Chinese Cellphone Diplomacy

The Chinese have a way of using Economic Warfare in ways that influence other countries to what they want.  It got a little bit rediculous when Apple was in a dispute with the Central Goverment over access to its proprietary environment and encryption.  People smashed $750 iPhones in public places and boycott U.S businesses because the U.S objects to its businesses giving over technology to the Chinese.  National security is all anyone has to say, though we don't all agree with that portrayal.

Now comes another moment in Economic Warfare, this time with the South Korean decision to move ahead with a high-altitude missile interceptor called THAAD.  Reuters reports the reaction to another step towards building the missile defense system that could shoot down a North Korean missile as it is launched.  China says it fears that such a missile defense system could also reach into China.  And.....?  The rediculous logic of their concern is blatently apparent.  They are not worried about THAAD but they are worried about their North Korean neighbors.

The Chinese like having a lunatic "who cannot be controlled" on their border rattling sabers and threatening the U.S and South Korea.  They get to watch what the world does in reaction to this idiocy but they don't get blamed for any of it.  Looks like those days are slowly coming to an end.

So, when South Korea decided to release land that is now a golf course to proceed with the preparation for THAAD, the Chinese relay through one of their English-language outlets that Korean cars and cell phones are bad now and people should stop buying them.  The official Peoples Daily even said there should be consideration to cutting off diplomatic relations.  The drumbeat continues at every stage of preparation for the missile system.

At the same time, the North continues to test missiles and warheads that lead us to conclude that they can build a missile that will threaten not just South Korea, but a good part of the world besides.  It is about time the Chinese are held accountable for what goes on in North Korea.  Yesterday, the leader was said to have executed five of his advisors for lying to him.  They lined them up and shot them with anti-aircraft guns (we can remember the past shooting of military officers with artillery fire) though nobody can imagine why these methods were used.  VX gas, a banned substance, was used to assasinate the half-brother of the great leader, which means it was used for effect, not because it was very practical as a killing agent in a public airport.  They flaunt this kind of behavior while China sits back and watches, denying all responsibility.