The Dragon Manifesto

The Global Times is a news daily that caters to China’s ruling Communist Party. The paper announces cultural and social events and tracks of China's achievements in its space program, and in the sciences, education, technology, and business. China's unique form of communism is one that likes to plan ahead, driven by an ever-evolving social vision. Their goals can be very long and ambitious, like stabilizing the size of the population (the one-child program), in order to lift tens of millions out of poverty and into a sustainable consumer class. The Party's goals can also be shorter and more targeted, such as the current anti-corruption sweep and systems-reform that will be designed to avert recurrence, similar to the New Deal era banking regulations that did the same.

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The Sleeping Dragon Wakes Up

China's Communist Party [CCP] also adheres to a Five-Year Plan and a Ten-Year Plan, which is set by current Party Members. The Party's overarching ambition is to continuously modernize the nation while supporting the growth of a strong and healthy society where the People can develop their own unique gifts and contributions. The Global Times lets Readers keep track of the progress the Party makes and the milestones they meet in executing the goals they set. The CCP has also looked outward, beyond its own borders, where they have formed productive diplomatic relationships, solid friendships, and economic partnerships throughout the world. In recent years, China has developed a vision for expanded trade and new economic opportunity — especially for the undeveloped land-locked countries of the Eastern Hemisphere. With the funding and leadership to back it up, China made an ambitious commitment to build a modern transportation and shipping infrastructure that will connect all parts of the Eastern Hemisphere, by land and by sea.

Diplomatically, China holds to a "golden mean" of unassuming moderation and modesty. The Chinese are historically a non-interventionalist people, and they have adapted remarkably well to dealing with the more belligerent and aggressive West. For example, when Western leaders speak about China, they blithely make remarks and accusations that are insulting and sometimes shocking to the Chinese — but the Chinese have learned to brush the harsh rhetoric and hyperbole aside. As one might suppose, the Trump Administration has been a challenge for them, made exponentially more difficult by the year-long Neocon struggle and coup over US foreign policy decisions. In the world's eyes, the US has changed dramatically — gone is the dignity and lawfulness it once maintained. The US is now openly unethical and threatening, both at the UN and on the world stage. The abrupt US Trade War it waged against China left them angry and bewildered, especially after so much effort was spent in formal diplomacy. Newspaper editorials ask, "Does the US not realize that it can only lose in such a war; that its economy will suffer?" The editorials published in the Global Times, seem to straddle annoyance on one hand, and concern on the other. The Chinese are still unaware that their very existence offends the US Empire. That lesson has yet to be learned.

Meanwhile, China's measured public response finally did snap, after witnessing the international spectacle of Russia being bullied by the US and UK over the Skripal poisoning in London. The Intellectual unfairness of the condemnation of Russia, followed by the unprecedented expulsion of scores of diplomats has pushed China into a state of general outrage. The Global Times recently published a scorching editorial reminding the West that China is watching the goings-on and assessing the West’s disregard of basic courtesies and lack of due process. The editorial notes that other countries – including implicitly China – may one day find themselves in the same crosshairs. The point is made that Western powers in no way reflect the values of “the world community.” To me, the editorial reads like a manifesto. See what you think:

Russian diplomat expulsions
Signal crude side of Western intention

On March 26, the US, Canada, and several European Union countries expelled Russian diplomats from their respective foreign embassies and consulates in retaliation against Russia's alleged poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. As of this writing, 19 countries, including 15 EU member states, have shown their support to Great Britain by enforcing such measures.

On March 4, Skripal and his daughter Yulia were rushed to a hospital after they were found unconscious at a park in Salisbury. It was later reported the father and daughter had come into contact with an obscure nerve agent. UK government officials said the Skripals were attacked by "Novichok," a powerful Soviet-era chemical nerve agent used by the military.


The British government did not provide evidence that linked Russia to the crime but was confident from the beginning there could be no other "reasonable explanation" for the attempted assassination. Great Britain was so convinced of their Russia theory, they wasted no time taking the lead in levying sanctions against the country by quickly expelling Russian diplomats from London. Shortly afterward, UK capital officials reached out to NATO and their European allies who provided immediate support.

The accusations that Western countries have hurled at Russia are based on ulterior motives, similar to how the Chinese use the expression "perhaps it's true" to seize upon the desired opportunity. From a third-person perspective, the principles and diplomatic logic behind such drastic efforts are flawed, not to mention that expelling Russian diplomats almost simultaneously is a crude form of behavior. Such actions have little impact other than increasing hostility and hatred between Russia and their Western counterparts.


The UK government should have an independent investigation conducted into the Skripal poisoning by representatives from the international community. An effort such as this would provide results strong enough for those following the case to make up their minds on who should or shouldn't be accused of the crime. Now, the majority of those who support Britain's one-sided conclusion happen to be members of NATO and the EU, while others stood behind the UK due to long-standing relations.

The fact that major Western powers can gang up and "sentence" a foreign country without following the same procedures other countries abide by and according to the basic tenets of international law is chilling. During the Cold War, not one Western nation would have dared to make such a provocation and yet today it is carried out with unrestrained ease. Such actions are nothing more than a form of Western bullying that threatens global peace and justice.


Over the past few years, the international standard has been falsified and manipulated in ways never seen before. The fundamental reason behind reducing global standards is rooted in post-Cold War power disparities. The US, along with their allies, jammed their ambitions into the international standards so their actions, which were supposed to follow a set of standardized procedures and protocol, were really nothing more than profit-seizing opportunities designed only for themselves. These same Western nations activated in full-force public opinion-shaping platforms and media agencies to defend and justify such privileges.

As of late, more foreign countries have been victimized by Western rhetoric and nonsensical diplomatic measures. In the end, the leaders of these nations are forced to wear a hat featuring slogans and words that read "oppressing their own people," "authoritarian," or "ethnic cleansing," regardless of their innocence.

It is beyond outrageous how the US and Europe have treated Russia. Their actions represent a frivolity and recklessness that has grown to characterize Western hegemony that only knows how to contaminate international relations. Right now is the perfect time for non-Western nations to strengthen unity and collaborative efforts among one another. These nations need to establish a level of independence outside the reach of Western influence while breaking the chains of monopolization declarations, predetermined adjudications and come to value their own judgment abilities.

It's already understood that to achieve such international collective efforts is easier said than done as they require foundational support before anything can happen. Until a new line of allies emerges, multi-national associations like BRICS, or even the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, need to provide value to those non-Western nations and actively create alliances with them.


What Russia is experiencing right could serve as a reflection of how other non-Western nations can expect to be treated in the not-to-distant future. Expelling Russian diplomats simultaneously is hardly enough to deter Russia. Overall, it's an intimidation tactic that has become emblematic of Western nations, and furthermore, such measures are not supported by international law and therefore unjustified. More importantly, the international community should have the tools and means to counterbalance such actions.

The West is only a small fraction of the world and is nowhere near the global representative it once thought it was. The silenced minorities within the international community need to realize this and prove just how deep their understanding is of such a realization by proving it to the world through action. With the Skripal case, the general public does not know the truth, and the British government has yet to provide a shred of evidence justifying their allegations against Russia.

It is firmly believed that accusations levied by one country to another that are not the end results of a thorough and professional investigation should not be encouraged. Simultaneously expelling diplomats is a form of uncivilized behavior that needs to be abolished immediately.

This is not going to go away. Few seem to realize that China holds the better hand, by far, if the world decides to sit at their table and deal.

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Azazello's picture

Over the past few years, the international standard has been falsified and manipulated in ways never seen before. The fundamental reason behind reducing global standards is rooted in post-Cold War power disparities. The US, along with their allies, jammed their ambitions into the international standards so their actions, which were supposed to follow a set of standardized procedures and protocol, were really nothing more than profit-seizing opportunities designed only for themselves. These same Western nations activated in full-force public opinion-shaping platforms and media agencies to defend and justify such privileges.

George F. Kennan, 1948

We have about 50 percent of the world’s wealth but only 6.3 percent of its population…In this situation, we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity without positive detriment to our national security. To do so, we will have to dispense with all sentimentality and daydreaming.

Thanks for the post, should be required reading for all Americans.

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We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

ggersh's picture

Over the past few years, the international standard has been falsified and manipulated in ways never seen before. The fundamental reason behind reducing global standards is rooted in post-Cold War power disparities. The US, along with their allies, jammed their ambitions into the international standards so their actions, which were supposed to follow a set of standardized procedures and protocol, were really nothing more than profit-seizing opportunities designed only for themselves. These same Western nations activated in full-force public opinion-shaping platforms and media agencies to defend and justify such privileges.

It won't be pretty playing the losing hand while believing you have
the winning hand, seen the result way to many times.

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I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

Meteor Man's picture

By any Western MSM standard. It sure would be nice to get this kind of insightful commentary in America someplace besides Chris Hedges, Jimmy Dore and similar featured voices that are commonplace here at c99p. Chinese culture has it's own version of Chinese Exceptionalism, just like every nationstate on the planet.

I believe this is accurate:

The Chinese are historically a non-interventionalist people, and they have adapted remarkably well to dealing with the more belligerent and aggressive West.

If our political and media voices were as rational as the Chinese voices mankind might have a chance. Thanks for the article and analysis Pluto's Republic.

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"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn

@Meteor Man @Meteor Man this is the first place I came to to find out more. It's where I go to first for most info.

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@Meteor Man

But they are not just words. I am grateful for the quality thinking that goes into your comments, insights shared by Azazello and ggersh, above. The intelligent camaraderie here, and the simple awareness of the twisted reality out there, is restoring. The extreme Neocon propaganda of the media cartels has truly degraded the intregrity of society.

This dystopia reminds me very much of the science fiction from the 50s, 60s. and 70s. Good times. Great people to share it with. Heh.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
studentofearth's picture

do not plan on changing their viewpoints and expectations for the country. Thanks for Global Times article.

For those wanting to expand knowledge. a couple of videos helpful to deepen my understanding.

James Stent worked in China for multiple years in the banking industry and is speaking to National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. He provides good insight into their approach to problem solving and ability to transform to new models
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIEnr-UGygo]

1967 documentary by the CIA on China. It appears at times our intelligence agencies still have this view point today (deep contempt). Taiwan, I believe, still officially claims sovereignty over mainland China.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0_JofhuqfM]

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Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Meteor Man's picture

@studentofearth
Gonna watch the James Stent video now. Your brief description illustrates the stark contrast between the forward and solution based perspective of the Chinese and the dismal and dangerous ignorance of the American perspective.

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"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn

using the US to do it. The US is involved in exploiting it's citizens lives, and using China to do it.

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Alligator Ed's picture

@Snode China has 5 year and 10 year plans. The USAA has 1 day and 3 month plans. If international relations were chess, we're fucked before even starting.

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strollingone's picture

evidence in support of China continuing its effort to replace the dollar as the basis for international trade would find support in the language and wording of this editorial. Drawing a sharp contrast between China and the U.S., presenting the negative effects of U.S. economic "policy" on the rest of the world, and pointing out the U.S.'s abuse of "the international standard" are all necessary to prepare the world for the hassle of switching away from c-notes. The next to last paragraph is especially telling.

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A noted public intellectual in Australia, Clive Hamilton, has written a book and carrying on an action to publicize CCP intrusion into AU.

They are the major contributors to both political parties. (In AU, the Labor party is sorta left, the liberal party is right, and there are many parties. The important thing is major politicians supporting CCP)

A few years ago, Clive wrote "Defiant Earth: The Fate of Humans in the Anthropocene"

He is solid. Here is his earlier book

Advance praise for Defiant Earth

‘There is no-one in the world who has reflected more honestly, courageously or profoundly than Clive Hamilton on the overwhelmingly most consequential question of our era: our species’ willingness to watch on passively and calmly as the once human-friendly Earth is gradually but inexorably destroyed. Defiant Earth completes the argument of two previous books, Requiem for a Species and Earthmasters.

It is a dark, disturbing, provocative and entirely original work, which should be read by everyone genuinely interested in the future of humankind.’

Robert Manne FASSA, Emeritus Professor of Politics and Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University

‘For those entertaining the idea that we should just rocket away from an overheated planet to some new world, or perhaps fill the atmosphere with sulphur to block out the sun, here’s a remarkably powerful accounting of our actual responsibility—past, present, and future.’

Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org

‘Clive Hamilton has been an original, important, and distinctive voice in the debate about the idea of the Anthropocene. Defiant Earth goes a long way towards bridging the distance between rival interpretations of this idea in the humanities while generating insights of its own into the meanings of being human in an age of planetary climate change. An essential reading for our times.’

Dipesh Chakrabarty, University of Chicago

Bruno Latour says, Clive took on the climate, now he is taking on the Chinese.

A Chinese woman living in AU signs a petition in support of Tibet, her parents get a call from mainline China. There are other aspects of intimidation and attacks on freedom of speech. The CCP owns major TV station and according to Clive, they cover what CCP wants. RT has a lot of good stuff on it but it is not a propaganda

The real reason you won’t be reading my new book on China anytime soon

Most admired publisher in AU was all set to publish his new book on China after publishing 8 previous books, but at the last minute they pulled it. No explanation.

The 2015 kidnapping of five Hong Kong booksellers whose shops stocked books critical of Xi and the CCP sent a brutal message. Four were eventually released –three “confessed” and have remained mute, while one spoke of his mistreatment. The fifth is still imprisoned.

Beijing has been extending its silencing tactics abroad for some years, beginning with the Chinese diaspora including the one million or more citizens of this country with Chinese heritage. So while once we had a vibrant Chinese-language media, now 90 per cent of newspapers and radio stations toe the Party line.

Recently, Cambridge University Press and the giant German publisher Springer succumbed to the demands of President Xi’s censors, although CUP was forced to backtrack after an outcry and calls for a boycott.

** another article
Scholarly intimidation is being imported into Australia under official Communist Party licence in the guise of patriotism

One of the big questions that I felt I had to answer is how it came to pass that the most influential members of Australia’s policy and intellectual elite were won over to Beijing’s view of the world to such an extent that they now advocate for China’s interests over Australia’s. Who are these agents of influence and how do they manage to dominate the debate?

Already, academics in Australia work under a subtle silencing regime. Emboldened by China’s economic might and President Xi’s muscular nationalism, Chinese students at Australian universities are on the alert for any offence by their teachers. A lecturer who used a map that, if you looked carefully enough, showed Indian rather than Chinese lines in a disputed Himalayan border region was denounced on social media. The lecturer was forced to apologise.

***
I watched the first part of an interview but didn't find it now. He said that the strategy of CCP is to hive off one of the countries in the US sphere of influence. In another article he goes through the counter arguments to his argument. One of the arguments against him is that they are racists. True AU has a bad history of racism, but not Clive, and not the Chinese who want to live in AU, not mainland China.

** the book about China which is just out

"Silent Invasion: China's Influence in Australia"
From the amazon page

Respected academic Clive Hamilton realised something big was happening when, in 2016, it was revealed that wealthy Chinese businessmen linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had become the largest donors to both major Australian political parties. Hamilton began to investigate the Chinese government's influence in Australia. What he found shocked him.

From politics to culture, real estate to agriculture, universities to unions, and even in primary schools, he uncovered compelling evidence of the CCP's infiltration of Australia. It is no exaggeration to say the CCP and Australian democracy are on a collision course, with the CCP determined to win, while Australia looks the other way.

Thoroughly researched and powerfully argued, SILENT INVASION is a sobering examination of the mounting threats to democratic freedoms Australians have for too long taken for granted. Yes, China is important to Australia's economic prosperity; but, Hamilton asks, how much is sovereignty as a nation worth?

'Anyone keen to understand how China draws other countries into its sphere of influence should start with Silent Invasion. This is an important book for the future of Australia. But tug on the threads of China's influence networks in Australia and its global network of influence operations starts to unravel.' –Professor John Fitzgerald, author of Big White Lie: Chinese Australians in White Australia

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TheOtherMaven's picture

@DonMidwest

not enough about the US's Big Booted Foot.

It seems Australia is doomed to live under one or the other - they've been under the US boot for a looooong time.

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

@TheOtherMaven

Maybe TPTB (in which I include major corporate interests) of nobody else's country ought to be determining what rights people can have in their own countries?

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.