Hello, Darren. New member here! This community definitely could use an Asian perspective.
Forget the media for a moment, and pay attention to the Chinese diaspora scattered all over the world. I'm a Chinese immigrant living in Manila, Philippines and most of us here have rarely ever left our homes. It was Chinese New Year just a week ago but the atmosphere was far from festive... The feel is quiet, somber and patient, but not the dramatic kind of sadness. However underneath this 'new normal' is a deep state of confusion and a few clouts of depression. How I wish Chinese people be more expressive.
If you look at local media in China and Taiwan right now, people seem to getting by fine. But it's deceptive of the situation Individuals and families go through. The media just is simply afraid of escalating bad news on this side of the world. The Taiwanese are bracing but not rattled.
World War 3 is NOT going to happen within the decade. I trust Jeanne's curation of predictions that the 2020s will be a decade of transformation instead.
Expect China to continue getting an upperhand in the West Philippine Sea (refuse to call it South China Sea) and the Taiwan Strait in the next 2-3 years. It sucks but they played the long-term chess game brilliantly and they're getting the quick win.
However, like one of the community's predictions, 2024 might be the year of truth. I don't know if it will be in the form of conflict or economic crash, but pretty sure people will already have enough of China as well as other exploiters (Fa-lun Gong siding Republicans of all groups).
I'm saying this because, while America has done a worse job on covid, you guys got to speak up and used it to fight against social ills. The success of covid in Asia and other parts of the world (except AUS-NZ) required dramatic social adjustments and sometimes brutal force to silence the smallest dissent. Something's gotta give. Like the Thai protests, people here are just waiting for covid to subside so that we can finally pursue democracy (our version of democracy).
@joeridgeross. Thank you for posting your perspective, so helpful. And Welcome to our community! It is nice to hear from someone who can tell us more about China. Please stay with us. We want to know what you think.
@joeridgeross What happens after China gets the upper hand? How likely of a China hegemony in Asia?
That was such an interesting post. Welcome! I also hope to hear more from you in the future. Thank you!
@joeridgeross Welcome and thank you. It's always good to see the world through all the eyes of her peoples.
@joeridgeross, welcome!
I have read an article about the younger generation in China and how hard life is for them; always achieving and achieving, because that is what's expected. On one hand it is a cliche in life ('Asians' always scoring), but sadly it seems to be true in a lot of cases. I wish this would flatten out and humanity would take over. I do think China has a lot of good to offer too as long as the 'world power' thing would stop being so threatening.
@joeridgeross, welcome!
I have read an article about the younger generation in China and how hard life is for them; always achieving and achieving, because that is what's expected. On one hand it is a cliche in life ('Asians' always scoring), but sadly it seems to be true in a lot of cases. I wish this would flatten out and humanity would take over. I do think China has a lot of good to offer too as long as the 'world power' thing would stop being so threatening.
First of all, thanks to all the kind greetings @journeywithme2 @polarberry @loveanduress. I'm happy to see civility in an online space.
I've been pretty busy, but I always make time to follow through my online postings.
That's definitely true simply because it's much more difficult to pass our subjects and there's so much of them! My basic education was spent in one Chinese school, and me and my peers had to go through two curriculums: English in the morning and Chinese in the afternoon. After-school hours are spent on more studying, mostly memorization tutoring this time, and this lasts till dinner. Supper's finished and it's not over yet! My mom would review my homework from those English curriculum subjects, from Science to History. By the way, we have two separate math classes ('Chinese math' is something alright!).
Apart from not being allowed to leave the school gates (they've changed that rule now), the administrator impart plenty of freedom and trust to us. Lots of boys choose to spend their after hours playing ball in the gym. Those who excel in senior high are given office apprenticeship work - this is a great way to get to know the powerful alumni association beyond the student body. There's also plenty of food options (albeit very unhealthy) nearby and our parents here love giving generous allowances (it's very rare to see kids having paid jobs).
Also, we don't elect student body leaders. Like China, school administrators hand pick a committee that act like ambassadors representing the school in competitions, road shows, etc.
Part 1 of 3
Okay, it's not China, we're actually partially funded by Taiwanese donors. But Chinese culture is just monolithic. Immigrants all over the world practice the same beliefs and kinks.
Let me tell you the rigid system is not the problem! I expect the world to respect our way of life. The real problem is simply a lack of inclusivity and initiatives. Those with the highest grades get rewarded, and everybody else is left behind. To give you a perspective, we have 9 to 11 classrooms and one of them is the excelling "star section" that usually gets the most attention. It's biased because they simply judge by academic grades. Sports and arts are relegated to P.E. class, which accounts for a miniscule tally in the scorecard. Hence, I had super-talented artsy peers who are relegated mediocre.
In short, our school hadn't fully recognized diversity.
On to 'humanity'....
On the other hand, we're hearing Uyghur minority oppression. Totally unrelated, but I can see how the Han-centric authorities wants them to bend over to the Han culture which they deem superior. The Uyghurs are given initiatives, but it's not inclusive relative to see Han culture as equal to theirs. So, on paper, their government seems to be doing right, but it fails to respect humanitarian needs so it's not going to be successful long-term. You cannot have a program without proper consent with your beneficiaries!!! The right way to promote inclusivity is to balance their customs (halal diet, livestock closeness) and some aspects of Han 'civility' (mostly mastery of the Mandarin language). So why are the police going hard? Because they perceive Uyghurs as potential terrorists and the Chinese are fond of using war rhetoric in politics (war on drugs, war on male feminization, etc.).
Part 2 of 3
Now let me give you hope.
My school, Chiang Kai Shek College-Manila, had made sweeping changes in the past decade.
My time in the 2000s was last of the old conservative guard. The 2010s saw promotion of an LGBT teacher to a head supervisor, implementation of an electoral student body system, mentorship programs, and social skills/awareness methods in Chinese learning (it was majority rote memorization in my days).
What prompted this is changing leadership in the school boards and executive department. This is unlike the Communist Party that's trying to maintain Xi Jinping as an indefinite leader.
Hence, I see my high school as a prototype of what China will become in the next 10-20 years: It will HAVE to eventually become democratic, if not socialist democratic.
The advancements in internet technology and rhetoric will break barriers.
Trust human nature as we see the world firsthand, instead of going against it thru our biases.
By the way, if you want to help less fortunate people on the other side of the world, simply pray for us. The politics in Asia now is non-interventionism and the people of Myanmar actually prefer democratic nations to stay away for once. We love you guys, but the healthiest way to solve contemporary problems is through independence, which is something you're also advocating.
Part 3 of 3
@joeridgeross What happens after China gets the upper hand? How likely of a China hegemony in Asia?
It's been here since around 2015. I work in the garments biz and new merchandise simply cannot arrive without Chinese and Bangladesh suppliers. It appears to be meeting the 100+ million Filipino market, but I really think the glut of production is wasteful and overindulgent. That's why I choose to make a name in the secondhand trade instead.
The macroeconomy though has seen a slight aversion towards Chinese businesses because, due to tax-busting and the coronavirus, some firms had to close down or scale down. By the way, the main business line of these firms is online gambling, which is illegal in Chinese soil. They don't contribute a lot to the local economy, so on a down-to-earth perspective, it appears they have their own world on the edge of my city. A lot of them refrain from communicating with the locals.
So what's going to happen? I'm optimistic the Chinese people will eventually have to share the South China Sea. Other countries are letting them take it for now because we're used to conforming and adjusting when there's a threat. Expect some drama, but no war. Everybody is just waiting for everybody else to be friendlier but certainly not under China's terms!
According to the List of Predictions, around April 2021 China is going to get a taste of individualism amongst their own people.
This isn't far from reality from recent news of international clothing brands boycotting Uighur-made cotton thus affecting their trade. However, the most startling energy here isn't from the manufacturing side, but the consumer side: Their own people have chosen to boycott shopping in retaliation and they're not shy about it on social media.
Their own people are taking politics in their own hands. Even if the action is pro-nationalist, they will end up practicing a FREE and DEMOCRATIC market. Their authorities even had to arrest a few protestors in front of a Nike store.
In short, this is less about which side is going to win or market share, but changing consumer behavior in the long run. How ironic Nike's advocacy might actually be fulfilled when Chinese consumers rebel.
Fast forward to our prediction in February 2022 when everything the Chinese State advocates backfires.
Why is the most recent post that says "The Rapture Begins?"
Why is the most recent post that says "The Rapture Begins?"
I saw the same thing and assumed I had made some poor life choices to still be here! What a strange glitch!
EDIT: Now the thread is labeled as China again not “The Rapture Begins”
Today I stumbled upon this video talking about student's protests in China,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioqg_OLbHoA
I'm not entirely sure how accurate the video is about the current situation but one thing resonated with me "Chinese people are not our enemies, it's the government" I sincerely hope that this situation, while dire is a step towards better, peaceful and free future for Chinese people. Hopefully the history would not repeat itself in this case, the world doesn't need nor want another Tianmnen Square Massacre.
I asked about China through my pendulum and got the following:
- The century of humiliation was part of the rise of President Xi.
- Xinjiang will neither lose its Uighur cultural identity nor its autonomy.
- Inner Mongolia will neither lose its Mongolian cultural identity nor its autonomy.
- The persecution of Uighurs will stop.
- I do not see a third Sino-Japanese war or China waging war against Japan.
- China will become a moderate country after Xi leaves office.
- The Belt and Road initiative is flawed.
- China becomes a world power.
- The aging population crisis in China will be resolved.
Hi,
I see ( using my cards) the next years a bit darker for China:
- I see the Chinese Economie struggle , mainly due to wrong decisions and that transport costs will increase a lot
- Production that is now in China will shift back to USA / Europe / Australia and move to India
- This will lead tto more and more people questioning the communist party, and this we lead to a democratic process
- eventually leading to a free China ( 2025 - 27)
- And Xi will not be president for very long, I astimate max 2 years ( actually less).
- taiwan will be recognised in 3 - 4 years as country
Gr
TBS
I've seen much the same thing. In both remote viewing and when applying my analytical mind, I don't see the communist party lasting beyond 2030; Beijing's governing elite seems to be digging in on rigidity precisely when flexibility is needed. One big variable is exponential climate change. As floods and rising seas cause further disruption to cities and commerce (like what happened in Zhengzhou), leaders will have to be adaptive, and the Community Party doesn't have that adaptability.
I just finished watching the closing ceremony for the Beijing Paralympics, and I couldn't help but wonder what the future is for China and found this thread.
Some of the predictions here seem pretty similar, so here is hoping that China will be a more free and democratic nation in the coming years.
I have a few questions about China's future, maybe somone can help.
Does anyone have any predictions for the future of Hong Kong and Tibet? Will China back away?
Will China's economic growth continue and will it overtake the United States?
Will the relationship with the West and China be repaired in the future?
Will China return to its spiritual roots?
Thanks