The Emperor's New Look

(The Emperor's New Look)

Chinese emperors traditionally did not travel. The Chinese really did have embassies in other nations. No, whatever embassies there were were of the Western Powers as well as Russia and Japan that were in China in their various "colonization" efforts. Such foreign interference sparked what became known as the Boxer Rebellion, where domestic Chinese and the Qing Dynasty, the last one, tried to force the invaders out. If one remembers the film. 55 Days in Peking, that recalls the effort. The foreign compound was able to hold until relief forces arrived.


In any event, China's new "emperor" is Premier Xi Jinping, He was in Bali at the G-20 where he had a "new look," namely that he saw Western leaders, aside from President Biden, namely Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In a hot mic moment, Xi was complaining that the Conference transactions were being reported in the media. That is what happens in a free society, which is what Trudeau was attempting to explain.


The G-20 Summit was an opportunity for the Chinese leader to see the other world leaders and how they react to him. At his position of supreme power, Xi has no political concerns other than maintaining his position within the Chinese hierarchy. His experience with President Biden and his initiative of giving Jakarta some $20 billion to transition off of coal. That is a process that would take decades and Biden will no longer be in office by that point. Xi most assuredly will.


Premier Xi Jinping will be returning to Beijing with no hesitation as to what plans he has for the Peoples' Republic. Xi does not seem to have been deterred to any action China will be taking in the future. That naturally means Taiwan. The means do exist to frustrate China's ambitions. The question is who might have the will to do so ?

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