Australia and Canada

Australia's exports largely go to China and Canada's exports largely go to USA. Both Australia and Canada are politically dominated by the US of A, but would benefit economically to be friendly with China. At the present , Canada has rather poor relations with China, India and Russia, sigh ! 

Both Australia and Canada are trying to improve their relations with China, but are under political pressure from the US not to do so.

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

This Year 2024

This year 2024 will be a "difficult" year in terms of global politics and economics, not to mention wars and natural disasters. In any case, we must say yes to peace and no to war.

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

Meng Wanzhou (2)

Free at last !  Meng Wanzhou had been released and went home to China. 

I know the Meng Wanzhou case quite well, following it from day one to the present. I wrote about it in my blog Fast Edi Thoughts and Comments on Nov.20, 2020. 

The appearance is a legal case but the truth is a political game involving the US, China and unfortunately Canada. I was most impressed by Richard Kurland, a high-profile lawyer in Vancouver who analyzed and explained the whole case so well in detail. He predicted that Meng would be released and allowed to return to China. 

US / China relations: No Meng Wanzhou release, no help from Xi Jinping to Joe Biden. In the past, China needed help from the US more. Today the US needs China more.

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

Genocide of Uighurs in Xianjiang?

What is genocide? It is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group. 

Xianjiang is an autonomous region of China. Its population has been growing, not decreasing. In 8 years from 2010 to 2018, the Xianjiang population has grown by 14% from 22 million to 25 million. The Uighurs have grown from 10.17 million to over 12.71 million, an increase of 25% or 2.54 million, while the Han Chinese have grown from 8.8 million to 9 million, an increase of 2%. 

There are 56 ethnic groups in China. The Han Chinese are the largest group, so the rest of 55 groups are minorities. When the One Child Policy (1979 - 2015) was used to control the rapidly growing urban population, there were exemptions made available to most rural parents and minorities including the Uighurs. The accusation that the Chinese Government deliberately wants to kill off the non-Han Chinese citizens is nothing but political B.S.  

Genocide of Uighurs in Xianjiang? It is nothing but dirty politics against China. We are living in an era of fake news, fact distortions, lies and slanders. Everything seems to be politicized. The China-ignorant politicians in the West should rather study the facts and the real China, and reflect with their conscience on their own true history of genocide against their indigenous people. 

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

Politics

The dark side of politics is more deadly than a virus. Not only can it hurt and kill, it can also create an illusion that lie is truth and truth is lie. It can destroy friendship, family and country. Edi Lee for Peace. Fast Edi Thoughts and Comments.

Donald Trump's Conflict of Interest

A friend in Facebook posted a news article titled ‘Trump’s Biggest Potential Conflict of Interest’. The headline refers to Donald Trump’s tenant on the 20th floor of the Trump Tower, namely the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), in which the Chinese Government has a majority of ownership. _________________________________________________ These are my thoughts and comments: If my memory is correct, the conflict of interest law in the U.S. does not apply to the U.S. President. In the U.S., much corruption is legalized or made legal. Lobbying is in a sense legalized bribery. There are so many ways to bribe a politician in the U.S., such as making huge political donations, giving ridiculously high speaking fees, and doing inside trading by members of Congress who are immune from prosecution, etc. etc. _________________________________________________ There are people in this world who are above or beyond the law, like the Pope, the kings and queens, the world leaders such as George Bush, the former U.S. President and Tony Blair, the former UK Prime Minister who invaded Iraq and caused the death of tens of thousands if not millions of innocent people. Who has the guts and means to bring these people to justice, if they did break the law? _________________________________________________ But then what would you do if you were Donald Trump? Tell his tenants to move out of the Trump Tower, let the rental space stay vacant and give up all the lucrative rental fees? To close and sell all his businesses? Is it even workable? What would you suggest? _________________________________________________ All said, we should understand that U.S.A. is not a socialist country. Capitalism and Individualism are high American values. In their extreme forms of ideology and selfish practices, Democracy in the U.S. is not so much about the politicians, the elites and the rulers helping the common people but rather helping themselves and supporting the rich and powerful. _________________________________________________ The U.S. is a republic, yes, a democracy in political system, ideology and appearance, but its socio-economic and political reality is rather more like a Plutocracy and Oligarchy. Power to the rich, money to the powerful, and if you are one of the common people, then sorry, you are on your own!

President Trump

As I predicted, Donald Trump has won. He will be the next President of the United States of America. The American people have spoken.

Trump or Clinton - Who Is Worse?

I don't take side with Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Neither is a good candidate. Anyway, I am a Canadian, so I can't even vote. But here is the truth: private women talks about men are not always super clean either.

Trump is a man of bad words, but Clinton is a woman of bad actions. Trump's bad words didn't cause any death, but Clinton's bad actions (for example in Iraq, Libya and other places) did cause the death of many. If I were American, I would vote Bernie Sanders. Unfortunately, he was forced out by the powerful Clinton force and NDC.

It is a sad political situation in America, that you don't try to choose who is better, but to avoid who is worse. Who is worse? You decide. Good luck !

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?

Clinton E-Mail

Just finished watching a news video in Youtube. It says the US State Department won't release Hillary Clinton's e-mail documents until after the election in November 2016. They will be released in December.

My thoughts and comments:

I think there is some political implication regarding the delay of releasing Hillary's e-mail. If she won the election and became the President of the United States, this whole e-mail scandal thing would just go away. She would not be indicted. But if she lost, she may have to face the music.

It is something so basic that Hillary Clinton should be presumed guilty until proven innocent: a government worker should never use his or her own private e-mail to conduct government business. Especially for Hillary in her high office as the Secretary of State, what is her excuse or defense really? Not to mention that she has her own private server. Using her own private e-mail and server to conduct government business as the Secretary of State? Think about it. It seems clear that she has broken the law. 

My opinion is that Hillary's running for the President's office is about herself, to seek power and prestige as the first female President, while Bernie Sanders' running is not about himself but the American people. Interesting time in America !

Ted Cruz

Ted Cruz has named Carly Fiorina as his vice-president running mate.

I watched him talk. Forgive me, but I felt like listening to a slick evangelist preaching a sermon. Only it was a political sermon, not a religious sermon. The political sermon was Ted's over-the-top praising of Carly. There was nothing wrong in the praising itself. The problem was that he over-did it or delivered his speech in a strange way. That was how I felt anyway. Somehow it sounded like Carly was running for the president's office, while Ted was her vice-president candidate praising her.

If you are allowed to use only one word to describe the speeches of these candidates, what would it be? Here are mine:

Bernie Sanders: sincere.
Hillary Clinton: hypocritical.
Donald Trump: blunt.
Ted Cruz: slick.

If I were an American, I would give my vote to Bernie Sanders. However, the political reality is that we'll probably end up with Hillary or Donald as the next U.S. President. Let's wait and see ! 

Go Bernie Go

My opinion is this: 
Hillary Clinton's running for office is about herself, to seek power and prestige, and become the first female U.S. president. Bernie Sanders' running is not about himself, but about the American people. Go Bernie Go.

Syria

Fooling all the people all the time no longer works. Sooner of later, the truth will come out. If George Bush and gang of the U.S. and Tony Blair of the U.K. did not invade Iraq, which was an illegal war, there would  be no ISIS today.

The name of the game is to fight ISIS and the terrorists, but the real objective of Uncle Sam is to get rid of Assad in Syria. Putin is more open. Russia and Syria are long-time allies. The U.S. looks at Assad of Syria as an evil dictator, but Russia looks at the Assad regime as the legitimate government of Syria. The U.S. has been arming the so-called moderate rebels, but the reality is that terrorists are terrorists, and there are very few such so-called moderate rebels. Why do you think so many American weapons and military gear ended up with ISIS?

Can you see the name of the game is fighting ISIS, but the real objective of the U.S. is  using the moderate rebels, severe terrorists, or whatever you call them, to fight Assad? On the other hand, the army of Assad is supported by Russia as the legitimate soldiers and defenders of Syria.

Anyway, it all boils down to a competition of control and influence in Syria and the Middle East between the U.S. and Russia. Obama and Putin just can't see eye-to-eye, and it is very sad. The Syrian civil war is sort of like a proxy war between the U.S. and Russia, while fighting ISIS is only a side show though still important. Uncle Sam wants to get rid of Assad, but Putin says no, so it is like a stalemate.

Why did it take Russia's military action on ISIS in order to wake up Obama, that there is no military solution to the Syrian civil war, I mean for the U.S. to play a military chess game with Putin? Did Obama pretend that he was sleeping? So now John Kerry, Secretary of State, has begun to talk peace and take a diplomatic route, hoping to reach a political solution with Russia. It was a bit laughable that he said having a military alliance with Syria is a wrong strategy. Who was he talking to? Obviously Russia! Putin could  easily say to the U.S. that Russia's having a military alliance with Assad is all legitimate, but Uncle Sam's having a military alliance with the rebels including ISIS is the wrong strategy and illegitimate. Can you see that ISIS is both an enemy and ally of the U.S.? It is like Uncle Sam saying "I want you, ISIS, to help me kill Assad, but that doesn't mean I won't kill you!" Isn't that crazy or what?!      

Military confrontation between two major powers like the U.S. and Russia can only be a problem, not a solution. Obama, Putin, World Leaders: please don't let a war between the U.S. and Russia happen! The Middle East is all a mess. Not sure when PEACE would finally come !!!

Canada Election 2015

On March 29, 2015, I wrote about Stephen Harper's Canada. I said " I love Canada, but not Harper's Canada. As said earlier, I don't belong to any political party, but I am hoping that Stephen Harper will not be re-elected in the upcoming election. But there is a good chance that I will be disappointed. He may win again!".

The election yesterday did not disappoint me and many others. The Liberals won a crushing victory. Out of the 338 seats in parliament, they won a majority of 184 seats. On records, these are the numbers of seats won by the other political parties:  Conservatives (99), NDP (44), Parti Quebecois (10) and Green (1). Sorry Tom Mulcair, leader of the NDP, your loss does not prove that you are not good enough to be the Prime Minister of Canada, so please still hold your head high. Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party, I'm glad that you haven't lost your seat. You need to keep growing your Green Party. And Good Bye, Stephen Harper. The Canadians have spoken. 'Stop Harper' finally has happened.

Justin Trudeau's win is not only a big win for the Liberal Party across Canada, it is also his special win on a personal level. It would be so much fun for Justin and his family to move back to 24 Sussex Drive where he grew up. However, fun with family is not fun with work. Work is work, not just fun. Let's hope that Justin Trudeau, our next Prime Minister, will do a great job for Canada and its people. Peace !!!  

Trans Pacific Partnership (2)

On August 1, 2015, I wrote about the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which failed to reach an agreement then. Now in the news, the U.S., Canada, in total 12 countries, have signed the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal.

As I said before, and now again, this is not just about business, trade and economics, but also politics. If not for politics and counter-balancing the growing might of China, it just doesn't make sense that China being the biggest country in Asia Pacific was left out in the TPP deal. However, there may be a TPP2 coming, that China may eventually join later. 

Uncle Sam just doesn't want China to set the rules in international business, trading and economic games, especially with the Asia Pacific countries. The creation of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) was China's win. The TPP deal is the U.S.' win. China's rise is a certainty, but the US decline is not, so the game goes on. 

In any economic policy or trade deal, there will be winners and losers. Instead of arguing too much about whether the TPP is a good deal or not for your country, please focus more on your own situation and see if it is something good or bad for you, and make all the necessary adaptations and adjustments to face the new reality. Take care.

Korea (2)

Early this year, on January 13, 2015, I wrote about the two Koreas showing hints that they were willing to talk, which I supported. Now North Korea accuses South Korea of political and military provocation and threatens to risk an ' all out war '. The U.S. then halts military exercise with South Korea.

Dear Uncle Sam and Korean people of the North and South, please don't play chicken. One miscalculation could lead to irreversible disaster. No war in the Korean Peninsula ! No war period !

A Canadian Korean friend told me that this is the way the game is played:

North Korea under the dictatorial leadership of Kim Jong Un would threaten to go to war with South Korea. Rich corporations of South Korea then made big donations to North Korea, which enabled them to pay less tax to the South Korean Government. The leadership in the North got what they wanted, and the leadership in the South stayed in power. If the US or UN would bomb North Korea, then the ' Mafia Bill ' from North Korea would be even bigger.

Money and Power Games everywhere, only played in different ways. Peace !  

Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP)

In the news, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal fails to come to an agreement.

My thoughts and comments:

The TPP is not just about economics. It also has to do with politics. It is Uncle Sam's effort trying to control and counter-balance the rise of China, especially in Asia Pacific. Does it make any sense at all, if not for politics, that the TPP does not include China, the largest country in Asia Pacific?

The U.S. Iran Nuclear Deal

The U.S. Iran nuclear deal is seen by many as President Obama's greatest diplomatic achievement. But there are also people who are adamantly against it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls the deal a historic mistake. Angry war hawks and neo-con Republicans in Washington condemn it. Obama says if Congress tries to kill the deal, he will veto the opposition. Whether you think it is a bad deal, an average deal, or a good deal, it looks like it is going to be a done deal.

The geopolitics in Middle East is not a simple matter. In addition to money and power, it is further complicated by oil and religion. Sunni and oil-rich Saudi Arabia does not like Shite and oil-rich Iran. Sunni and Shite Muslims have been fighting each other to this day since the death of prophet Mohammed in 632 A.D. Arabs fight against the Jews, Persians (Iranians) and non-Arabs. Muslims fight against the Jews and Christians. Muslims fight against other Muslims. Netanyahu feels threatened by Iran's building a nuclear bomb. The Israel Palestine issue remains an unresolved conundrum. There is mess where there is oil (pun intended).The oil-rich Middle East is a big mess!

Netanyahu's accusation of Iran building a nuclear bomb has more to do with his own political fear than proven fact. There is a difference between building a nuclear bomb and having the ability to build one, not to mention that Israel itself is a nuclear power, the only one in the Middle East.

I am not saying that Netanyahu should not be concerned about Iran's ability to build a nuclear bomb. We should all be concerned. But it is untrue that Iran is actually and already building a nuclear bomb. Why does Netanyahu call this U.S. Iran nuclear deal a historic mistake, when it addresses his very concern, to forestall and prevent Iran from building a nuclear bomb?

This U.S. Iran nuclear deal is the result of hard negotiation, with the participation of Iran, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (U.S.A., U.K., France, Russia, China) and Germany. Are these countries all stupid? Of course not. Is it pre-mature, presumptive, or prejudiced, for Netanyahu to call this nuclear deal made by these definitely-not-stupid world powers a historic mistake? Why is it a historic mistake and not a historic achievement? At the least, we must wait and see, instead of jumping to negative conclusion.

I don't blindly take side with one country against another. I always take side with peace. I am not against the U.S., Iran, Israel or any country. I am against violence, killing and war. Those who are against this U.S. Iran nuclear deal must tell us what the alternative is. If you don't choose a political and diplomatic solution, then the only alternative left is military action and war. The question is this: do you want peace, or do you want war?   

Speaking as a pacifist, there is no wrong peace. Is this U.S. Iran nuclear deal a bad deal, average deal or good deal? Since there is no wrong peace, all peace deals are better than no peace deal at all. Peace !!!      

Donald Trump For U.S. President ?

Just finished watching a Youtube video titled 'Exclusive Donald Trump Interview: I Love China / msnbc'.

Here are my thoughts and comments: .  

I have mixed feelings about Donald Trump. He is a shameless self-promoter, and yes, with a huge ego and narcissistic personality. He talks like he is the smartest and richest person in the world, but he is not.Yet, when it comes to business and economics, he does know what he is talking about. He is very blunt and to the point, and tells you as it is, with no sensitivity or apology whatsoever. 

I doubt Donald Trump really loves China, but I think he sort of respects China as a great challenger or competitor. There is a Chinese saying which goes like this, " A hero respects another hero". At the present, China is playing the game of capitalism (the Chinese way) very well, even better than capitalistic America. Donald Trump is not wrong in saying that the U.S. needs better and tougher negotiators to deal with China. 

Competition is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it is a fair game, and that it benefits one's country and people, and better still, it also benefits other countries and people.We need world leaders who are able to solve problems and improve the lives of the people of their countries "and" other countries, all by peaceful means. No violence, no killing, no war. Negotiation is fine. Fair competition is fine. Would Donald Trump make a good U.S. President? I don't know. What do you think ?

Good Guys and Bad Guys in World Politics

Just finished watching a Youtube video of Lada Ray titled 'Putin's Gambit: Germany To Replace Ukraine As Russian Gas Transiter'.

Here are my thoughts and comments:

Lada Ray is a good political analyst and commentator. Sometimes she talks beyond the mundane. Her comments in this video and others tell me that she see things well from the Russian perspective. I agree with her that Putin is a great chess player. Of course, Uncle Sam depicts Russia as the bad and isolated guy. The truth is that Russia is not isolated. As to who are the good guys and who are the bad guys, please study, observe and decide for yourself.

In diplomacy, there are no bad guys. In war, you are the good guy and your enemy is the bad guy. In politics, the good guys and the bad guys are the same guys. An angel blinks his eyes and becomes a devil. A devil snaps his fingers and becomes an angel. Politicians are neither good nor bad. Politicians are politicians.

If you are interested in oil and pipeline politics, watch this video. It is about 21 minutes long. I feel sorry for the people in Ukraine. However you look at the situation in Ukraine, it is a loser, not a winner. Ukraine is not a good chess player. It is not even a player. It is the chess.

Ukraine is a chess game played by the two major players, the U.S. and Russia. Some NATO countries like Germany and France take side with the U.S. against Russia for external show, but work with Russia not-so-openly for their self interests. Peace!