China - It's Not That Difficult - Updated

For anyone who has lived in Asia for any amount of time the recent actions of China would be of no mystery at all.

This is a country with a long history of throwing its weight around, crushing opposition and taking what it wants. Then along comes an upstart nation with a mere 200 years of so of history compared to their 8000 odd years worth and it says "no" to them.

The automatic reaction is to punish, any way they can. So they did. No mystery, they just want someone to pay for the loss of face.

The problem is the media and the commentators. China is yet another subject they know little or nothing about. They think of the Olympics and forget about Tibet. They think of trade and forget human rights issues and past behaviour. They ignore all the companies that have been screwed over the years, company technologies stolen and businesses ruined.

They also ignore thousands of years of history. Of resistance crushed, 'face' protected and avenged and few Westerners are familiar with the concept of a plan that spans generations. Even less know of how many Asian nations are 'colonized' by Chinese influence.

My prediction is that nothing will come of this latest incident and in the anme of diplomacy and trade it will gradually fade and be 'forgotten.'