Instapundit » Blog Archive » CHINA FEARS “Cultural Encirclement.” “Geopoliticians as well as students of culture and democracy s…
CHINA FEARS “Cultural Encirclement.” “Geopoliticians as well as students of culture and democracy should pay attention to Hu’s essay. It’s a window into the psychology of China’s leadership at a critical time. The sense of threat, encirclement and danger is real — along with the sense that America is trying to divide, crush and destroy China.”
China has always reacted – sometimes violently – whenever it feels that the Middle Kingdom itself is being encroached upon by foreign powers. The last time we re-learned this lesson was in North Korea.
Americans, mostly historically illiterate even about their own nation, let alone “furriners,” have little clue that Communism is only the thinnest of veneers upon a very powerful, and very ancient culture with its own reasons for doing what it does.
About Bill Quick
I am a small-l libertarian with conservative leanings on most issues, except on many traditionally conservative social issues, where my stance would be regarded as hopelessly liberal by most social conservatives. My primary concern is to increase individual liberty as much as possible in the face of statist efforts to restrict it from both the right and the left. If I had to sum up my beliefs as concisely as possible, I would say, "Stay out of my wallet and my bedroom," "your liberty stops at my nose," and "don't tread on me." I will believe that things are taking a turn for the better in America when married gays are able to, and do, maintain large arsenals of automatic weapons, and tax collectors are, and do, not.
Dynasties in China fall when they lose “The Mandate of Heaven”. That loss has historically been caused by invasion, famine, pestilence, and widespread corruption coupled with government ineffectiveness.
The question is, what TODAY would constitute that loss of “The Mandate of Heaven” in the minds of not only the current leadership, but the majority of the Chinese people? I’m afraid only the Chinese themselves can provide that answer, and it may only become apparent in retrospect.
If things do collapse, it will probably shockingly swift due to the internet and social media. That is probably a major driving force behind the Great Firewall of China and the continuing effort to monitor and censor all electronic communications and shut down any appearance of dissidence.
We may see a return to the historic pattern of The Five Kingdoms, none of which will or can speak for China. This is not a good thing.