China's Foreign Diplomats Are Full of S**t!

 

Remember those Chinese overseas police stations? Well according to China's foreign diplomat Wang Wenbin AKA "water cooler diplomat" the police stations never existed!

Could China and the US be headed for an all-out confrontation?

If China’s freshly appointed foreign minister Qin Gang is to be believed, the answer is: yes - China and the US could be headed for an all-out confrontation. At his first press conference in the post, he slammed Washington's approach of "competition without conflict" and warned that the current dynamic threatened global peace. Speaking on the sidelines of the National People's Congress - China's rubber stamp parliament - Qin defied those expecting a more reconciliatory tone after the recent spy balloon incident and blamed the US for the war in Ukraine and rising tensions over Taiwan.

Biden confronts Russia and China: What is the US' foreign policy strategy? | To The Point

 

Expansion, control and stabilization: China lays out its future

 The National People’s Congress or NPC is officially the highest organ of power in China. It's is where China’s future in the world is mapped out. With nearly 3,000 delegates, it meets annually to outline the superpower’s long term plans.

Biden's America against Xi's China: Struggle for supremacy? | To The Point

 

Who can stop China's surge to global dominance? It's one huge question, and one huge challenge, that the new US president, Joe Biden, is already facing. Biden has inherited a divided and doubt-ridden America from his predecessor Donald Trump.

Can US progressives sway Biden on foreign policy?

 

Liberals see a window of opportunity for Washington to adopt “more principled” relations with other countries.

A coalition of 50 grassroots movements across the United States is demanding a “fundamental shift” in US national security and foreign policy.

Progressives are a minority in the Democratic Party and they have been trying to pull the establishment to the left for years. Some progressives have been hired to the Joe Biden administration, along with a majority of traditional bureaucrats.

That doctored image and souring Sino-Australian relations

 

Simmering tensions between China and Australia come to a boil over a provocative tweet. Plus, the Serbian war criminals rewriting history.

China and Australia, two major trading partners, are now using their respective media outlets – in different ways and to different extents – to trash talk one another.

Why has Australia and China’s relationship turned sour?

 

China imposes tariffs on Australian wine in latest escalation of trade and diplomatic dispute.

Ties between Australia and China are unravelling fast.

Beijing has imposed a tariff of up to 212 percent on Australian wine, the latest in an escalating trade and diplomatic dispute.

Is Trump rushing foreign policy decisions before leaving office?

 

The outgoing US president withdraws troops from Afghanistan and Iraq and reportedly considers action on Iran.

United States President Donald Trump is making some of his final foreign policy decisions before leaving office.

Trump has made further cuts to the number of US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

How will the Biden presidency impact US foreign relations?

 Many European leaders are hoping Joe Biden will help repair the transatlantic ties that have been strained under the Trump presidency.

Is China bolder after Covid-19?

While much of the world grapples with the medical, social and economic fallout from Covid-19, China - the country where the global pandemic began - says it now has the virus well under control. From Hong Kong to the South China Sea, China is once again pushing ahead with what it sees as the pursuit of its national interest as it emerges from the crisis.

How a Bible prophecy shapes Trump's foreign policy

For an influential group of American Christians, support for Israel -- and hatred of Iran -- are based in a biblical prophecy.

He was also acting on the advice of a politically powerful group of evangelical Christians who believe that the US and Israel are part of the Bible's plan to bring about the second coming of Jesus. Once considered a fringe element of the religious right, evangelical Christian Zionists are playing an increasingly visible role in Republican politics. Today, unprecedented access to the Trump administration has given them an opportunity to reshape the Middle East.

Trump threatens 'fury' against N Korea

US President Donald Trump says North Korea "will be met with fire and fury" if it threatens the US.

His comments came after a Washington Post report, citing US intelligence officials, said Pyongyang had produced a nuclear warhead small enough to fit inside its missiles.

This would mean the North is developing nuclear weapons capable of striking the US at a much faster rate than expected.

Donald Trump is apparently incapable of dealing with any deviation from his agenda.  Bullying others. Play golf. Rage tweet.  Play golf.  Make everything about himself.  

Is he stupid enough to start a war with North Korea over its nuclear weapons development? Of course. Because he fails to understand what that programme is for the survival of the Kim family and its rule.  In others it's a deterrent.  But Donald Trump the "Two Minute Man" is just supremely stupid enough to think it's all about him. 

Donald Trump And His North Korea Problem

Bellicosity has always been an integral part of North Korea's foreign policy interactions, especially where the United States are concerned.  They've long sought recognition from America believing it would grant them legitimacy and equality on the world stage.    Kim-Jong un has continued the tradition with the constant stream of incendiary statements and when tensions have reached the breaking point North Korea has arrested American citizens into the hope that concessions which benefit Kim and his government which will insure their continued rule.

Donald Trump in recent weeks has tried to out North Korea and it's ridiculous rhetoric with his own incendiary statements believing they somehow would intimidate Kim-Jong un.  Which was a complete failure.  Particularly  the issue with the Carl Vinson carrier group which Donald Trump claimed was sailing towards the Korean peninsula. But, was found to be heading in the opposite direction towards Australia for planned naval exercises with that country's navy.

The most ridiculous moment came when, after a ten minute dissertation from Chinese Premier Xi Jinping concerning North Korea Donald Trump makes the absurd comment that dealing with Kim-Jong un wouldn't be easy.  Gee you think?  Former President Bill Clinton came the closest to dealing with North Korea and its nuclear programs in the 1990's through the Agreed Framework.

Now that the situation with North Korea has reached a crisis point Donald Trump has summoned all 100 U.S. Senators to the White House for a briefing on the issue.

In an unusual move, the entire US Senate is being called to the White House for a briefing on North Korea.

Washington has become increasingly concerned at North Korean missile and nuclear tests and threats to its neighbours and the US.

The briefing, involving 100 senators as well as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defence Secretary James Mattis, is being held on Wednesday.

China, North Korea's main ally, has called for restraint from all sides.

China's call came in a phone conversation between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump on Sunday.

Mr Xi urged all parties to "maintain restraint and avoid actions that would increase tensions", according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

What Happens To Foreign Policy When Donald Trump Is Your Nominee

Three Republican U.S. Senators visiting South Korea last week were forced to reassure South Korean government officials that U.S. defense policy in Northeast Asia wouldn't be altered under a Trump administration.  Donald Trump however hasn't made that a particularly easy task given his rhetoric over the last six months.  At times he's questioned the alliance, and whether it should due to the unbalanced nature of the agreement as he views it.  When asked about these changes and how they would effect South Korea's defense posture he stated they should pursue nuclear weapons as an offset to an American military forces pull back and further added that Japan would also be encouraged to construct a nuclear arsenal.  

     Well, you know, at some point, there is going to be a point at which we just can’t do this anymore. And, I know the upsides and the downsides. But right now we’re protecting, we’re basically protecting Japan, and we are, every time North Korea raises its head, you know, we get calls from Japan and we get calls from everybody else, and “Do something.” And there’ll be a point at which we’re just not going to be able to do it anymore. Now, does that mean nuclear? It could mean nuclear. It’s a very scary nuclear world. Biggest problem, to me, in the world, is nuclear, and proliferation. At the same time, you know, we’re a country that doesn’t have money.


Neither Japan or South Korea have any interest in developing such arsenals given that public opinion in both countries strongly opposes any form of nuclear arms. And there's the real danger of an ensuing   arms race in Northeast Asia which would destabilize the entire region.

Donald Trump has no reasonable ideas on U.S. foreign policy, how it works, implement and that treaties and other international agreements can't be nullified simply because the president wants it.  He maybe running for President but he has no idea how the office or the actual government works.  

Donald Trump Thinks He'll Tell Japan What To Do Because He's Donald Trump

Donald Trump the Republican nominee for President has shown, one that he doesn't know anything foreign policy and two he knows less than nothing about Japan and its constitution which constrains its military.   For Donald Trump's information Japan does pay for the U.S. to station its military personnel in the country.    Of course there's the Tokyo treaty which sets out the terms for the U.S. Japan defense treaty.

Japan earmarked 189.9 billion yen ($1.7 billion) to host U.S. military bases in Japan in fiscal 2015 through March 31 as part of the costs necessary to station nearly 50,000 U.S. personnel.

“A lot of people like to say, oh, Trump wants Japan to arm. I don’t want them to arm. I want them to reimburse us for at least the cost,” said Trump, a 69-year-old billionaire.

Trump became the sole candidate in the nomination race after Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the last contender, said Wednesday he has suspended his campaign.

“I have great relationships with Japan,” Trump said.

Just so the know nothing Trump can understand I'll make it simple:  America wrote Japan's postwar constitution which limited its military to a self defense force and includes article 9 which prohibits Japan from engaging in military adventurism.  

The Donald Trump Foreign Policy Map

Simplicity and stupidity all rolled into one neat little package.

Belgium: Hellhole

In January, Trump claimed Muslims have failed to assimilate in Brussels, and called the city a “hellhole.” After coordinated terrorist attacks in the city left more than 30 people dead in March, Trump doubled down on his comments, tweeting: “I was so right!”

China: Ruining Everything

Trump has blamed China for causing a number of economic problems for the United States. He has claimed that when he’s president, “China will be on notice that America is back in the global leadership business and that their days of currency manipulation and cheating are over.” (Some of Trump’s products are, in fact, made in China.)

Iraq/Syria: Target Civilians

Trump has called for intentionally killing family members of Islamic State militants — which would be a war crime. He later walked back that proposal, insisting he only pledged to “go after them,” not necessarily kill them.

Iran: Who Knows?

Trump has flip-flopped on whether he’d call off the international nuclear agreement with Iran, but recently proposed a bizarre alternative: lifting restrictions on Iran’s access to U.S. markets to sell them defective missiles for a profit.  

Japan: Needs Nukes

Trump suggested Japan might need nuclear weapons in order to combat North Korea without the help of the U.S. military. Japan’s foreign minister called such a prospect “impossible.” Trump later attempted to walk back from his comments.

Shinzo Abe And The LDP Are Hoping That Japanese Soldiers Will Soon Be Able To Die In Pointles Wars

Shinzo Abe and his chicken hawk compatriots in the LDP are scurrying around like squirrels searching for food in their  efforts to change  Japan's pacifistic Constitution so that it  can be manned up.    You know, so that members of the Japanese Self Defense Forces can die for Americas hegemonic foreign policy initiatives.  All done at the behest of America's major corporations.  

Japan’s conservative ruling party is gearing up for a new push to achieve its long-sought goal of revising the country’s U.S.-drafted post-World War II constitution. Its first challenge: winning over a divided public.

Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers and other supporters rallied Friday ahead of Sunday’s Constitution Day holiday, when Japan’s democratic and war-renouncing charter took effect 68 years ago.

The party, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has resumed meetings of its constitution revision panel after a 2-year recess, and this week started distributing a cartoon pamphlet to raise public awareness and drum up support.

Backers of a revision denounce the 1947 constitution as one imposed by the United States, which occupied Japan from the end of World War II until 1952. They say it’s outdated and inadequate for today’s society.

What Happens If Shinzo Abe Gets His WIsh?

Shinzo Abe's lives in world of make believe at least one might describe it that way.  Japan's Prime Minister and his Liberal Democratic Party have this dream of "restoring" Japan.  For them that means the power that was Japan from the turn of the 19th century till the end of World War II a legitimate player in world politics and military power.   It means denying the war crimes committed by the Japanese Imperial army: The Rape of Nanjing, Comfort Women, chemical experiments on civilians and the execution of POW's.  Denial includes revising this history through text books used in Japanese junior and senior high schools.

Upon his return to the Prime Ministers office in December of 2012 he set about making changes not only in policy but in the constitution, specifically article 9 which prohibits the deployment of Japanese soldiers as armed combatants in conflict zones.   Have those ambitions comeback to haunt him with the killing of 2 Japanese hostages by ISIL?

If Mr. Abe would just extricate himself from his delusional   dream world and face the reality of our times perhaps there won't be anymore hostages taken.     

Sunday's announcement of the killing of Kenji Goto, the second of two Japanese hostages captured by Islamic State (IS) militants, represents a major political challenge for the Japanese administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 

It also raises important questions about the future security of Japanese citizens at home and abroad, the degree of Japanese public support for the country's increasingly proactive foreign policy, and the prospects in 2015 for government legislation to allow Japan's Self-Defence Forces (SDF) to play a more active overseas role.

While there was widespread shock at the two deaths, Japanese public reaction to the hostage crisis in general has been mixed.

Many Japanese responded to the humanitarian dimension of the crisis, using social media to express their solidarity with the victims and their families.

  Given the nature of Japanese politics the probability is high he'll get his wish as public sentiment concerning these changes in policy and the constitution will be ignored.