The U.S.-China Rivalry

The US and China are the 2 greatest rivals in the 21st century. It’s American democracy vs Chinese socialism at the level of Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon Men’s Final. Who’s the better player? American democracy or Chinese socialism?

2/Probably no people have scrutinized American democracy more than China has, the world’s oldest civilization. “American exceptionalism” is under Beijing’s microscope. American democracy has catapulted the US into becoming the world’s greatest superpower in less than 200 years.

3/China, whose momentum will overtake the US in GDP by mid-century, has the same drive as Nadal (who proclaimed Federer was “the greatest player in the history [of tennis]") going against Federer at Wimbledon Final in 2008. Ever cautious, patient and wise, China respects its

4/opponent (as did Nadal) for its achievements. In order to better the US Beijing knows it must be more competitive, up its game and improve its skills. The US-China rivalry is one wherein “iron sharpens iron”. Yet whereas Beijing views American democracy thru an objective,

5/ideologically unbiased lens, the same can’t be said of US Congress, many of whom fear/think China wants to “take over the world” (to wit SoS Mike Pompeo) to “spread communism”. Having 5,000 years of culture, including Confucianism, China has the clearer and more objective view

@robreiner

In “A Few Good Men”, a 1992 film by Rob Reiner, Base Commander Colonel Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson) tells Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) in a defining moment of the film: “You can’t handle the

2/In the film the truth ultimately prevails. Jessup confesses he ordered the “code red” and is arrested while Dawson and Downey are acquitted of the charges of murdering Santiago. However truth often doesn’t win the day on the great stage of life on which we are but the actors.

3/In a material and political world, truth can become the enemy of those in power. The truth about suffering led Siddhartha Gautama to leave his palace and princely inheritance to become the Buddha. The truth about Jesus Christ led to his crucifixion.

4/There is the truth about reality, and there is propaganda designed to keep people from knowing the truth. It’s the quest of the truth seeker to determine which is which.

5/“Shakespeare stated and I quote,”The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be the fool” the natural tendency of humans is not to face themselves and not to see who they really are- but knowing who you are gives you the strength to manage your weakness.””

@nknewsorg @andreilankov This may be the elephant in the room. Answer this one question: Is there room for Juche Socialism in the context of Korean reconciliation? It’s worth repeating:

IS THERE ROOM FOR JUCHE SOCIALISM IN KOREAN RECONCILIATION?

@andreilankov 2/“Definition of reconcile
transitive verb
1a : to restore to friendship or harmony
reconciled the factions
b : SETTLE, RESOLVE
reconcile differences“

It’s absolutely crystal clear to me:

1) A war was fought. No one won. Two Korean sovereign countries remain.

2) Where there’s

@andreilankov 3/a will there’s a way. So if North and South Koreans want to reconcile - “to restore to friendship or harmony” or “SETTLE, RESOLVE” their differences - then it’s easily done. When Moon visited Pyongyang and spoke at May Day stadium his historic speech was warmly received by all.

@andreilankov

@andreilankov 5/Moon's speech given on Sept 20, 2018 continued the historic momentum of rapprochement that started with the Panmunjom Declaration in April 2018 followed by the historic Trump-Kim summit in Singapore in June 2018. After watching North Korea's positive reaction to Moon's speech👆