March 15, 2004

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China in particular thrives on symbols as a means to a political ends. But what is France thinking when it comes to this?

China and France will hold rare joint naval exercises off the mainland's eastern coast on Tuesday, just four days before Beijing's rival, Taiwan, holds presidential elections. China's official Xinhua news agency made no link between the exercises off Qingdao -- about 780 miles from Taiwan's northernmost point -- and the election.

But the show of military strength and solidarity signalled China's desire to isolate the self-governing island before the vote and its first-ever referendum, which Beijing views as a provocative step toward independence.

WTF? France is effectively getting involved in the China-Taiwan quagmire in an explicit show of siding with China. They'll no doubt get their kickback in the form of some sweetheart deal later on. But what are they thinking? Pouring oil onto a fire? It's one thing for the French to throw their lot in with China but quite another to upset an already delicate situation just prior to the Taiwanese election. Always nice to France siding with the Communist dictatorship rather than the democrats of Taiwan. The shenanigans worked well last time - for Lee Teng-hui.

That's why I imagine July 1st is going to be big again in Hong Kong this year. From the SCMP:

The head of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong says Catholics in the city should take part in a demonstration planned for July 1 to seek a speedy move towards the introduction of full democracy.

Amid the heated debate on patriotism and constitutional reform, Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun said all members of the church, together with all Hong Kong's people, were patriotic and loved the city.
Despite the constant bleatings of various Beijing overlords the people of this city are just as pissed off as last year. The economy's on the mend, there's no ham-fisted security law being shoved through and still a big turnout is likely. The people of Hong Kong are backing Beijing into a corner that's going to be hard to get out of. Hopefully. Because the usual reaction of Beijing is to (literally) fight its way out.

posted by Simon on 03.15.04 at 04:12 PM in the




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Frucking Fogs!
Excerpt: What the . . . China and France will hold rare joint naval exercises off the mainland's eastern coast on Tuesday, just four days before Beijing's rival, Taiwan, holds presidential elections. China's official Xinhua news agency made no link between...
Weblog: The Gweilo Diaries
Tracked: March 15, 2004 07:10 PM


Comments:

France is conducting joint naval exercises with China?

What are they going to do, invade Viet Nam again?

posted by: Pixy Misa on 03.16.04 at 12:55 AM [permalink]

before i start i should say i am not agreeing withfrench behaviour, just explaining it.

the french are simply trying to align themselves with the only credible alternative to the u.s. as a world power. they have a fear that if the u.s. is allowed to reign unchecked then they will become more and more marginalised. they are keen to see a bipolar world, with 2 powers acting as counterbalances to each other (sounds a bit like the cold war huh!) rather than 1 dominant power.

they are even more afraid that if there is only 1 power then it will be the u.s., as the french seem to believe that somehow they are the guardians of world culture, and that a u.s. dominated world would simply ride roughshod over their views and values.

on the plus side, their behaviour is likely to mean that americans get all uppitty at someone daring to disagree with them and start boycotting french goods again, which means cheaper fine wine and foie gras for the rest of us. hmmmmmm

posted by: giles on 03.16.04 at 09:27 AM [permalink]




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