tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740849900073154554.post4963163335141750966..comments2023-08-25T17:30:36.937+05:30Comments on Business Musings: Xi who must be obeyed (with apologies to The Economist)Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11782192840421019943noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740849900073154554.post-32208555452498511452017-11-03T08:16:01.167+05:302017-11-03T08:16:01.167+05:30Ravi writes that in China, "communism had bec...Ravi writes that in China, "communism had become a mantra for upliftment through pragmatic capitalism" ...<br />Or, as some of us critics like to say, China has pretty much replaced its atheistic framework with a new god: Money.<br />China's "pragmatic capitalism" seems to be more ruthless and soul-crushing than Mao's thoughts!Sriram Khéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06724218458246880137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740849900073154554.post-20614380340453385052017-11-02T18:36:27.340+05:302017-11-02T18:36:27.340+05:30@Ravi - Incisive comments as always. I didn't ...@Ravi - Incisive comments as always. I didn't know Japan has a potent military already. God help us if they decide to revive their dormant military instincts.Rameshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782192840421019943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740849900073154554.post-29190043158286071602017-10-31T12:21:07.200+05:302017-10-31T12:21:07.200+05:30@Ramesh - incidentally Japan does have a potent mi...@Ramesh - incidentally Japan does have a potent military. And they are capable of symbolism. A case in point is the Helicopter Carrier JSDFN Izumo. The Izumo has a 250 feet deck - ostensibly for carrying 24 attack helicopters. At any point it can be converted into an aircraft carrier. Three more are being launched. The Izumo is named after a retired Japanese vessel which played a critical role in - you guessed it - the Sino Japanese war 1936-1945.Ravi Rajagopalanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17321251570712041230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740849900073154554.post-72565790001804439782017-10-31T12:14:46.576+05:302017-10-31T12:14:46.576+05:30For 40 years after liberation, China did nothing t...For 40 years after liberation, China did nothing to stoke anti Japanese sentiment. Chairman Mao in particular did not want reparations from the Japanese. While they were wary of the conversion of Japan into an American aircraft carrier, they did not say or do anything, and quickly normalised relations. The stoking of anti-Japanese sentiment can be traced to the post-Tienanmen era. For some time under Deng, communism had become a mantra for upliftment through pragmatic capitalism (I will leave Sriram as an academic to square that circle). After June 1989 communism became an expression of nationalism and that is where it stays today. The memories of Nanjing 1937 were unearthed and protests orchestrated against the Japanese - always to a point and without hurting any Japanese. Its a dangerous game and will lead to war. The Abe government can now re-arm and change the constitution but they still have to get Japanese men and women to have babies. How he is going to do that, God only knows.Ravi Rajagopalanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17321251570712041230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740849900073154554.post-25557676290048277572017-10-30T08:11:16.307+05:302017-10-30T08:11:16.307+05:30@Ravi - Your point on Japan is potent. A combinati...@Ravi - Your point on Japan is potent. A combination of Japan and India will be a powerful bloc - no wonder that both Abe and Modi are professing undying love. The danger of virulent anti Japanese sentiments rising in China is real - its lying just under the surface and the Party is not above stoking it.<br /><br />Makes me miss the wisdom of Deng more. Deng's path to economic reform really started with Japanese help. He was willing to set aside historical disputes and cooperate for the sake of development. There is no Deng in the world these days, alas.Rameshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782192840421019943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740849900073154554.post-53266229953369476452017-10-30T07:15:45.087+05:302017-10-30T07:15:45.087+05:30"The US is run by a jackass"
That's ..."The US is run by a jackass"<br />That's one hell of an insult to any jackass anywhere on the planet, Ravi ;)<br /><br />"China's influence on the world will keep rising, as the US falls."<br />Sad!Sriram Khéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06724218458246880137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740849900073154554.post-42911061434002180412017-10-29T22:13:38.559+05:302017-10-29T22:13:38.559+05:30Incisive predictions Ramesh. Kudos. The US is run ...Incisive predictions Ramesh. Kudos. The US is run by a jackass, and Xi must be thrilled that he has the US where he wants it. One should of course note that Japan will now amend its constitution to add teeth to its military, and local alliances will be forged to contain the Chinese now that the US shows no appetite for power.Ravi Rajagopalanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17321251570712041230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740849900073154554.post-23054030919287811072017-10-28T15:56:32.970+05:302017-10-28T15:56:32.970+05:30@Sriram - I think Xi will resign from two of his t...@Sriram - I think Xi will resign from two of his three posts - President and gen sec of the Communist Party in 2022 and somebody from the next generation will take over. He may stay for a few years as the Chairman of the Central Military Commission and wield power from the back. How this will pan out, who can say - Chinese history is full of strong men abruptly falling from grace. Chinese politics has tremendous fissures - so who knows.<br /><br />@Deepa - China is likely to flex its muscles more and more and "clash" with the US multiple times. Because of the havoc the current administration is wrecking, China's influence on the world will keep rising, as the US falls. Who will trust the US government anymore after the antics of this year. China on the other hand , scrupulously follows, at least in the letter of the law, the agreement made on Hong Kong in 1997. Rameshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782192840421019943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740849900073154554.post-6298397476867784852017-10-28T09:39:10.064+05:302017-10-28T09:39:10.064+05:30The last thing the world needs is another autocrat...The last thing the world needs is another autocrat. Moreover I am curious as to how this would impact America in the coming years.Deepahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16149267172223745802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740849900073154554.post-28057578428556825502017-10-26T10:01:23.197+05:302017-10-26T10:01:23.197+05:30Your reading of the tea leaves is why I refer to y...Your reading of the tea leaves is why I refer to you as my go-to-China expert. Keep us informed, my friend.<br /><br />BTW, the new Standing Committee did not include a younger leader who would be groomed as heir apparent to Xi Jinping.<br />"Does this mean that #Xi plans to break precedent and take a third term himself?"<br />https://twitter.com/congoboy/status/923405918473035776Sriram Khéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06724218458246880137noreply@blogger.com