7/15/2013

You can play the game, so can I

WASHINGTON: The United States told China in talks on Thursday it was "very disappointed" that Beijing did not hand over US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden when he fled to Hong Kong. (Quoted from CNA)And elsewhere around the world people are standing up to defend Snowden. In Germany, the Germans too are calling to defend and protect this man. ‘Demonstrators stand in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to show their support for US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden. (AFP/Ole Spata)
 

The Americans were furious. This is how it feels when another country harbours or protects your dissidents. China has been furious for too long and for too many times when the Americans snubbed them in their face by protecting and even smuggling Chinese dissidents out of China and hosting them in big publicity events in the US to embarrass China. Of course the Americans could not remember how many times they did this to China and other countries. And now they are furious over Snowden, they are feeling hurt!
 

This is the beginning of a game that if the Americans can play, others too can play. If the Americans can spy and snoop at other countries, conduct cyber espionage and attacking other countries computer systems, other countries too can do the same to them. American exceptionalism is now international exceptionalism. Everyone has the right to play the same game. And there will be more Snowdens and Assanges coming out of America.
 

America must get use to being on the receiving end from now and going forward. Just like cyber hacking, the US can hack China and China can hack at the US. It is two way traffic. The days when American can do anything to any country as it liked is over. America can no longer fly U2 spy planes over the territories of other countries to photograph whatever they fancied freely. They may be tempted to fly drones instead. But be warned that other countries can do likewise.
 

The world has changed and America no longer can dominate and dictate to the whole world. So, would America now hand over Chinese dissidents to China?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Before 911, when the twin WTC towers were brought down, the Americans were very smug in thinking that with all their advanced technology in place, and aerial superiority in all department, no one could possibly mount an attack on them by air or sea. It was the same thinking during the Pacific War. They only stepped into the war after Pearl Harbour was attacked by the Japs.

Moreover, being seperated by the two Oceans and thus far from other countries that are able to pose any threat, they were confident that America is very safe. They did not count on a attack orignating from home.

The craze now is on unpiloted drones, but it seems that Russia and China also have that technology, though how effective we cannot tell. But it is the mystery of their effectiveness that is making them more wary of the Chinese and Russian abilities. The same way that North Korea is giving them and their poodles sleepless nights, or just an excuse to push the envelope.

Anonymous said...

'An eye for an eye' as the Saying goes.

The US Of America is much luckier, it gets more eyes in return for one.

Americans are born lucky.

b said...

One cannot stay on top forever...

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Quite frightening how fast the ground shifted. My reading is that the PAP is losing it and it is downhill all the way since winning the GE.

Anonymous said...

The Situation had been bad since our Sin Seer Lee Kuan Yew iterated that the Army will be activated for 'freak' election result. If there is anything me appreciates in him(LKY); it is his ability to know certain events ahead. In some ways, parts of what is forestall are his plan and intention. Anyway, he was and is uncanny.
Now that we get to witness widespread unhappiness with the Rulers as well as unfortunate events occuring and poorly or badly handled, more shits are hitting the fan as each passes. It cant be good and could lead to anarchy.
When the Authority is not able to cope up with problem and issue, it may become dysfunctional and chaotic.
The latent and pent up angst is not a joke.
Crimes, homicide and suicides are tell tale signs of despair. They cannot be treated lightly.
The PAP is definitely losing all respect from the People and a failure to make amend and repent will mean trouble for all in the Land.

Anonymous said...

The PAP repent? Must be joking. The whole party inherited the vindictive genes from the old man. If he is not around, maybe. But I seriously doubt.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

America doesn't hand over Chinese dissidents who defect to the US.

But the Chinese are always willing to deal. They will do whatever is in their own interests. If Snowden can be "traded" for some goodies, they will. There is no "principles" when it comes to geo politics.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Don't talk cock lah Matilah. The Chinese never abandon their allies. They have protected the North Koreans, the Iranians, the Pakistanis and the Myanmese. They also protected the Vietnamese only to see how the Vietnamese turned against them. Pakistan almost did the same with Musharraf. The Myanmese are shifting their feet with the temptations from the Americans.

If China were to betray Snowden, they will lose out in the power game the Americans are playing. That's why they let Hongkong to do as it pleased, to let Snowden escape to Russia knowing very well that Putin will not yield to the Americans.

Anonymous said...

Yes, hundreds of thousands of Chinese volunteers died for the North Koreans in the Korean War fighting the most powerful nation of the day with primitive weapons and poor logistics and without air support.

The Chinese financed the Vietnam War for the Vietnamese and stood by to go in should the Americans invaded North Vietnam.