WSJ: Trump wants to buy Greenland

[d08]

US, Russia, China, they are ALL the same. None of those three countries are ever lesser evil than the others, never were, never have and never will. Depending on where you look, wherever they might be "lesser evil" in one way, they more than make it up in another.

What we do need is checks and balances and ironically this is where they are at their best, to keep checks and balances on each other.

Do you understand that if you simply say the wrong thing in China, you will disappear. If you campaign against Putin in Russia, you'll likely end up in jail with all your assets taken away on made up charges.
I think you're an American so you can never really imagine guys from the state appearing at your door who take you away for you to be never seen again. This happens in China and in Russia "random" Chechens will just execute you.
So I'm sorry but there's very very few people in the world who would choose Russia or China over US.

 

[d08]

Yes, the anti chinese sentiment must be very strong at the moment in Philippines, wondering if it changed anything for mainlanders moving there, as recently as 2 years ago quite a few kept movig to the Philippines.
Reading international news, it seems to be chinese agression all over the South China Sea, militarizing islets not belonging to China, fishing in other countries´waters and impeding various Apec countries to explore and exploit their own national water.
Nowadays it seems all information about China is very negative, it definetely got much wrse under Xi Jinping, and as he has extended his leading position in the Mainland from the previous 10 years to life, issues might not cool down anytime soon.
Sounds crazy that some opinion surveys in european countries shortly after Trump was elected saw him as a greater threat to world peace than Xi Jinping, I´d be curious to see more recent surveys, it has probably to do with China and the surrounding seas seeming too far for most europeans

I'd say most of the "old Europe" is quite delusional who probably think Russia and China are their friends, you see countries like Italy wanting closer ties with Russia. It's that same old thing -- they hear about US this and US that and it's happening relatively near, conclusion is that US is really bad.
They see a 2 minute news piece about South China sea and their eyes glaze over it as it's so far, as you said, and doesn't directly concern anyone in Europe.

Number of Chinese in the Philippines has been increasing dramatically. The Chinese gambling operations set up here brought in a lot of people as their immigration numbers dwarf every other nationality now. Heard of whole condos/hotels been in Chinese only, as if they're living in China. China recently requested Philippines to ban online gambling but if Duterte is smart (and not working for China as many believe), he will use this as a bargaining chip. If he bends over to China and gives them everything they need without reciprocity then it's confirmed - he really is a Chinese puppet. You have to remember the gambling operations bring in significant tax revenue (for the Philippines).

 

[toc]

One that China needs to stop doing is the commie and nazi style "geographic expansion" in territory and/or influence. Commies used political and military means, nazis used naked military aggression and now.............China is using economic "sweet trap". That is, give a small country a massive loan with stringent stipulations which Chinese ownership of country's assets. Next thing is Chinese populations move in as workers and managers. Before you know it, learning Chinese language is a plus to find jobs.

US fended off and contained the Communism until it crashed on its own, Nazis were defeated by the Global alliance in which Soviets payed a very huge role and price. Now Chinese "economic geostrategic" projects are doing the same expansion but in a much cordial manner (at first).

Sooner the world realizes and stops this, the better for its future.

 

[JSOP]

Do you understand that if you simply say the wrong thing in China, you will disappear. If you campaign against Putin in Russia, you'll likely end up in jail with all your assets taken away on made up charges.
I think you're an American so you can never really imagine guys from the state appearing at your door who take you away for you to be never seen again. This happens in China and in Russia "random" Chechens will just execute you.
So I'm sorry but there's very very few people in the world who would choose Russia or China over US.

Yeah when you say the wrong thing in USA, you don't disappear. You don't get a knock on the door by the FBI at 3:00 AM in the morning, yeah uh huh. You have never been in the USA obviously. Why do you think Snowdon had to escape from USA and is still in hiding?

Few people would choose Russia or China over USA, that might be true but it's interesting that people like Snowdon, who really knows the inner-working of governmental curtailment of individual freedom and rights chose Russia over USA? Ironic, isn't it?

 

[JSOP]

I'd say most of the "old Europe" is quite delusional who probably think Russia and China are their friends, you see countries like Italy wanting closer ties with Russia. It's that same old thing -- they hear about US this and US that and it's happening relatively near, conclusion is that US is really bad.
They see a 2 minute news piece about South China sea and their eyes glaze over it as it's so far, as you said, and doesn't directly concern anyone in Europe.

Number of Chinese in the Philippines has been increasing dramatically. The Chinese gambling operations set up here brought in a lot of people as their immigration numbers dwarf every other nationality now. Heard of whole condos/hotels been in Chinese only, as if they're living in China. China recently requested Philippines to ban online gambling but if Duterte is smart (and not working for China as many believe), he will use this as a bargaining chip. If he bends over to China and gives them everything they need without reciprocity then it's confirmed - he really is a Chinese puppet. You have to remember the gambling operations bring in significant tax revenue (for the Philippines).

These countries have NO CHOICE. China is the only one who is rich and generous enough to hand out money right now. You think Greece is happy to sell its ports and islands to China? The Philippines is the same. They have so many problems to deal with; the country is dying, literally dying from its drug epidemic and got ZERO help from any country in the world and all USA and the West could do is condemn Duterte for executing drug dealers to clean house. China was the only country that gave $50 million to the Philippines to set up drug rehab programs. Where was USA and the West all those time? All the USA knows what to do is to ship the Philippines weapons and warplanes and vessels to use them to go against China. Countries like the Philippines who have no resources, no land, no economy, no money really has no choice. They have to rely on some big countries for support in order to survive. All these years, the Philippines have relied on the USA for support and where has it gotten them? Nowhere so now they want to try a new master. Are they happy about it? Hardly but China is giving them $$ and China is close. So China will do, at least for now.

 

[d08]

These countries have NO CHOICE. China is the only one who is rich and generous enough to hand out money right now. You think Greece is happy to sell its ports and islands to China? The Philippines is the same. They have so many problems to deal with; the country is dying, literally dying from its drug epidemic and got ZERO help from any country in the world and all USA and the West could do is condemn Duterte for executing drug dealers to clean house. China was the only country that gave $50 million to the Philippines to set up drug rehab programs. Where was USA and the West all those time? All the USA knows what to do is to ship the Philippines weapons and warplanes and vessels to use them to go against China. Countries like the Philippines who have no resources, no land, no economy, no money really has no choice. They have to rely on some big countries for support in order to survive. All these years, the Philippines have relied on the USA for support and where has it gotten them? Nowhere so now they want to try a new master. Are they happy about it? Hardly but China is giving them $$ and China is close. So China will do, at least for now.

You're misinformed.

1. Philippines isn't "dying from its drug epidemic". There is/was large scale consumption of amphetamines but that's like saying the US dying of a "marijuana epidemic".
You picture the country as broke and suffering but that's not the reality. Sure, there is a lot of poverty but that's due to the exploding birth rates. The economy is booming in much of the country and there's certainly no desperation for investment. You should stop forming your opinion based only on news reports.

2. EU is giving 325 million to the Philippines from 2014 to 2020 and has been giving aid for a long time. I'm sure the numbers for US are quite similar. China's 50 million is nothing, especially if you consider they are illegally fishing in Philippine waters and taking money out of Filipinos' pockets as the fish reserves are dwindling in some areas.

3. Philippines has PLENTY of resources from gold, incredible farmland, fish, natural gas and tourism (yes, it's also a resource). Some of these are willfully not exploited as to not destroy the environment and that's smart in the long term.

 

[d08]

Yeah when you say the wrong thing in USA, you don't disappear. You don't get a knock on the door by the FBI at 3:00 AM in the morning, yeah uh huh. You have never been in the USA obviously. Why do you think Snowdon had to escape from USA and is still in hiding?

Few people would choose Russia or China over USA, that might be true but it's interesting that people like Snowdon, who really knows the inner-working of governmental curtailment of individual freedom and rights chose Russia over USA? Ironic, isn't it?

I've been in the US and it's quite different from Snowden did (released classified documents) vs. posting a twitter comment (critical opinion). Also, I'm certain US will not literally kill Snowden but is likely to jail him. If he was Chinese or Russian, he'd already be dead. Did you miss all the stories of Russians being murdered by FSB agents in London and other location?

 

[JSOP]

You're misinformed.

1. Philippines isn't "dying from its drug epidemic". There is/was large scale consumption of amphetamines but that's like saying the US dying of a "marijuana epidemic".
You picture the country as broke and suffering but that's not the reality. Sure, there is a lot of poverty but that's due to the exploding birth rates. The economy is booming in much of the country and there's certainly no desperation for investment. You should stop forming your opinion based only on news reports.

2. EU is giving 325 million to the Philippines from 2014 to 2020 and has been giving aid for a long time. I'm sure the numbers for US are quite similar. China's 50 million is nothing, especially if you consider they are illegally fishing in Philippine waters and taking money out of Filipinos' pockets as the fish reserves are dwindling in some areas.

3. Philippines has PLENTY of resources from gold, incredible farmland, fish, natural gas and tourism (yes, it's also a resource). Some of these are willfully not exploited as to not destroy the environment and that's smart in the long term.

Glad to see the rest of the world stepping up to help The Philippines. About time. But China has promised The Philippines $29 billion so it's not hard to see why Duterte is catering more to China although China has yet to deliver on its promises. But China is close and is more readily available for everything and it has sizable nuclear weapons so The Philippines cannot afford to piss China off especially when China is dangling billions of dollars in front of them with infrastructure projects on top of that. The Philippines is not dying from its drug epidemic anymore because Duterte stepped up and did something. Bit surprised to hear the Philippines have gold. Good for them!

 

[d08]

Glad to see the rest of the world stepping up to help The Philippines. About time. But China has promised The Philippines $29 billion so it's not hard to see why Duterte is catering more to China although China has yet to deliver on its promises. But China is close and is more readily available for everything and it has sizable nuclear weapons so The Philippines cannot afford to piss China off especially when China is dangling billions of dollars in front of them with infrastructure projects on top of that. The Philippines is not dying from its drug epidemic anymore because Duterte stepped up and did something. Bit surprised to hear the Philippines have gold. Good for them!

$29 billion in what form, loans? The funny thing is Japan offered loans in more favorable terms but Duterte chose China instead. China is known to pay off people under the table, that's why they're so successful in Africa as well.

There was no "epidemic" as I said. Most of the users did so they could work longer hours, earn more - not to lie on the ground waiting to pass out, shabu is not heroin.

 

[JSOP]

$29 billion in what form, loans? The funny thing is Japan offered loans in more favorable terms but Duterte chose China instead. China is known to pay off people under the table, that's why they're so successful in Africa as well.

There was no "epidemic" as I said. Most of the users did so they could work longer hours, earn more - not to lie on the ground waiting to pass out, shabu is not heroin.

Well to be fair, Africa 1) is more desperate situation than other countries and 2) has very long-standing relationship with China since the 1970's. So it's more understandable that Africa looks more favourably to China's offering.

To me, the reason why Duterte "trusts" China more over Japan is I think personally Duterte sees more potential in China in terms of becoming the next super power so it doesn't hurt to kiss up to China early especially when China is located so close geographically. You don't want to piss off a potential super power with major nuclear arsenals that's located right next door. That I feel is the reason more than anything else.