Quote:
|
Originally Posted by fckm
People keep refering to China as communist. As much as we all would like to keep perpetuating this myth, and despite what the Communist Party says, and what Americans say, the Chinese economy isn't communist anymore. The government is autocratic and dictatorial, but not communist. I would like to encourage people to stop refering to china as such.
As far as massacring it's citizens... may I remind people about Kent State. At the time kent state happened, the American government had been around for near three hundred years. At the time that tiananmen occured, the Chinese government had been around for near fifty years.
In 2000, China excecuted ten times as many people as the US per capita.
I'm not sure what american allies china threatened to go to war with... Perhaps America just has a habit of allying with regions that China is at war with. (Is it the North's fault that certain European countries were helping the South?)
As far as invading it's neighbors, I'd chalk that one up to being a young state. Besides, they were liberating the oppressed Tibetan peasants from the tyrianies of the ruling class. Nothing the US hasn't done before. I doubt a more mature Chinese state would have done something like that.
|
OK, so I'm not sure if you're agreeing with my implied criticism of China, being sarcastic, actually defending China or a combination of all three!
:-)
Good point about China and Communism by the way. I simply included it as it
used to be a bugbear for Americans.
Specificially to the points I raised.
Communist - well, as you say, centralized autocratic despotic dictatorship would be better.
Massacring citizens - 4 students killed by part-time soldiers does not really compare with thousands killed at a result of the express orders of the State.
Invading neighbours - Tibet. If you doubt a mature Chinese state would invade, then you are poorly mistaken. Look at the recent war games in the China Sea. Look at the
continuing crack down on peaceful protest in Tibet. Look at the
continuing crack down on the Falun Gong (a yoga group for God's sake!).
Threatening invasion of American allies - Taiwan (though, if you wish to be pedantic, I'm not entirely certain qualifies as an ally per se. Does it have to come to US aid if there is a military action?)
Mr Mephisto