Changing World

Led by the United States of America, the West is declining.

Led by China, the East is rising.

Led by BRICS, Global South is growing.

The world is definitely changing.

Edi Lee for Peace.      

Fast Edi Thoughts and Comments.

Changing World

The world is changing bigly and fast. World politics and economics are like a complicated chess game with the four major players of USA, China, Russia and the European Union (EU), but mainly it is the US trying by all means to slow down the rise of China and to maintain its hegemonic position in the world. In that sense, the US is not only against China and Russia, but also the EU and the whole world. 

The Ukraine War is not only a war between Ukraine and Russia. It is rather a US' proxy war against Russia. Ukraine is a weak link being played more than being a strong player itself. Affected by the Ukraine war, Europe so far appears to be a loser and cannot afford to "obey" Uncle Sam to completely cut economic ties with China.  

While the US brought many years of wars and destruction to the Middle East, China has just brokered a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran. It appears that the Middle East is leaving the US for China. No more wars and destruction. It wants peace and development. 

Africa pretty much has been won by China. Except Canada, Central and South America, and Mexico, all seem to look to China and the East.  

Asia is booming economically and doesn't want war. It wants peace and stability. Yet, the US has been playing the Taiwan card, to stir up conflicts between China and Taiwan. After Ukraine, another provocation to push the People's Republic of China (PRC) into taking military action, the un-given-up last option, to unify Taiwan, the Republic of China (ROC)? It is also a profiteering opportunity for the US to sell arms and weapons to the pro-independence Taiwanese Government. 

The weaponization of the US Dollar by Uncle Sam has scared off many countries. De-dollarization is picking up in speed. A long line-up of countries want to join the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). 

The declining US can no longer be the hegemon of our becoming multi-polar world. It is just too late to make America great again.

Edi Lee for Peace   ***   Fast Edi Thoughts and Comments     

Pelosi's Visit to Taiwan

Nancy Pelosi's sneaky visit to Taiwan was a stupid, self-glorifying and irresponsible chess move that benefits no one and endangers everyone. She openly called Taiwan a country, which is historically, factually and legally untrue. Taiwan is a part of China. 

The Chinese Government was super smart and a great chess player. It did not take the bait and shoot down Pelosi's plane as wished by many angry Chinese, possibly even a few Republican Americans.  Instead, the Chinese Government let Pelosi go to Taiwan and leave safely and then took countermeasures, including a three days' military exercise that effectively created a blockade and encirclement of Taiwan. 

Pelosi and her immediate family have been sanctioned by the Chinese Government. Hundreds of Taiwanese products for export to China have been banned from entering. Also the Chinese Government has suspended or stopped cooperating with the United States in eight different areas. US / China relations would not improve any time soon. 

Pelosi's sneaky trip to Taiwan grossly violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of  China. She not only stepped on the red line; she crossed it. She has opened a door for China to expedite the unification with Taiwan. Seeking Taiwan independence by the separatists is not only the wrong choice; it is a stupid choice. It is a self-defeating game and a road to death.  

Fast Edi Thoughts and Comments   ***  Edi Lee for Peace    

USA, Canada and Winter Olympics 2022

More than 80% exports of Canada go to the U.S. and 70% of imports to Canada come from the U.S.  Canada is never fully 'independent' politically, economically, militarily and diplomatically. Uncle Sam is the big brother neighbor of Canada. 

When Uncle Sam blew the anti-China whistle, would Canada dare to not 'obey' and stand on the U.S.' side? 

This so-called diplomatic boycott led by the US against the upcoming Winter Olympics is a political demonization and smearing  against China using the same old lies, fabrication and accusation of China's failure in the US-defined human rights, freedom and democracy. 

Only 20 countries at the UN followed the US' political stand against China. 173 countries supported China and the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. 

So much political BS in this world !  I support all the athletes from China, Canada, the US and everywhere.  Peace!

Fast Edi Thoughts and Comments  ***  Edi Lee for Peace 

Political Storm in Hong Kong

The so-called Pro-Democracy Movement (PDM) in Hong Kong was rather a Pro-Destruction Movement (PDM).

Hong Kong had been a British Crown Colony for 156 years. It was a fact that during the whole 156 year British colonial rule, there was no democracy. The Governor was always a British official sent by Britain to govern the Chinese in Hong Kong. Senior officials were also hired by appointment. Government leaders were not elected. 

Since the handover back to Chinese rule in 1997, there was more democracy in Hong Kong under a One Country Two Systems model of governance.  From a British Crown Colony, it has become a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The separatists, backed by the anti-China forces led by the United States of America, tried to change the One Country Two Systems into Two Countries Two Systems. It goes without saying that the PRC would not allow this to happen. An independent Hong Kong? No way!   

The post of Chief Executive of Hong Kong after the handover in 1997 is an important political position, not a civil service administrator's position. Chief Executive Carrie Lam is not a mediocre leader. She has rich experience working as a senior civil servant, but in the early years of her tenure, she lacked political skills and experience. To be a political leader, one must not only have the ability to manage public affairs, but also have political wisdom. It is not easy to use power properly and timingly to deal with upper, lower, internal and external forces.

The black riots broke out in 2019 were not ordinary riots. They were political riots. It was a color revolution. It was indeed not easy to be the Chief Executive of Hong Kong in such an environment. Without the National Security Law, how could it be effective in stopping the violence and controlling the chaos? Hong Kong was almost destroyed by the 'Anti-China and mess-up-Hong Kong' forces. Indeed, it was the National Security Law that helped save the city.

Hong Kong's anti-China yellow-rioters and black-terror activists blindly worship Uncle Sam. They don't know what American-styled democracy really is. American-styled democracy is not one person one vote; it is rather one dollar 

one vote. It is a big game of money and power. Politicians do not work for the welfare of the whole country and the common people, but for their own self-interests. They serve the rich and powerful donors. They work for the Deep State of America. American Democracy is a Plutocracy. It is the Oligarch's game. 

Hong Kong is a very unique place. No matter from what angle one looks at it, no matter what one's ideal, fantasy or wishful thinking is for independence, it cannot change the reality of Hong Kong. What reality? It is the fact that Hong Kong is part of China, and the British colonial rule of Hong Kong has become history.

Fast Edi Thoughts and Comments   ***   Edi Lee for Peace.     

National Security Law

Since the National Security Law came into effect, Hong Kong is no longer a freewheeling spy center of the world. Domestic and foreign anti-China forces in HK can no longer 'freely' operate and make troubles and chaos to separate HK from China. __________________________________________________ The year-long US led political riots and color revolution against China almost destroyed HK. The 'One Country Two Systems' has survived, but the wishful thinking to turn China and HK into 'Two Countries Two Systems' has failed. __________________________________________________ Hong Kong is an inseparable part of China. It was all anti-China political BS to deny this fact. It was futile trying to make HK independent. It would and did fail. __________________________________________________ Cancellation or suspension of extradition agreements by some countries with HK is not surprising. Nor is it surprising that the National Security Law came into effect. Certainly the anti-China separatists and foreign spies don't like it, but there are millions of Hongkongers who cheered and celebrated that the Chinese Government has finally come to their rescue. They have had enough of the violent, destructive and terrifying riots. Law and order are being restored. They now feel safe to wave the China flag and sing China's national anthem without fear of being beaten up by the anti-China thugs and separatists. __________________________________________________ Beware that the National Security Law has taken away one's 'freedom' to commit serious crimes of secession, sedition, terrorism, and collusion with external powers to endanger the security of HK, China. Freedom is not absolute and unlimited. It doesn't include the 'freedom' to commit a crime without paying for the consequence. __________________________________________________ All countries have national security laws. The US has more than 20 such legislations. Yet China may not pass a national security law to protect the sovereignty and security of China including HK which is part of China? Why only talk about some 20 plus Western countries against this National Security Law but ignore some 50 plus countries at UN which support it? What right do foreign countries have to tell a country, in this case China, not to pass a national security law to protect itself? Can I tell you to leave your doors wide open to 'freely' let the strangers, thieves, burglars, spies and criminals of all kinds come into your home? Peace! __________________________________________________ Edi Lee for Peace *** Fast Edi Thoughts and Comments

Is China richer than America ?

China is now home to more wealthy people than the U.S. According to Credit Suisse’s global wealth report of 2019, out of the hundreds of millions of people that make up the wealthiest 10% of people on the planet in 2018, 100 million lived in China and 99 million lived in the United States. _________________________________________________ The U.S. is not a poor country, but the reality is that a few rich people own a very large amount of the country’s income and wealth, while the common people own a very small amount of it. In other words, the wealth gap is huge. The rich are getting richer and richer, but the poor are getting poorer and poorer. While the middle class in China is growing, the middle class in the U.S. is declining. _________________________________________________ This article is not an argument on whether Capitalism is better than Socialism, or vice versa. It is to point out the fact that China has been very successful in lifting hundreds of millions of Chinese people out of poverty. _________________________________________________ China describes itself as a socialist country with Chinese characteristics. Whatever you think of it, China is no longer weak and poor. While Donald Trump wants to make America great again, Xi Jinping is making China great again. Instead of fighting against each other, I wish the U.S. and China would work things out in their trade negotiations. War is a problem, not a solution. For stability and world peace, a good U.S. / China relation is very necessary. _________________________________________________ Fast Edi Thoughts and Comments.

Steel and Aluminum

Donald Trump is an agitator. He has been stirring up all kinds of political, economic and military storms everywhere, and then his words and positions are ever changing from one day to another. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trump is not only against China in her so-called unfair trading, but now he is also against Canada, Mexico and the European Union (EU). So far it appears that he is good at breaking deals, but not making deals. I am waiting to see what he is going to do with the upcoming summit with Kim Jong-un of North Korea. I still wish him success in bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regarding Canada and U.S. relations, it just doesn’t make any sense for Trump to say that the U.S. is under threat and security risk of Canada. Why subject Canada to steel and aluminum tariffs? Please don’t give me a stupid answer of why not.

No Trade War

China and the Unites States say that they will not engage in a trade war. This is good for both countries and the world.

Peace in Korean Peninsula

There is hope for peace in the Korean Peninsula. Moon Jae-in,President of South Korea(ROK) will meet with Kim Jong-un,Supreme Leader of North Korea (DPRK). Kim has gone to China to meet with Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China. Then Donald Trump, President of the United States of America(USA) will meet with Kim Jong-un. This kind of direct meetings is of the highest level between countries. ____________________________________________________________________________ Although I am hopeful for peace, I don't think that we should expect all the problems can be resolved in one go. The Korean war is still technically not yet over. The 1953 agreement was only a truce. It was an armistice agreement, not a peace treaty. Although South Korea was not a signatory to that agreement signed by the U.S., China and North Korea, it should now sign a peace treaty with North Korea, to officially end the Korean War. ____________________________________________________________________________ Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is a serious matter. I don't think North Korea is willing to give up its development of nuclear weapons as the U.S. demands, unless its security can be guaranteed. To put it bluntly, Kim Jong-un just doesn't want his country to be invaded and destroyed by the U.S. like what happened to Iraq and Libya. On the other hand, it is hard to imagine that Donald Trump will agree to withdraw all 26,000 U.S. troops in South Korea. One would ask this question: now that both ROC and DPRK want peace, why is the U.S. still here? Shouldn't the U.S. troops go home? It seems clear that the problem is not so much between the two Koreas, but rather between North Korea and the U.S. ____________________________________________________________________________ I think this whole thing of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and working for peace cannot be achieved without the inclusion of the U.S. and China. Donald Trump has been saying that Xi Jinping has helped him a lot in dealing with North Korea. Indeed China has a peaceful foreign policy; there is no reason that President Xi would be against a peaceful Korean Peninsula. ____________________________________________________________________________ As said earlier, we should not expect all the problems can be resolved in one go. If a peace treaty is signed between the two Koreas, backed by the U.S. and China of course, then I'll consider it a success, a first step towards permanent peace. I'm sure that Donald Trump would claim merit, but let him. I would even nominate Trump, Xi, Kim and Moon for a Nobel Peace Prize. If they won, Donald Trump would be able to proudly show Obama that he won due to his competence, while Obama had been undeservedly given the peace prize even before he started to work. Yes, I think there is some kind of personal dislike and vendetta between Trump and Obama. ____________________________________________________________________________ Let's hope for Peace!

Great Again

October 1st is the national day of the People's Republic of China. While Donald Trump has been saying that he'll make America great again, Xi Jinping has been working hard to make China great again. Who do you think will succeed? Peace !

China and World Economy

In the news, the Chinese economy now accounts for 15% of the world's total, and contributed 33% to the global economic growth in 2016. That's according to He Lifeng, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planner. May China and the World continue to cooperate, develop and prosper. Peace !

The Trump Tsai Phone Conversation

In the news, Tsai Ing-wen, the pro-independence president of Taiwan had a phone conversation with Donald Trump, the president elect of the United States of America. Needless to say, it has stirred up much controversy and debate in the world. My opinion is that president Tsai is playing a dangerous game. The chance that she'll win and make Taiwan separate from China and become truly independent is 1%. The chance that she'll lose is 99%. Nobody can change the One China reality, not Taiwan, not the U.S., not the U.N. where China has the veto power in the Security Council Permanent Membership. In any case, I'm all for peace. No violence, No killing, No war !

Political Talk For Peace

Talking about politics day after day has made me tired. I joined in the discussions because I didn't like people who promote war and resist peace for solutions. I found the need to share and support the pacifists' solution and reject the warriors' solution.

I was talking in Youtube with others about the South China Sea conflicts and disputes.There was a Vietnamese guy who insisted on going to war with China, refusing to even accept his own prime minister's position for peace. He wanted the U.S. and Vietnam go to war with China. So much anger, negative emotion and foul language from this man! I told him I didn't take side with one country against another. I said I only took side with peace.

When shall we have lasting peace in this troubled world?

Beijing Air

There are many China bashers in America and the world. Some are outright racists. Others are trolls and negative talkers who find every opportunity to trash anything and everything Chinese. Their trolling and trash talks often reveal their own ignorance and stupidity, and lack of self-respect.

While on this subject of China bashers, I would like to mention that there is an opposite extreme. Some people, both Chinese and non-Chinese, are crazy China worshippers. They think anything and everything Chinese is good. Certainly this is wrong.

In a Yotube video about China's five-year plan to move forward, somebody raised this question to me, "would you take a deep breath in Beijing?" I don't know if this person is a China basher or not, but his question was a legitimate one, so I gave him a response: 

Thank you for your concern. I live in Canada. We have very clean air quality here. Beijing is not China, which is a huge country. Beijing is the capital, one of many Chinese cities. Indeed Beijing doesn't have very good air quality. However, the cities with the worst air pollution are mostly in India, not China. Beijing is not even among the top 20 cities with the worst air pollution in the world.

Air quality, water, soil and all such environmental issues are important not only in Beijing or China. It is a global issue we should all be concerned with. Would I take a deep breath in Beijing? No, I don't have to. I live in Canada. But if I visit Beijing, I'll have no choice but to breathe the Beijing air. Millions of people live in Beijing. They have no choice. They are humans. They need to breathe to live.

Please don't belittle the very important environmental issues. If you want to find fault with a country, you'll be able to identify many problems everywhere, not just in Beijing or China. I can ask you a similar question: would you drink the contaminated water in Flint, U.S.A.? Please be a good world citizen and wish all countries to co-operate and fight environmental problems together. We all live in the same boat, which is Planet Earth. Cheers!

China - Czech Connection

President Xi Jinping is in Czech Republic for a three-day state visit. It is his first trip to Europe in 2016.

All the best to peace and development with China in Czech Republic and Europe.

Peace to the World !

Panda For Peace?

In the news, CBC reports that the Toronto Zoo has revealed
the names of the first giant pandas born in Canada. Jia Panpan, meaning Canadian Hope, is the male cub. Hiis twin sister is Jia Yueyue, meaning  Canadian Joy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne were among the guests getting the first glimpse of the cubs.

Panda is the national treasure of China and the darling of the world. There are only 2,400 living pandas, more or less, in the whole world. Besides being cute and adorable, the pandas are very friendly diplomats of the Chinese Government.

Do you want to fight with China? O.K., here is a panda for you. Do you still want to fight? No, thank you! Panda for peace? Yes!  

Is China's Economic Boom A Miracle or Myth?

Just finished watching an Al Jazeera news video in Youtube titled Upfront - China's economic boom: Miracle or myth?

Here are my thoughts and comments:

China's economic boom is not a myth. It is real. China has already become the largest trading country in the world. It is the second largest economy after USA. By some measurements, it is already the largest economy in the world. The whole world looks to China for economic growth. The Chinese Renminbi or Yuan is becoming a world trading and reserve currency. The U.S. owes China trillions of dollars. One would be stupid or delusional to think that these facts are all myths.

The so-called stock market 'crash' last summer in China was not a 'crash'. It was a market correction or leveling off. There was some Government intervention, too, to prevent the market from free fall. The U.S. and Western media called it a 'crash' and drastic fall of 30%, but they didn't tell you that before that so-called 'crash', there had been a climb of 150% over just a few months. Would it be a good thing to let stock prices keep going up crazy forever? Be real ! In China, just the stock market would not tell you the whole picture of the Chinese economy. On the other hand, the USA 'crash' in 2008 was a real 'crash'.

Now, regarding Government data, it is highly possible that they would be manipulated, exaggerated or reduced. Both China and the U.S. would do the same thing. In the U.S., the data about unemployment, economic conditions, etc. etc. would not be perfectly and openly honest either.  

The economic slowdown in China is not a sign of failure. The Chinese economy is going through a structural change, moving from strong exporting to domestic consumption and more focus on high-tech development.

Is the Chinese economic boom a miracle? Yes and No. In only a few decades, 700 millions of Chinese have been lifted out of poverty. It is not wrong to call it a miracle, is it? But is it a miracle in the religious and magical sense? No. It is real accomplishment through good governance, management, hard work and development.

Of course, there are many China bashers who would criticize anything and everything Chinese. They always blame China for their own failure or lack of success. Chinese economic slow down? Yeah, but the reported GDP of 2015, for example, was still 6.9%. Even if it was an exaggerated number, it would be at least 5% or so. What was the GDP growth of your country? 1, 2, or 3%?

Taiwan Election

Taiwan (The Republic of China) has elected its first woman president, Tsai Ing-wen, who is pro-independence or pro self-sovereignty of Taiwan.

My opinion is this:
There are 3 choices for Taiwan:
(1) remain status quo,
(2) unite with China (The Peoples Republic of China) but stay highly autonomous, or
(3) become truly and fully independent.

(3) is the most unlikely outcome, as the PRC just won't allow it. The political and Chinese reality of Taiwan is just too huge for Taiwan to overcome.

(2) is workable but not easy to achieve.

(1) remain status quo, or don't rock the boat approach, is the realistic choice for now, but for how long? Forever? Only time can tell.

Chinese Handshake

Breaking news indeed ! Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan's leader Ma Ying-jeou met in Singapore on Saturday November 7, 2015. They shook hands for one minute and twenty seconds. That was a very long handshake. Would you do it with a friend and see how it feels, to shake hands for that long ? Though Xi and Ma's handshake was only a symbolic handshake for peace, it was a very important handshake. As I said in the past, and now again, that shaking hands is always better than shooting bullets and dropping bombs. 

This meeting of Xi and Ma, the top leaders from both sides of the strait, was the first since 1949. During the historic meeting, the two sides exchanged views on promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. Zhang Zhijun, the head of China's Taiwan affairs, said the meeting was a milestone event achieved through the constant efforts from people across the strait.

My thoughts and comments:

China (People's Republic of China) and Taiwan (Republic of China) are made of the same Chinese people with the same language, culture, ethnicity, race, heritage, history and commonality. They are separate only because of a civil war in the 1940s and the political difference in their forms of government. They are sort of like being separated, but not legally divorced. There is no divorce, but there is no reconciliation either. So Taiwan currently is not an independent country (although it operates just like one), but it is not part of Chinese sovereignty either (although China continues to claim the sovereignty and treat Taiwan as a renegade province). 

Not that I think China and Taiwan will be unified soon, but I can say with confidence that those Taiwanese who think they are not Chinese, and want Taiwan to become fully independent are out of their mind. Taiwanese are Chinese, but Chinese are not necessarily Taiwanese. This simple fact would not be easy for the independence-seeking Taiwanese to refute. Besides, China is many times stronger than Taiwan economically, politically and militarily. Taiwan would be really stupid and self-defeating to fight with China. 

Who wants to bet on my belief that Taiwan cannot and will not become a fully independent country? Let's face it: there is only one China. Nobody can change the One-China Policy, not even the UN. The only 2 options left is either for Taiwan to remain status quo, or become a highly autonomous region of China, based on the 1 country 2 systems model, sort of like Hong Kong and Macao. It would be very interesting to keep watching what will happen in the next 30 years or so.