Out of Pod Experience

Better buy that awsome gaming rig now and upgrade those ******** windows xp machines...

Spot on.

I will add something else to this: I'm in Beijing right now, and it is very apparent here that South Korea is now China's economic ally. Modern China's ideology is trade and economic growth, not Communism as it once was under Mao, when it supported North Korea.

South Korean money, businesses, investments and influence are sprawling all over Beijing. Hell, just looking out of my window I'm seeing Indigo, an upscale shopping mall, entertainment and restaurant center heavily participated by South Korea's CJ Group conglomerate. South Korean restaurants dot the city. In nearby Wangjing area, many shops display signs in both Chinese and Korean, given the big numbers South Koreans living over here. On TV, South Korean soap operas have become a huge hit amongst Chinese people, as well as K-Pop stars.

Even politically, China and South Korea find themselves on a common front against Japan with their territorial claims and reparations harkening back to the barbarities Japan inflicted on both of them during World War II.

China no longer wants anything to do with North Korea, what Krixtal is thinking there is simply an obsolete remnant of Cold War mentality. Nowadays, China is firmly in bed with South Korea.

This ^^. China doesn't want a unified Korea under a "Western" South Korea. Invading/Liberating North Korea to set up a friendly puppet state would make sense for China. North Korean "unification" could then be parlayed into political pressure points against South Korea.

It would also make China look stronger in the region if they can take North Korea over any US (or South Korea) objections. I doubt the US and South Korea have the will and the material to take North Korea faster than China can take North Korea.

The real trick is going to be capturing the North Korean nuke material and scientists before they scatter to the winds.

China wants North Korea gone and alive at the same time. They want the lesser of two evils. The lesser being not getting nukes shot at them

Familial ties are given great importance in Chinese culture, with the accompanying maxim that one (Especially the menfolk) must always be able to provide for yourself and your family. Being impotent to the degree of leaving one's family in the cold is considered one of the cardinal sins one can commit in Chinese society.

Mainland Chinese are also proud of what China has accomplished economically to the point of being considered a world power, and believe - To a certain degree, rightfully - that it has been because of a cumulative national effort, the result of decades of laborious work by both its citizens and its government - Or more specifically, the CCP. A side consequence of this is something akin to condescension at times when dealing with nations seen as less prosperous, less economically developed than they are.

Put the two points together and you get a general public perception in China that North Korea is an albatross around China's neck, unable to fend for itself due to general incompetence, less of an ally than a deadbeat relative being propped up by their country. If North Korea's belligerency crosses the line you won't be seeing an outpouring of support from the Chinese people anytime soon. Which of course, still does not account for attitudes within the CCP and the military.

Interesting ireport by CNN (yes I know ) but a good read for those interested.

A North Korea defectors opinions on the matter at hand.

Britain is not seen as any sort of enemy. This is just my personal opinion and impressions, it's not like I've done extensive proper research on the matter, but I will say that contrary to what seems to be the predominant narrative in Western media, China is largely unconcerned about West, let alone seeing it as a real threat.

I believe this narrative stems mostly from "projection": ever since World War II, the US has been playing geopolitical games of influence all around the globe, particularly in the context of the Cold War, as well as seeking to protect and defend the interests of American multinationals in other countries.

At present, the US perceives China as their greatest rival and competitor, their new USSR-like nemesis in the theater of global politics, continuing the bipolar dynamics so prevalent during the Cold War. Therefore, in my opinion Americans are applying / projecting this mindset onto China, believing that China is likewise playing a similar game of geopolitics, seeking to undermine / influence / dominate other countries and perceived "rivals" - but those are American attitudes when it comes to world politics, not really Chinese.

My take is that China actually cares far less about the West and other countries than what Americans - and other Western media - seem to believe they do. Yes, apparently there are some "cyber-attacks" and whatevers going on, but here I don't hear the constant alarmist barrage of "The USians are coming to get us!" I keep hearing about in American media concerning China.

China is a very big country, compromising 1/5th of all humanity after all, and China already has more than enough in its hands dealing with itself. China simply wishes to be left to its own devices, to keep doing their thing, without outside impositions or interventions - something the US is quite fond of, with their "spreading Democracy to other countries", preemptive wars and whatnots - which is a reason why China often blocks UN resolutions seeking to intervene in different countries. China does not like the idea that the same sort of intervention could be attempted on them some day, regarding issues such as Tibet, or Taiwan, or whatever "human rights issues" some Western countries yap about now and then.

When it comes to "threats" or "enemies", what I hear about here in China concerns Japan, not the West. There's a preoccupation that Japan is seeking to gain allies across the Pacific - from Australia to India - against China in their territorial disputes.


All that being said, after decades of being stunted, China is now progressing and modernising at a breakneck speed, and they often look at the West for ideas and technologies, since in many ways the West has already been there - things, ideas and technologies they take, adapt, and improve upon, often quite successfully so.

I'm a Westerner, and regarding what you ask about employment, if anything, I have perceived some sort of peculiar general interest / admiration towards Westerners. Apparently some Chinese companies even hire Westerners just so the company may project an image of sophistication and modernity. Sounds strange, but from what I've been hearing I reckon it's true.

If you have the interest, I encourage you to come here to live and work in China for a while, it's a fascinating country and culture, with a lot of potential, future possibilities, and drive to progress, excel and innovate. While the West is stagnating lately, over here there's so much happening, very quickly. Some things seem taken straight out of sci-fi books / movies. Delicious food everywhere, stunning natural landscapes, friendly people, beautiful art, rich history. You are welcome to send me a PM if you want to know more.