I think even Mr Lama himself now says that Tibet is entrenched in China and he's not after a withdrawal.
I suppose the support for Tibet against China was part of the geopolitical surrounding of communists to prevent their global expansion.
China has done a tricky move and ditched communism [to some extent] while keeping the totalitarian aspects and easily breaks out of the surrounding military coop by moving money to Zimbabwe, Iran, Cook Islands, hither and yon, buying allegiance and forming trade deals, much as the British Empire did centuries ago.
While the USA boots New Zealand to show it who is boss, China acts friendly and arranges trade. While the USA bans NZ steel and sheep imports, China says "Ship it on in! We won't pay quite as much as you were getting in the USA, but we are second bidder at almost as much".
With friends like the USA, one doesn't need too many enemies. When a state-sponsored terrorist attack was conducted in Auckland, [France sinking the Rainbow Warrior, killing somebody], the USA, Britain and others did not leap to the aid of New Zealand. I think there was even some complicity to show NZ what they would get with their anti-nuclear policy.
Across the Pacific Ocean, China is forming associations, with money flowing in foreign aid and trade flowing too.
The world is rapidly changing.
China is taking over New Zealand in the same way that Britain did. There are Chinese moving in, buying houses, businesses, providing employment and trade, marrying the local yokels. That's how it was done centuries ago by British in NZ. Already, Chinese have been here centuries and there's no disentangling NZ.
If China invents a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, I would not be surprised. It is under construction now. I might even vote to join up.
Mqurice |
