
The interview, with its lengthy and informative answers was well worth the delay.
Saker and Brown, while acknowledging the dangers of an imperialist triggered WW3 Nuclear disaster, are decidedly upbeat, with hope that the strengthening alliance between Russia and China will grow, attract other nations, (such as India), and, even, one day induce some sane leaders of the imperialist ‘West’ to defuse and join in the prosperity.
Apparently, Russia and China, even India and Iran, have produced some competent leadership with which to confront the evil realities of the 21st Century. Russian President Vladimir Putin, and China’s unelected President (but President nontheless), Xi Jinping are competent, and loyal (to their nations), political leaders of 2 of the world’s great powers.
The interview leaves the reader with a nice dream. Hope springs eternal…
I might actually get a date with Sheryl Crow.
However; the Chinese political culture is inadequate to the task of world leadership. I could be wrong. I hope I’m wrong. The Chinese people have few ways to express their views. An electoral democracy would be nice. Russia’s political culture is healthier. Even India, with all its great chasm of mostly grinding poverty, small middle class, edged with some great wealth, allows for the peaceful expression through electoral democracy of their huge population’s feelings.
India sports sizeable Communist Parties, with Hindu and Moslem leaning political organizations, and the mish mosh of Social democrats in the still huge Congress party. India’s masses need to complete their Revolution, as China’s need to step to the political plate (without help from the imperialists). The point is that they have some way of peacefully expressing themselves. The Indians, the Russians, and the Iranians, host a modern (not perfect), political culture.
Importantly, they are committed to their Democratic Republics, as China, and the American/Zionist state, (51 states in all) are not. America sports a 1 dimensional political culture, where 2 twin political gangs (Democrat and Republican), spout the same lies while pretending to debate. The American Media, Education Establishment, and the “Patriot” and “NDAA” Acts, give legal cover to their domestic Police State infrastructure, (but you knew that). American Freedom Fighter (dissident), Edward Snowden, has been given political assylum in Russia (you also knew that).
China, must not be equated with the Anglo/American/Zionists Oligarch powers, or their myriad of European and other controlled nations. The Oligarchs are aggressive militarist and terrorist imperialists, and China has been, and remains one of their victims (albeit one that resists ever more effectively).
The fate of the planet is being decided in the trenches of Novorossiya and Syria. Political unity between the Russia and China and other free nations, may shift the balance to the Republic Militias. I believe that is what the Saker and Brown are saying (or hoping for).
For the Democratic Republics!
IMAGINE
Are you sure about this democracy thing? The West has wrought evil throughout the world in the name of democracy. America has elections but is it a democracy? If you disagree with a Western govt is your voice heard or are you imprisoned, isolated, demonised and/or made out to be insane or finally killed? The situations which don’t fit the Wests perceptions of democratic government, are they reported in the news media or if they are reported is the reporting balanced or fair? (Eg Ukraine, Russia, China) You really need to do some naval gazing to decide whether there is any truth or foundation to our Western democracy ideals. Fact or fantasy? And finally why are the 5 Eyes leaders creepy, strange people. We’re wondering in our country and in Australia, UK and Canada how these people were elected. We know Obomber was supposed to be the new hope. Haha that was a sick joke.
When I hear ‘democracy’ I want to vomit. The founders were fearful of the concept that 51% vote could determine an outcome. Under the Wilson admin a guy named Medel House figured out how to game election outcomes by subverting undecided portions of the voters. Since that time, given propensity to buy elections, results have been a fraud. Hell, today democratic elections are run by Diebolt machines and tabulated in Germany.
SWOT, “protesters” in Missouri riots are waiting for their payments from ACORN. Soros strikes again and for some reason avoids parting with cash for services.
“…fearful of the concept that 51% vote could determine an outcome.”
We now live in a system where 1% or less of the vote determines an outcome.
Thank you for this interview, truly fascinating in every way: from Mr. Brown’s biography, to a great history lesson, to a marvelous overview of the big picture, all with a clear-eyed view of where things are now, and where things are heading. A must-read.
Thank you, Saker, and thank you also, Mr. Brown! This is a long article, and I must confess I have only taken in perhaps one third of the information you provide, along with Saker’s questions. However, let me assure you of one thing: neither of you are alone in your assessments, though some in this country are admittedly still behind the eight ball, to be sure. The truth will out, and a very admirable American trait (I am a native Kiwi so I can say this) is a thirst for knowledge come hell or high water. Once started on that path there is no looking back. People in this country are not bound by tradition, since the tradition clearly viewed here is one of re-volution, that is, turning again.
Sure, the manipulation of the media has kept people quiescent much longer than should have been; it is a powerful force and nefarious powers have controlled it and are still controlling it. But as they must do so more openly, the effect wanes. So I am very hopeful.
Thank you for describing the background of China’s leader, Xi Jinping. I had a similar ‘take’ on Kruschev to yours – am glad to see it resurfacing here. My prayer is that the positive influence this new relationship between China and Russia will reach out and calm troubled waters across the globe so we may all turn our attention to a wholehearted effort to make our entire planet the paradise it is striving to become.
A great interview.He has a good insight on modern China.We can tell that by the couple of Empire trolls that attacked it here.They have no counter argument.But just insults.That works on MSM comment pages for their type.But not so much here.
A couple of points.First,what many in the West don’t realize is that China isn’t just “a country”.It is a “World” of its own.There are several nations that are Worlds of their own,Russia and China in particular.There are several others that with several nations today, qualify as well,the Arab World,Latin American World,And others not as close but similar,the Indian sub-continent (or South Asia).On the other side we could say the Anglosphere,and the EU.
In China’s case they are the Worlds oldest still existing “World” nation.They have had thousands of years of living as part of that World of China.Compared to China,Russia as a World is a teenager.And some of the rest of those (minus India,a special case.Which would compare to China except for that World being historically split) are only babies,still in diapers. If there was ever a reason to call a country “exceptional” my argument would be that China would rate there.China’s historical contributions to the entire World throughout history are mind-boggling.And today the economic rise of China will join that history.
Second,as we’ve said before the Empire can’t stand to share.It is jealous and fear’s the rise of any great power in the World.They are doing,and will do,anything to prevent those rise’s (part of the exceptional view).You can’t be “exceptional” if there are other “exceptionals” around.Hopefully Russia and China “fully” realize the danger they face.And will “truly” face it united.As for India,she could be a great power in the full sense.If she can find a way to peacefully settle her border problems with all her neighbors.And as importantly,set her economy on a track to internal development.To bring her people out of poverty and give them a dream for their future as part of the nation.
An insightful article.
In Chinese tradition, Xi Jinping is someone who can be described as 文武双全: complete in both the martial(military) and literary; a born leader.
Every country needs just a few good men to lead and ensure its sovereignty, peace and prosperity.
Russia has Vladimir Putin. China has President Xi. USA has….politicians who are messengers for the elite.
Indeed, if Xi Jinping did not exist, it would be necessary for China to invent him. He is the godsend for China at a critical stage of its development.
In 2009, after his Japan trip and historic address to the Diet, former premier Wen Jiabao noted that a `peaceful environment’ was necessary for China as it moved forward.
Of course, it has been anything but peaceful since – from Washington’s hyped-up Asia Pivot to the `purchase’ of the disputed Diaoyu islands by Tokyo and the South China Seas dispute fired up by Washington to crisis level.
“Washington Whips Up Fog of War in South China Seas”: http://www.hiddenharmonies.org
“The Mao Era transformed China and dramatically improved the lives of the vast majority of the people”
The Mao Era transformed China and dramatically improved the lives of the vast majority of the people WHO MANAGED TO SURVIVE THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION AND MASS DEMOCIDE RESULTING IN THE DEATHS OF AT LEAST 80 MILLION PEOPLE.
Fixed it for you.
Not even the the most rabid Communism hater has ever come up with a number like 80 million. Even if it were true, it’s a drop in bucket compared to how many people the West has slaughtered in just in the 20th century.
I am sure you are right. In fact, one thing I know for certain, before Mao/Communist era, the status of women in China was very low. It was common that girls would be arranged-marriage by their parents to whomever they want, and many girls did not get to go to school. Whatever crimes the Communists did to China, one thing they did eradicate is the low status and in-equality of women. I would say that post-communist, the status of Chinese Women is as good as many western countries, and certainly beat the hell out of Women in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and throughout Asia.
The Mao record is mixed. And since it’s the record of a Dirty Commie ™ we’ve all heard the bad side of it, over and over, exaggerated and embellished. Just the same as we all hear how terrible Russia is, for instance. Or how Saddam Hussein was plotting to nuke us all, or whatever. And we’ve never really heard a good side.
But the fact is there was one. When Mao took over, China had pretty much fallen apart. It was overrun with bandits, had no infrastructure, and didn’t have so much a bad famine every twenty years as have endemic famine all the time. There was no rule of law, no nothing. It was like Somalia the size of a continent (and for similar reasons–mostly, imperial intervention). By the time he was done, China was a state with solid institutions and a low-tech but workable productive sector, decent health care, some social programs, low unemployment, a lot of progress on the status of women (It was the Communists who got rid of foot-binding, for instance) . . . it wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad.
Mao had a tendency to have an idea that was decent in concept, and then do it on a massive scale without investigating how practically workable it was, resulting in huge fiascos. So for instance, at one point he was all “China needs to produce its own steel! And it would be good if production were decentralized. So we’ll have the peasants do this low-tech, small scale steel production, all over the country, masses of them, and steel production will be huge!” Bzzzt. Didn’t work. The concept of decentralization, fine in and of itself, ran into the actual technology of steel production and smashed. Similar things happened at one point with agriculture. But, well, with agriculture the Chinese pretty much had to try radical new things because what they had wasn’t even what you could call an “existing system”, it was more like a devastated, demoralized rabble. The famine was horrific, but they tried different approaches and in the end did decently; before the Communists you certainly couldn’t have talked about the “iron rice bowl” of the later Mao era.
The Cultural Revolution was bad, and weird. And again, Mao had some reasons for that which made an odd kind of sense if you start from the objective of a classless society and you’re realizing that technocratic bureaucratism is reasserting itself (the way it did in the USSR). OK, genuine problem, reasonable objective, terrible policy for trying to achieve it. It’s the problem with simultaneously wanting a classless egalitarian society and using a hierarchy with a dictator at the top to try to get there; you can’t ultimately defeat that contradiction, and Mao couldn’t see that. Arguably the modern Chinese still can’t. Mao was willing to get a lot more aggressive about forcing those two things to both happen at the same time no matter how much blood it took.
Overall, mixed record, but considering what he had to work with not nearly as bad as is often claimed.
Excellent and informative comment as usual, PLG. Thank you. If only history was actually taught with your flair for summary…
Capitalist Imperialism is the transmission belt for totalitarianism Imagine if instead of cutting China out of the world market and surrounding her with weapons, the capitalist countries actually cooperated with these countries that were successful in overthrowing their bourgeois masters. Is there as single country that tried socialism in this world anywhere that wasn’t attacked or had their leader assassinated and replaced with a fascist dictator? Not ONE. What is the reason for this? Talk about persecution. Wow!
A little background……….
I was Dean of International Programs at Shenzhen University from 2003-2006. I was Professor of Engineering at Shenzhen University during that period, also. I was Editor of the Shenzhen Journal of Science and Technology from 2005-2006. I consulted at International Schools in China, developed a Conversational English Curriculum for Shenzhen University, and lectured widely WRT financial issues in China.
China is the only nation which successfully eradicated Shistosomiasis. This occurred during the Mao era. Thousands of para-medics were trained……. they were called “bare foot doctors”…. in
the basic sanitation required to interrupt the life cycle of this parasite. Basic measures such as ensuring that coolies wore rubber boots when working in the paddies……… elimination of the alternate host ……… snail population……… did the trick.
England attempted to eradicate this disease in Egypt. England used fully trained MDs, nurses, etc. England failed.
From my personal experience, China is one of the most dynamic societies on earth, and it is imperative that everyone here realizes that Chinese know and love their country, and are fully aware of what the current government has done for the people of china.
For those who want to accuse Mao of massacreing millions……… the US Army killed 2 million Koreans in South Korea for the purpose of fore stalling unification of the peninsula, and to impose a satrapy there. Then one should add the millions killed by them in the Phillippines, vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Dakotas, Montana, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, etc.
For those of you who want to accuse Stalin of massacreing millions….. The Nazis killed millions of Jews…….. and more than 20 million citizens of the USSR, not to mention 25% of the Serbian population, large percentages of the Greek population, polish population, and others.
INDY
Thanks a lot, Saker and Jeff.
Just a fabulous post.
Best regards,
shed
Dear Saker and Jeff,
Thank you for a wonderful in depth, intelligent and very informative interview. I admire and respect you both and am grateful for the perspective that you both give on Russia and China respectively.
Blessings.
Gail
Wonderful history lesson and perspective. Two great nations with leaders that have visions to benefit their peoples.
Compare that to the sewer that is the US.
“Yang, the man in classes next to the woman interpreter, is top Councillor for Foreign Policy and often deals as a second Foreign Minister. They hide his importance by describing his portfolio as less than his actions and interactions. He is a brain on policy formation.
I see this as the nuts and bolts of the upcoming SCO and actions against the Hegemon that they will coordinate in Iraq, Syria, Black Sea, Mediterranean and Pacific, as well as in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Ufa meetings are going to be huge. SCO and BRICS.
These guys know they are in an octagon with a Komodo dragon, the Hegemon. There is no way out but victory. If they lose, it is the end of their civilizations.”
This reads as one of those Chinese IKEA manuals :o)
[sorry, couldn’t help myself]
DR,
We know you can’t help yourself. Over and over.
@ Signalman,
Q; We know you can’t help yourself. Over and over.
R; Could you fly some braille flags?
The current concoction of colored cotton is very hard to read.
I would appreciate peoples thoughts on this:
http://redefininggod.com/2014/12/meet-robert-lawrence-kuhn-illuminati-handler-of-chinas-leaders/
By illuminati he just means international finance. I would prefer to think that China and Russia are independent but Ken has lots of research implying that they are not!
Why not just watch what Putin and Xi do in their own countries and abroad, listen to what they say
Is that what you call research? Idiotic ramblings to me…
Why not just listen to Xi and Putin, watch what they do and how they behave, the results they achieve, how their own people assess them, and make up your own mind? Forget all the illuminati nonsense.
Cointelpro
The Saker,
If you want to know more about the China-Indian border war in 1962, please check this out. You will be able to see that, just like many other wars in the world, it’s stirred up by the West, esp. the Brits.
http://chinamatters.blogspot.com/2015/01/india-v-china-mexican-standoff-in.html
Thanks Alan, I’ll check it out. Jeff in Beijing
Thank you, Alan. I will definitely look this up. I work with several Indians and will pass it along. Jeff in Beijing
Alan, this is a great post about India. All the historical insights are amazing. I have three Indian colleagues. They really learned a lot too. Thanks, Jeff in Beijing
Wonderfull interview. Very hopefull.
Thanks, Saker, for doing this together. I think your fans will learn a alot. Cheers, Jeff in Beijing
Thanks Jeff for this great article!
The insight/history into Xi’s background is much appreciated. Thanks.
I really enjoyed this interview. Very informative. Many thanks.
Thank you for a very interesting, insightful interview.
I actually have some questions that perhaps Jeff could spare the time to answer.
I have quite a number of Chinese friends, they are all professionals/scientist types and have migrated to the USA for 10 or more years. I tend to find them unimpressed with Xi in general and his efforts to root out corruption. They would give all kinds of reasons, including e.g.
He is not sincere in his efforts,
he is only using it to root out his political opponents,
he is acting like Mao,
he is acting like God,
he will have to arrest EVERYONE if he is to root out corruption,
etc etc
I cannot tell if they really believe their reasons/explanations or was it because most of them were so disappointed with China’s communist past (where Mao certainly caused tremendous misery), that they cannot see/believe in real changes. I describe it as rear-view-mirror disease, where people are so fixated in looking at the recent past that they cannot look ahead.
My conclusion is that most of my such Chinese friends have basically been in USA too long, and have totally drunk the cool-aid, but hey, who am I to say I am right ?
Alan, great questions. I will answer your post later today. Thanks,
Alan, in response to your questions:
1) after reading this interview about Xi’s upbringing and leadership, I think you know he is sincere
2) it is true that a good chunk of the corruption charges are going against Hu Jintao accolytes. But a big number are also from the Jiang Zemin camp, which is Xi’s. It’s about 65-35, so you can’t say it’s a vendetta. Xi knows that the CPC will not keep the Heavenly Mandate with the people, unless they clean out the rot.
3) What’s wrong with acting like Mao? Listen to my radio program referenced in the interview. It explains why the overwhelming majority of Chinese adore the man.
4) All world leaders have huge egos and are psychopaths. You have to be to get to that level. It’s what they do with their power, for the people, that matters. Compare Western leaders not serving the needs of the 99%, vs. the CPC serving the needs of Chinese citizens. No comparison.
5) It’s true, there are many more crooks who have not been caught than who are going to jail. Remember the adage, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”! Most importantly, for those who have been corrupt in the past, many of them are already stopping their shenanigans and for any Party member or corporate leader who was thinking about skimming money, many of them now will think twice. So, Xi’s campaign is having a systemic, antiseptic effect across the country. The key will be to for Xi to not let his foot off the pedal, nor his eventual successor.
Hope this helps, best from Beijing, Jeff
You need to refresh the page to see new postings. Moderation can be 3 to 20 minutes depending on volumes, and occasionally 2 or 3 hours gap when nobody’s available. After 3rd level, comments appear below each other with no further nesting.
The flow of Native English ALTs [Assistant Language Teachers] is a surefire indication of a country’s wealth and prosperity. Just follow it…, and see where it leads you.
Let’s see, the Brits in Malaysia, the French in Indochina, the Dutch in Indonesia, the Yanks in the Philippines and China in… well… it has obviously learned from its past ‘mistakes.’
Ah, that must be why the Exceptional US of A has hardly any such teachers. I guess that must be the reason why USA is still totally clueless about other countries and yes, that’s why USA is still “Exceptional”, yeah, right!
This stupidity of trolls is beyond belief. @Daniel, Brits in Malaysia, French in Indochina, Dutch in… etc,
you call those Assistant Language Teachers? Do you understand the word Colonies/Colonialism?
wow wow wow!!!
thank you both, Saker and Jeff.. amazing interview…
Japan to Join Huge US-Australian Pacific War Games As China Tensions Mount
“I think the US is trying to get its allies to do more,” Euan Graham, director of the International Security Program at the Lowry Institute in Sydney, told Reuters. “There is an obvious symmetry between Japan as the upper anchor of the Western Pacific alliance and…Australia as the southern anchor.”
This follows a steady pattern of Washington pushing Tokyo to take a larger role in patrolling the Pacific. Earlier this month, the Japanese government greenlit a proposal from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe which would expand the nation’s use of its defense forces.
In recent months, Washington has conducted military exercises with several nations who also lay claim to the South China Sea, including Indonesia and the Philippines. The US also announced earlier this month that it would begin patrols of the Spratly Islands, a move which has been heavily criticized by Beijing.
Despite this clear pattern of aggression, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani denied that Tokyo’s inclusion in the Talisman Sabre has anything to do with China, and was instead part of Japan’s general interest in strengthening ties with its allies.
That cooperation has reached new heights under Prime Minister Abe. As Australia seeks to upgrade its navy, Japan will likely gain a contract to supply a new fleet of submarines to Canberra, a move strongly supported by the Pentagon.
The ZPC/NWO is gradually moving Japan to a role in the Pacific similar to the role they use Germany for in Europe. It is interesting how these two nations are being gradually groomed to the take a somewhat similar role they had prior to WW2. There are differences now, due to different times and local situations, but the general geostrategy is essentially unchanged.
The orchestrator of this hasn’t changed much, but gotten a lot larger and much more tightly controlled internally so that their focus is much more united and concentrated, along with the force they are now able to bring. Instead of the USA controlling European oligarchies, setting them upon the USSR, by various subterfuges, and goading on Japan in the Pacific, it’s the now much more international ZPC/NWO using the USA as primary colony and “enforcer”, with secondary colonies again playing the roles of expendable “allies” carrying out secondary roles and absorbing “damage”.
History repeats, though not replicates exactly.
Plenty of evidence to suggest that the East v West enmity is the biggest conspiracy in human history;
http://alt-market.com/articles/2126-false-eastwest-paradigm-hides-the-rise-of-global-currency
http://alt-market.com/articles/2568-one-last-look-at-the-real-economy-before-it-implodes-part-5
https://web.archive.org/web/20140210103501/http://henrymakow.com/china_power_elite_are_illumina.html
A very good interview, many thanks!
Just wanted to add regarding the democracy, or rather the lack of it: remember, democracy is, by definition, dictatorship of money. So, yes, the west is fully democratic!
One might think s/he is electing somebody, but it’s about the 38th level from the top which is the first visible one to the populous – nothing other than a stage full of actors. but behind & above, there are inbred dynasties firmly holding the strings of power in their hands. Even on that first visible level, dynasties are taking over: Clinton-Bush, Clinton-Bush. etc.
The natural progression of such an order will end up as an alliance of strong generals (= warlords) which are slowly coming into the front view via ever increasing power of the MIC at the expense of the rest of the society. And since history is speeding up, this will certainly come to life sooner than we can possibly imagine.
Then comes the fall of the modern Rome much to the relief of the rest of the world!
Thank you to everyone who commented and participated. I am honored and humbled many of you found this interview informative and inspiring. Please check out my website for more: http://www.44days.net. Jeff in Beijing
The threats revolving around global warming are not factored in this analysis or for that matter any other I have read here. Is it presumed that AGW is a myth of put forth by the West to oppress the everyone else? I hope not?
With its barely concealed threats against Russia and China (like NATO expansion, Ukraine, Pivot to Asia, South China Sea disputes), America is merely coming out of the closet in its war against Eurasia.
In fact, America is merely continuing its DECADES long war against Russia and China that has spanned much of the 20th century throughout the Cold War and even before it.
The issue now, however, is whether America will provoke a final, cataclysmic nuclear war that will end most sentient life on this planet.
I think the odds increase day by day, as the United States is increasinlgy showing itself to be psychotic in the extreme.
There is something deeply sick about America and Western “civilization” in general that cannot be resolved peacefully.
The European/Americans will be cast into the Lake of Fire, from whence they were spawned.
Actually India had largest economy till only one two century ago.
Until late 19 century India only source of gunpowder, invented firearm.
China love is only due to communism and will fade as they March back to budh as in pagan dharam.
It’s w.e they try to negate bharat Mata because she is the origin.
UK had colony from 1857 1947 and even then had 72 rebellions 200 skirmishes and countless uprisings.
But you know 300 year colonial rule, decent infrastructure sounds better than over 400 million dying in engineered famines from 1800 to 1947 alone.
I understand the agenda Jeff brown, just don’t support it lol
As an example of the destruction brought by Muslim and Christian in Bharat
Water borne disease was not heard of to us as even the poor kept water in copper vessels. As British taxation forced them to earthenware
pots there is your cholera.
Also the president of bejing university gave speech at harvard in 30s that China even learned how to treat parents from Bharat. Not some three way ideology, all their culture is Bharati. Even the zorastrians admit they are our cousins and that is where your abrahamic comes from.
W.e keep trying to change the course of history, you will fail like Alexander failed at Sindhu
Not a big issue though, because
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕਾਖਾਲਸਾ||ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕੀਫਤਹਿ||
Thank you Saker and Jeff for a very interesting article.
Having now read this along with the White Paper and L445’s link to the global times article – it has made for a very thorough analysis.
Thank you Jeff on the background on Xi – very helpful.
I was in China 2 years ago and spent 8 days, planes, trains (speed train from Beijing) and automobiles seeing a lot of places and meeting a lot of people. I liked the way that when you were taken out for lunch or dinner everyone from the drivers of the cars etc sat with you at the table to eat. We were shown a lot of generosity and kindness. People were very open and having studied 20th Century Chinese history during my youth and some great books on earlier periods, I had some very interesting conversations.
For those who haven’t been to China, Beijing I would describe it as loads of Manhattans plonked down one after the other (the forbidden City is usually the view the “West” likes to give) and lots of traffic – the development is so vast. Shanghai is different more old colonial and modern sitting side by side. When you go more into other areas everything is very developed and clean – that is one thing that struck me – just how clean everywhere was. A slight digression.
When you compare the 500 years of destruction all over the world by Europe and US in comparison, a Chinese, Russian (and hopefully Indian, Iranian and BRICS etc.) change of course would do much for humanity.
As you say Jeff – the danger is this suicidal “West” destroying us all.
Rgds,
Veritas
Absolutely excellent interview. This reminds me why I need to donate to this blog…
An excellent article/interview. More experience of Chinese visitors or expats please.
Interesting interview for sure.
Interesting interview. It could spark many debates, but let me concentrate only on one, the potential for development of current Russia-China partnership.
There is no doubt such a partnership is being developed now, with mainly Russia in a position of requesting, largely in reaction to Western push in Ukraine. Now, everything which is human has limits. How could we assess the prospective limits of this partnership? Time will tell, but here are a few pointers:
1) Russia’s economy is 1 / 5th that of China, her population 1 / 10th the Chinese population. This fact commands that such partnership cannot be expected to be and to remain balanced in the long run.
A comparison will help: imagine you see the French very willing to start extended partnership with America. Imagine Paris commenters are lyric about Obama and Hollande sitting side by side at important official events. Imagine the French are quite excited about the prospects of that partnership to shape the future in a spirit of co-dependency of both countries, “joined at the hip” so to say. Would you believe they stand a good chance of getting a balanced partnership? And if the American president makes all the required moves and utters all the good words to suggest that yes, American ambition is satisfied with being in an equal relationship with France… will you believe he is entirely and fully sincere?
I guess no, you would not believe it. Neither would I.
Well, such a Franco-American partnership would not be more unbalanced than the Russo-Chinese one. France’s economy is 1 / 6th of America’s, and her population is 1 / 5th of the USA.
2) What about trust between those two countries? Well, trust improves as long as you extend your partnerships and relations, it improves in the long term if everything goes smoothly, therefore trust between Moscow and Beijing should improve. However, it is not starting at such a good level. Few reminders:
– As recently as 2013, Vladimir Putin ordered surprise massive manoeuvers of the Russian Army in the Far East. Essentially, a very large armored force was transported rapidly towards the Russian Far East, demonstrating the ability of Russia to defend all the regions of its territory. Hint: the targeted audience of this “To whom it may concern” demonstration was probably not America, nor Germany nor France… who are very far from the Russian Far East. Nor was it Mongolia, who is in the right place, but not powerful enough to ever become a threat
– Some years ago, Russia sold China a number of Su-30. Shortly thereafter, China started to build J-11 fighters, for which she does not pay any royalty to Russia obviously, since the name of this fighter “J-11” is different than “Su-30”. Still… apart from their names, not much is different between Su-30 and J-11! Chinese government has consistently demonstrated what could be called a quite specific conception of intellectual property rights, towards US products, Western European products… and Russian products too
– The last major power against which China has waged a shooting war was the Soviet Union. The last major power against which Moscow has been at war with was China. Year was 1969. Which is not that recent. However, not that old either, something which V.V. Putin clearly has not forgotten, refer to 2013 military exercises
– Last but not least, as Jeff Brown duly reminded, raising back to prominence after their “century of humiliation” is very deeply the strong desire of all Chinese, and what their leaders strive to achieve. On this topic, it should be noted that all those countries European, American, Japanese which took advantage of China’s weakness, exploited the country or put part of her territory in their control have long been repelled and the “rights” they thought they deserved on Chinese territory cancelled. All these countries… but one. All those “unequal treaties”… but those with a specific country.
There is still a country today which is holding on territories it forced China to cede at the time when it was weakened. Which country? Well, check Aigun Treaty (1858) and Beijing Convention (1860). A hint if you are in a hurry: that country was governed at the time by Tsar Alexander II.
The best-laid plans of mice and men must contend with unwieldy history. Thank you for appropriately dulling the parade with some historical context. –nb
Very refreshing, somewhat like Edgar Snow’s “Red Star Over China.”
Jeff, you have been shedding illusions for your whole life and you are still living in illusion.
what you are so worried about frankly is a state of human condition. Chimps are our closest relatives in animal world and we are not much different whether we are Americans, Russians or Chinese.
But all things considered USA is a threat to life on Earth. The country founded away from threats protected by huge sheets of water and week neighbors developed unhealthy national psych.
China, Russia and India must work together to block and push USA away form Eurasia and confine her to Northern America. Europe is a part of Eurasia and hence should be considered temporary under US influence. Once overseas Hegemon is safely dispatched chimps can start throwing dung at each other again…
I am sure Jeff knowsa lot about China. However his comments on the China India relationship show a true lack of knowledge. While from the perspective of this website there would be nothing better than a China India friendship…. It isn’t happening. Not in the foreseeable future.
Modi’s recent trip, unlike what Jeff claims, was a non starter. No real ground breaking news occurred. Even Xi’s visit to India last year had Ben a disaster diplomatically, when the Chinese Army intruded into Aksai Chin as a show of force.
Finally to qualify Modi as a great leader? What a joke. This is a man who is hounding Wester corporations with thirst, who has just allowed Monsanto into India, who has destroyed the nascent peace process with Pakistan by calling off talks, who is the favorite of the Indian one percent…to call him great is a comment showing a lak of m****** or political insight.
The difference between Putin and Xi is belief in God, Putin is a born again Christian, Xi is against God.
Putin, Medvedev attend Orthodox Easter Mass in Moscow
https://www.rt.com/in-motion/341553-russia-orthodox-easter-mass/