Comment

Comment by Phillip J. Barker on September 1, 2011 at 4:24pm

Silver Fox, China's PLA has been busy!!

[PDF] 

ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS Military and Security ...

www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/2011_cmpr_final.pdf

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catalyzed China's growing involvement in international peacekeeping efforts, ... Over the past decade, China's military has benefitted from robust investment in ...

Comment by Phillip J. Barker on August 26, 2011 at 10:05pm

Mr. Silver Fox, I will relay your compliment to my wife.  I knew she was smart when I fell in love with her in the 7th grade.

Heading for bed!!

Comment by Silver Fox on August 26, 2011 at 10:01pm

Hi, Phillip! Firstly, I totally agree with you concerning our excessive deployment of "boots on the ground". Secondly, I also found that China is continuing, to some degree, its military adviser presence - they even have some military guys on the Board of Directors of an arms manufacturer in Zimbabwe. But, I think your original assessment that their primary presence currently is "entrepreneurial" is accurate. Lastly, I love your wife's comment - bright lady!

Comment by Phillip J. Barker on August 26, 2011 at 9:52pm

Good info., Silver!  I was looking the other way, or forgot what I knew!!  I was aware of Cuba's incursions/military operations in Africa, but wasn't paying attention to China.  I don't know if they are still militarily involved, or not.  I would imagine they are, but not with massive troop numbers, and that is essentially the point I was trying to make; China is inserting its influence without a massive military presence outside of China, as opposed to our policy of stationing troops in most of the nations of the world.  Having said that, I will have to research the subject more to ascertain if I am correct...concerning China's deployment.

Comment by Silver Fox on August 26, 2011 at 9:33pm

Hi, Phillip! Per "China's 'Hard Power' in Africa", by Dr. Peter Kagwanja, Africa Policy Institute, "China’s involvement in Africa has a long history. China played a pivotal role during liberation struggle in Africa.
China continued to support the nationalist movements that were demanding independence and the end
of imperialism. It provided military support for Africa on various occasions, as it saw the need for African nationalist movements to disentangle themselves The New Beijing Consensus 4 from the hegemonic West.3 Under Chairman Mao, support was given to countries, organizations and liberation movements stretching from Egypt, to South Africa.4 In the 1960’s alliance of China and liberations movements was strongly visible. For example, China was closely linked with FNLA of Angola; the PAC of South Africa; COREMO of Mozambique and ZANU of Rhodesia.5"

Comment by Phillip J. Barker on August 26, 2011 at 8:43pm

Ha!  I was talking to my wife about the current subject...our global military presence vs. China's advisors presence, and she said something I found cogitable: "They don't need to have boots on the ground because everybody knows there are millions of them waiting for orders in China!"  May be a good point!!!

Comment by Phillip J. Barker on August 26, 2011 at 8:13pm

I was/am not aware of the Chinese miltary in an advisory capacity, though they may well be establishing some sort of military connections.  The reading I have done on the subject of Chinese interactions in Africa were only addressing the Chinese support of entrepreneural activities...heavy in agriculture, poultry, pigs, etc., and their introduction of "new" techniques (hence the advisors) of farming designed to increase production.  The conflicts that occurred were related to running some older low production local operations out of business.  The upside was greater employment of locals.

I can't address the military advisor situation.  Perhaps they are trying to establish an "arms industry" as well.

Comment by Silver Fox on August 26, 2011 at 8:01pm

Phillip, last data I had was that the Chinese "Advisers" definitely were military advisers. They certainly could have augmented them with other types, but the originals were all military. Reckon my question was unclear - when did they withdraw their military personnel from all over Africa?

Comment by Phillip J. Barker on August 26, 2011 at 7:48pm

Silver, to the best of my knowledge, they have advisors all over (maybe an exaggeration) Africa, and have certainly done a good job of establishing relationships in the Middle East. I don't think their "advisors" always bridge the cultural gaps well, but they are not from the military establishment of China.  They are "entrepreneurs" (sometimes looking for a life they could not have in China), trying to establish businesses which also employ locals.  Sometimes there are resentments, and cultural conflicts.  China is not just throwing money at the governments of these countries, although I am certain some of that happens, but they have "boots on the ground" in terms of businessmen trying to establish production for export to China.  On the other hand, we throw money at governments, and the leaders keep it, establishing billions in overseas banks, and oppressing their people, until a revolution occurs.  Then, we find ourselves trying to decide whether to support a tyrannt, or the "folk".  We screw up more often than not, and end up with everybody hating us in the end. 

And, we make stupid decisions!!!  Canada is begging us to build a pipeline to transport oil from "oil sands" to Texas for refining.  We are dragging our feet, and cowering before the green weenie lobby, and EPA.  China is patiently waiting for Canada to give up, and have proposed that they will buy all the oil.

China is going to eat our lunch in global trade, and it isn't because they have cheap labor; it is because they are going after the markets buying everything they can...using trillions of U.S dollars paid them in interest on our loans from them.  AHHHHHH!

Comment by Mark Twain on August 26, 2011 at 7:48pm

i posted that video because of the over laying conversation on foreign policy & why we need to change our policy "but we have to find different ways of meeting our self interests besides projecting military power"  completely agree i think it will be the unintended consequences  that end up being our down fall  As a Nation that is .  BTW china may be oppressed Politically but  on many other fronts such as development they dont stand in the way & on top of the people.   i posted a video several months ago on it  , 

@Sfox information is power,  ,I  would hate for someone to say  debating me is like arguing with a box a rocks :)

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