The Threat From China - Real or Not?

[AerodyManiac]

I am still surprised people accepted Xi Jingping appointing himself leader for life.

I think it's less of an acceptance, but more of a tacit compliance (if that's a thing) that stems from people's fear of retribution, just as you say in the following:

Maybe people really are pissed about it and just don't say anything for fear of retribution, kind of like the USSR under Stalin.

From what little I've read, those who can speak for themselves (notably the overseas Chinese students) actually did voice out against Xi's appointment (even though it's been read by some critics as more of a token to legitimize his grip on power after his 2 terms instead of an authorization), and even the students who kickstarted the anti-Xi movement in universities overseas requested the reporters not to disclose their identity and actually asked other protesting students to conceal their identities when posting something related on the bulletin boards due to fears that authorities would ban them from returning to China. So I think it's safe to say that a significant portion of the Chinese population, or at least its younger population, is also against it. It's just that they're afraid to speak out.

 

[Rage Racer]

The AK-47 set the standard by which all others ("assault rifles") are measured, as I'm sure you know. And I know the bar has been pushed slightly since this original was in production. But simply stated, it is an unavoidable icon.

Hmm, I thought assault rifles originate from the German StG 44, the Sturmgewehr (which is literally "assault rifle" in German).

 

[Dotini]

Hmm, I thought assault rifles originate from the German StG 44, the Sturmgewehr (which is literally "assault rifle" in German).

If the assault rifle was a sword, it might be a falchion.

 

[SestoScudo]

Hmm, I thought assault rifles originate from the German StG 44, the Sturmgewehr (which is literally "assault rifle" in German).

There were "proto" assault rifles before the Stg44 like the Cei Rigotti and the Russian Feodorov but to military historians the concept of the assault rifle began with the stg44 anything before it mainly classified as automatic rifles.

But the feodorov actually came close to being a assault rifle but the low supplies and the logistic problems of the Imperial Russian army handicapped the weapon not to mention the impeding civil war. Feodorov automat was also a complex design which did not sit well with imperial authorities who prefered more bolt action rifles.

Then again historians mainly credit the concept to the stg 44. Stg 44 did influence the Ak47 but the Ak47 was actually different to the stg 44 not a copy paste job which some people love to suggest.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Then again historians mainly credit the concept to the stg 44. Stg 44 did influence the Ak47 but the Ak47 was actually different to the stg 44 not a copy paste job which some people love to suggest.

Kalashnikov also studied the M1 Garand heavily for his early prototypes, some of that thinking made it into the long-stroke AK-47 which was a major redesign of the short-stroke AK-46 prototype that was intended to be the submitted product. With that said the huge numbers of captured SG44s makes it unthinkable that he wasn't heavily influenced by its good and bad points. As you say it's certainly not a copy-paste though.

 

[SestoScudo]

Kalashnikov also studied the M1 Garand heavily for his early prototypes, some of that thinking made it into the long-stroke AK-47 which was a major redesign of the short-stroke AK-46 prototype that was intended to be the submitted product. With that said the huge numbers of captured SG44s makes it unthinkable that he wasn't heavily influenced by its good and bad points. As you say it's certainly not a copy-paste though.

Ak47 actually started as a submachine and also a light machine too. Mikhail kalashnikov was basically experimenting with many different types its no surprise especially in their war against Germany no doubt many Stg44s were captured in the process as the Soviets were pushing back the Germans.

Kalashnikov does deserve his credit due because he worked on so many types for years to find the perfect gun for his country.

 

[Dotini]

The US seeks to block undersea cable promoted by China, Facebook and Google.

• TRADE WAR

Undersea cable to China may be nixed on national security grounds

Wall Street Journal reports Google, Facebook and a Chinese firm are behind a project the US government hopes to stop.

A stylised undersea cable map shows the approximate routes of extensive fibreoptic lines that stretch across the ocean floor [Creative Commons/TeleGeography]

Citing national security concerns, United Statesofficials are seeking to block an undersea cable between Los Angeles and Hong Kong that is being backed by Alphabet Inc's Google, Facebook Inc and a partner based in China, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Wednesday.

The US Department of Justice has signalled staunch opposition to the project because of doubts about the Chinese investor, Beijing-based Dr. Peng Telecom & Media Group Co, and the direct link that the cable would provide to Hong Kong, the WSJ reported.

Heading up a multiagency "Team Telecom" panel with oversight over telecommunications, the Justice Department has been looking into the Pacific Light Cable Network.

Subsea cables form the backbone of the internet by carrying 99 percent of the world's data traffic, and the stakeholders have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on this particular project.

The US has never before objected to such a cable licence due to national security considerations. But to do business going forward, the licence is required.

US-China tensions
The national security review taking place could change the way that internet connectivity across the Pacific is structured.

The goal of the joint venture is to provide faster connections for users at both ends of the ocean.

A temporary permit has allowed the work to be carried out thus far. But it expires next month, according to the WSJ's reporting.

In the past, Team Telecom gave the green light once the company responsible for the US beachhead took sufficient steps to stop foreign governments from tapping into the lines.

Regulators may be indicating that a tough, new stance will be imposed on China-related projects.

Given escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing and the increasing rivalry between the world's two largest economies, the US appears to be growing more suspicious of China's global ambitions.

The US abrogation of the INF treaty forces China, not to mention Russia, into a renewed nuclear arms race with the US.
https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190806/china-vows-response-if-us-deploys-midrange-missiles-in-asia


Cold War II

 

[Dotini]

On the subject of compact nuclear fusion reactors:

What I'm not sure about is the purpose of Lockheed's publicity on this. Development of a truck-bearable fusion reactor would be of enormous military value alone, it doesn't quite make sense to me that they'd be so open. The only explanation I can think of is that they're trying to attract more experts in that field by presenting a viable research program, but issuing a short paper of viable findings would presumably be enough to do that in an interested community.

The War Zone has been reporting on Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works work to create a game-changing compact fusion reactor. The elite aerospace design unit has been constructing a new, more powerful experimental reactor as recently as July 2019.

Aside from Lockheed Martin, several private firms have been developing their own compact fusion reactors in recent years, and the government-run Chinese Academy of Sciences has claimed to have made significant progress in developing fusion reactors that could one day be capable of producing revolutionary levels of energy.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zo...as-now-filed-one-for-a-compact-fusion-reactor

 

[SestoScudo]

Is it me but out of all communist countries in the past and present make it look like China today is stronger than the Soviet Union.

China basically is a communist country that embraced capitalism but added Chinese flavour to it.

Xiping declaring himself leader for life is no different than the Chinese emperors who declared themselves emperors for life and backed it up with a mandate from heaven or the son of heaven.

 

[Dotini]

Xiping declaring himself leader for life is no different than the Chinese emperors who declared themselves emperors for life and backed it up with a mandate from heaven or the son of heaven.

I'm interested in how much this is either figuratively or literally true. What actual evidence is there that Xi Jinping is backed up by a mandate from heaven? What exactly is or could be a mandate from heaven? Could it have anything to do with unstoppable hypersonic missiles?

 

[SestoScudo]

I'm interested in how much this is either figuratively or literally true. What actual evidence is there that Xi Jinping is backed up by a mandate from heaven? What exactly is or could be a mandate from heaven? Could it have anything to do with unstoppable hypersonic missiles?

I dont think xiping is an emperor. Just similarities with the current chinese government to the past dynasties of china.

We studied this in political science class. Jurche basically North Korea's ideology is communism with Korean Characteristics

 

[BobK]

I'm interested in how much this is either figuratively or literally true.

None of it whatsoever.

What actual evidence is there that Xi Jinping is backed up by a mandate from heaven?

None at all, of course, unless you count the claims of a megalomaniac

What exactly is or could be a mandate from heaven?

A figment of somebody's imagination?

Could it have anything to do with unstoppable hypersonic missiles?

Given there's no such thing ("mandate", not missiles) I'd say no not at all.

 

[Dotini]

China reveals amusing armed helicopter concept at airshow.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zo...er-great-white-shark-armed-helicopter-concept

CHINESE INTERNET

CHINESE INTERNET

 

[BobK]

That looks like one of those USAF/USN experimental prototypes from the 1950s.

 

[Rallywagon]

That armor looks suspiciously like paper mache.

 

[TexRex]

It appears to be more of a threat from Cobra Command.

 

[UKMikey]

"Technical losers"

 

[FoRiZon]

Did you also knew that the Chinese (according to CCP) is basically aliens?

Personal experience and feeling: Wellbeing, prosperity and stability are the greatest democracy in this world.

Chinese civilization and western universal values are two different sets of concepts. The definitions of human rights are different as well. The riot in Hong Kong has taught us a lesson. Wish this country will always be stable and advancing.

Only Chinese people are qualified to talk about human rights in China.

 

[BobK]

Did you also knew that the Chinese (according to CCP) is basically aliens?

This needs to be brought to @Dotini's attention!

 

[Rallywagon]

This needs to be brought to @Dotini's attention!

And possibly @PocketZeven's if I remember correctly.

 

[Dotini]

This needs to be brought to @Dotini's attention!

I clicked on that link, but saw no claim about aliens. Did you?

There have been speculations that the Chinese are the earthly source of the UAP incidents that have been bothering the US Navy. Perhaps they have solved the problem of anti-gravity and are now the new Nazis, the master race on Earth? Apparently LeBron James is now kowtowing to them.
https://sports.yahoo.com/lebron-under-fire-blaming-china-row-misinformed-rockets-083902730--nba.html

 

[PocketZeven]

And possibly @PocketZeven's if I remember correctly.

Aliens?

 

[Rallywagon]

I actually meant more toward the treatment of minorities in China rather than space beings. And I also read Forizons "aliens" as being immigrant type aliens rather that the space type as well. That may have been my misunderstanding though.

 

[PocketZeven]

I actually meant more toward the treatment of minorities in China rather than space beings. And I also read Forizons "aliens" as being immigrant type aliens rather that the space type as well. That may have been my misunderstanding though.

Still not quite understand the title. But going into the contents of the article it is obvious in a 1 partysystem communist country the press is censored and biased.

 

[Rallywagon]

Still not quite understand the title. But going into the contents of the article it is obvious in a 1 partysystem communist country the press is censored and biased.

It's not just the press. In fact, I dont think the freedom of press was really the main take away from that article. At least, it wasn't mine. It was more about the lack of human rights.

 

[PocketZeven]

It's not just the press. In fact, I dont think the freedom of press was really the main take away from that article. At least, it wasn't mine. It was more about the lack of human rights.

That is more complicated to explain to an outsider. There are many minorities in China that are celebrated and some that are oppressed. But because of the media bias propaganda nationally it is difficult to know how bad the violations are. I have mainly only read articles that were told from a person's perspective. China is very closed concerning the issues surrounding the uighurs and nepal/tibet. In reality it is difficult to really know objectively how far the violations of human rights go.

 

[Rallywagon]

That is more complicated to explain to an outsider. There are many minorities in China that are celebrated and some that are oppressed. But because of the media bias propaganda nationally it is difficult to know how bad the violations are. I have mainly only read articles that were told from a person's perspective. China is very closed concerning the issues surrounding the uighurs and nepal/tibet. In reality it is difficult to really know objectively how far the violations of human rights go.

How far it goes perhaps, but complete control of the media narrative as well as current events in Hong Kong goes a long way in giving credence to the plights of the minority classes that have been given.

 

[PocketZeven]

How far it goes perhaps, but complete control of the media narrative as well as current events in Hong Kong goes a long way in giving credence to the plights of the minority classes that have been given.

Sorry I didnt understood your statement, could you explain further?

 

[Rage Racer]

"Technical losers"

View attachment 857818

Well, that’s how automatic translation works, no surprise.

 

[Liquid]

Also posted in the Hong Kong thread but worthy of repeating here for the bigger picture within China with its treatment of pretty much anyone who isn't Han Chinese.

Any attempt to divide China will end in bodies smashed and bones ground to powder.

Strong words. China is indivisible.