Rayavadee Journal on April 8th, 2001 (Sunday)
Today was spent doing only five events: breakfast, swim, reading [the prologue to by Martin S. Fridson to “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds” by Charles Mackay and “Confusion de Confusions” by Joseph de la Vega. John Wiley & Sons, Inc published a single compact sized book containing both books which is very handy for carrying on holidays.], sleeping, and dinner.
This could be important for the thread and I therefore break vacation silence. Do not flame the messenger unless any reader of my message must in order to feel good. I now understand from folks located in both Taiwan and Mainland China that …
(1) China did not rate the recent Bush-Qian meeting favorably, as it was “… simply a bunch of photo opportunities without substance, talking to Bush who is not capable of statecraft and only following the lead of his behind the scenes advisors of which there were many, and an ‘transparent attempt’ at placating China with only words of cooperation, suffice to fool only the most foolish of politicians …”;
(2) The specific words were something to the effect that “… look into my eyes … I will work to cooperate …”;
(3) China is not interested in Bush’s words and evaluates Bush as an intellectual lightweight surrounded by Sino-ignorant advisors (particular problem with Ms Rice), and thus OK with writing off the next four years of Sino-US relations. Impression of Powell was apparently OK;
(4) Besides the ‘lapdog’ United Kingdom, no sympathy for the US anywhere, including its ‘Asian allies’ and much of Europe;
(5) More interestingly, Taiwan bigwigs are also believing that “… US is now a rogue state and is not dependable for achieving any stability on behalf of Taiwan ….”;
(6) The bottom line from China’s perspective … “If no apology and no restriction on further flights, then no deal to deal … China is not Italy, China is not Japan, onshore manslaughter trial next …”; and
(7) The thinking on trade damage is “… it is the cost … US will boycott Chinese goods first, then boycott companies doing business in China. The Fortune 500s will have to take care of themselves and call in their chips from wherever they have them …”.
[EDIT: Hedge with prudent amounts of gold, platinum, rhodium, Euro]
Chugs, Jay |
