I
think Americans would be surprised to know how conservative the
views of many Chinese are concerning such "mutual" problems as Iraq,
North Korea, terrorism and the whole world order as it is now.
Of
course, young Chinese males with internet access tend to rant on
about the global conspiracy engineered by the US and Co. but
a)
that is a young male thing to do and
b)
young American males with internet access ranting about the US government
are not few in number ...
While
probing around for interesting views on Shenzhou 5 and the "future
dominating presence of China" in general, I found the older generation
(say, 30 and above) regard an emergent China as beneficial to pocketbooks
all over the world, harmless militarily unless attacked and in search
of more and deeper international friends, not enemies. Very few
Chinese predict a Chinese invasion of anywhere, even Taiwan, unless
forced to do so by international (read US) pressure and/or actions.
Such actions would have to surpass a Hainan Spy Incident
or sale of destroyers to Taiwan in severity.
Regarding
Iraq
Everyone
hates Saddam. Even his buddies in the Middle East must hate him
even if he is gaining refuge somewhere ( I personally believe
he is a red spot in a bomb crater), then that refuge must be quite
expensive and not just economically.
Chinese
are no exception. Perhaps "hate" is too strong a word, let's substitute
"ridicule with a dash of disdainful pity." The mention of Saddam
usually illicits a guffaw or two and a well-deserved hawk-spit combination.
His regime is well known here as a tyrannical, oppressive doomed
government that should have stepped down a long time ago in disgrace.
For Chinese, a leader like Saddam would have a face the size of
a needlehead and it would be unthinkable for him to remain in power.
At least Mao was able to claim victories against the Nationalists,
the Japanese and even the Americans in Korea.
The
policeman role of the US in Iraq is applauded. The removal of a
cancerous regime admired. The display of military power (surprise
surprise) impressive. No American can disagree so far.
Nevertheless,
like many a baffeled layman, the Chinese are sceptical of the last
six months of "clean-up operations," threatening gestures towards
various Arab countries, dubious claims of success, dubious hogwash
coming out the White House, Pentagon and even the State Department
and basically everything the World Cop has done in the neighborhood
since he removed the resident crime lord.
Many
an American should find himself nodding along.
Regarding
North Korea
It
must seem strange to a Chinese to be discussing North Korea with
an American. The "war to help out our old buddy" is billed as a
major success here in China. Although "We Won the War" banners are
nowhere to be seen, not a few Chinese assume the blank "whatever
you say" expression when presented with "it was a tie" type evidence.
Having
said that, the war here is nowhere near as present in the minds
of the locals as the "War Against Japanese Aggression." Young Chinese
males with internet access have no love for Japanese and routinely
let it be known. It is a curious relationship Japanese business,
fashion, music, video games and electronics in general are gobbled
up in China, but Chinese students will rarely admit liking Japanese
people, although they will ruefully admit that changes have taken
place in both nations over the past 50 years. MBA students asked
to give impressions of Japanese listed "cruel, aggressive, war-like,
fake and short-legged." When one of them mentioned smart, mumbles
went around the room. (In contrast, when one student labeled Americans
as smart the whole room erupted in disbelief. They settled on "not
as smart as Chinese.")
They
had nothing to say for North Koreans. Thinking about these erstwhile
allies left to rot somewhere northeast of Beijing threw these students
into confusion. Are they the socialist brothers fighting the imperialist
powers? The rogue nation blackmailing the world and giving China
big mafan (inconvenient annoying trouble)? Nothing at all?
Yet
again, the cabbies of Chengdu came to the rescue. Following an informal
poll, the following composite statement will be used to represent
all cab drivers in this city of 10 million:
"Those
bastards are just giving us all mafan. What kind of a person
sits in a corner and demands money and technology just because they
have a weapon? It's blackmail! The US should deal with them!"
Naturally
the above statement is not representative of the Chinese government
or its policies toward N. Korea, but Americans, even Korean War
vets, should find themselves grunting sagely in agreement with the
many Chinese that hold this view.
China
has cut off oil, sent Wu
Bangguo after N. Korea agreed to talks and stuck out its neck
a few times to avert a suspension of talks which could lead to eventual
hostilities. China does not want a confrontation with the current
warmongering, bumbling US Administration. N. Korea yapping about
freezing the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization's
assets and "nuclear deterrents" probably angers Beijing as much
as it does Washington. The longer this goes on, the larger the chance
of confrontation, which would be ugly by conservative estimates.
Hu
and Bush
The
reaction that these two leaders received in their recent trips through
the Pacific is emblematic of the foolishness of the Bush Administration
and the similar views today's China holds with the rest of the world.
Hu
was hailed in Thailand as well as Australia and his speeches on
increased globalization, regional cooperation and stronger economic
ties brought the folks to their feet. All the various acronyms that
make up the alliances in the Pacific beamed and clapped till their
hands bled as Hu outlined his government's future role as a facilitator
of trade and economic prosperity as well as a harbinger of peace
and stability. The theme was cash and the crowd loved it.
Bush
stumbeled into Indonesia and stumbeled out wondering aloud why the
Muslims sneered so much as he spoke. In Thailand the poor deluded
man was outfoxed by Hu and had to talk about anything else but the
script on Chinese RMB revaluation that was handed to him on the
flight over.
Bush
wandered into a multi-ethnic business dinner and started yapping
about Holy Wars against evil. All this a few days after one of his
generals equated Islam with Satan. "Muslims" have been calling the
US Hell and the current incumbent Satan for a while, but those guys
were radicals speaking from caves or broke street peddlers
not upper level officials sanctioned from on high.
Ironically,
Clinton's recent talks on globalization at Yale sound more like
Hu. And a lot more like me and you than our current "leaders."
Sascha
Matuszak
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on this article?
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Sascha Matuszak
is a teacher living and working in China. His articles have appeared
in the South China Morning Post, the Minnesota Daily,
and elsewhere. His exclusive Antiwar.com column (usually) appears
Fridays.
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