Hong Kong goes on Strike

[Scout26]

http://news.yahoo.com/hong-kong-protests-approach-potential-national-day-flashpoint-005559994.html

Tiananmen Square Part II ?

Something like this could take down a great portion of the world's economy should things get really pear shaped.

[RoadKingLarry]

http://news.yahoo.com/hong-kong-protests-approach-potential-national-day-flashpoint-005559994.html

Tiananmen Square Part II ?

Something like this could take down a great portion of the world's economy should things get really pear shaped.

That's my concern. It's not like they have any real reason not to violently put down the treasonous rebellion.
It's not like Obama  isn't rooting for "the home team"*.


*Beijing

[brimic]

I don't see this ending well.
When an authoritarian government  backs down, it encourages non-compliance and uprising elsewhere.
I don't see China backing down.

[SADShooter]

The consequences of Beijing showing the slightest hint of weakness are too great. The watershed moment will be, as the article observes, if/when PLA troops show up. These protesters are a new breed from the Tiananmen generation, and I don't see them going easily, putting all the ingredients in place for a big bloody bowl of suck.

I also saw a blurb about a virus hitting protesters' electronic devices and affecting communications, so the PLA cyber-warfare arm is likely already in the game.

[MillCreek]

^^^ This is being cited as the reason for the stock market dropping some 400 points over the past several days.

[HankB]

Today's paper said a lot of the protestors are young 20-somethings, who really don't "identify" with China the way their parents do . . . they see things like the freedom of speech they enjoyed growing up as a natural right and think Beijing's actions in regard to their pending election ("Sure, you can vote . . . but ONLY for any of the candidates your masters in Beijing put forth) are quite repressive.

[Tallpine]

So the USSA is going to be all behind the "Yellow Spring" - right ?

 

[SADShooter]

So the USSA is going to be all behind the "Yellow Spring" - right ?

 

Sure, just like the Iranian Green Revolution.

[Angel Eyes]

Apparently the protestors are using an app called FireChat which is peer-to-peer and phone-to-phone with no internet. 

http://www.wsj.com/video/no-wi-fi-firechat-app-helps-hong-kong-protesters/7E43E303-D2BA-4DA3-88B7-F196464E2F53.html

I've heard claims that they are also using an ancient, pre-Confucius set of Chinese characters as a code.  Haven't confirmed that yet.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

The Chinese will crack down. It will probably be very ugly. They do not care what the rest of the world thinks


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[roo_ster]

The Chinese will crack down. It will probably be very ugly. They do not care what the rest of the world thinks


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This.

We will see if the protesters can outrun BMPs.

[TommyGunn]

 

You know it's time to go to bed when you read this thread title as "King Kong goes on Strike."

[roo_ster]

You know it's time to go to bed when you read this thread title as "King Kong goes on Strike."

Yeah, I am not crossing HIS picket line.

[makattak]

The Chinese will crack down. It will probably be very ugly. They do not care what the rest of the world thinks


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They don't care what the rest of the world thinks, most certainly.

But can they afford the risk of killing a goose with golden eggs? Their financial situation is not good, just like the rest of the world.

(Note, please I am asking, not stating the likely outcome.  How much of a net benefit is Hong Kong to the mainland?)

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

The Chinese think long term . Think hundred year plans . And theirs envision a world where they rule.


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[makattak]

The Chinese think long term . Think hundred year plans . And theirs envision a world where they rule.

Very true. However, killing off such a valuable possession would take a faith in the next dynasty that defies logic and evidence.

Which, I realize, is not a disqualification of that course of action. I would not be surprised if the Chinese authorities had a belief in their own style of "Manifest Destiny."

[MechAg94]

The Chinese think long term . Think hundred year plans . And theirs envision a world where they rule.


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That is what everyone used to say about the Japanese when they were going to take over the world.  It didn't work to well for them. 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

We aren't a 100 years out from ww2 yet


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[SADShooter]

That is what everyone used to say about the Japanese when they were going to take over the world.  It didn't work to well for them. 

Very true. However, killing off such a valuable possession would take a faith in the next dynasty that defies logic and evidence.

Which, I realize, is not a disqualification of that course of action. I would not be surprised if the Chinese authorities had a belief in their own style of "Manifest Destiny."

Belief in one's own propaganda/invincibility carries peril.

Even if the Chinese are operating with a pragmatic long-term view, can it withstand the immediate pressures coming to bear when their economic and demographic systems are strained to the breaking point? It seems the Japanese believed their train would keep on rolling, but unanticipated economic and demographic factors derailed it.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

If you ask the Japanese they say the Americanization of their culture post ww2 is the issue. And that's something to look at.

With the Chinese I think they regard allowing dissent to be a greater liability than the other pressures.
Remember depending on who you ask Mao killed 45 million Chinese in 4 years
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2017839/Madman-starved-60-million-death-Devastating-book-reveals-Maos-megalomania-turned-China-madhouse.html

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[dogmush]

If you ask the Japanese they say the Americanization of their culture post ww2 is the issue. And that's something to look at.

So our hundred year plan seems to be more effective?  Entertainingly enough that is a very similar thing to what is causing young chinese to be upset.

[SADShooter]

If you ask the Japanese they say the Americanization of their culture post ww2 is the issue. And that's something to look at.

With the Chinese I think they regard allowing dissent to be a greater liability than the other pressures.
Remember depending on who you ask Mao killed 45 million Chinese in 4 years
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2017839/Madman-starved-60-million-death-Devastating-book-reveals-Maos-megalomania-turned-China-madhouse.html

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Sure. I see no conflict in that. If what it means to be Japanese has changed, you wouldn't expect prior culture/values to remain intact.

I also agree regarding the mindset of the Chinese leadership, just not sure their current assumptions & tactics will hold true relative to the long-term strategic planning.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

I think in our 300 year old rapidly changing culture it's difficult to understand a culture that spans thousands and was so very isolationist for most if that time. One that believes in Devine right.


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[Tallpine]

The chinese better watch out.  Obama will refuse to sell them any more of our T-bills     

I think in our 300 year old rapidly changing culture it's difficult to understand a culture that spans thousands and was so very isolationist for most if that time. One that believes in Devine right.

Andy     

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

I think is hard for Americans to fathom that even amongst modern Japanese there exists a yearning for "the good old days"
They feel like they were "forced" into the new way


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