Chinese Soft Power and Media Discussion and Updates
- Thread starter tankphobia
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AssassinsMace
Lieutenant General
I saw a few YouTube videos show up trying to claim the Philippines as a destination where whole American families are moving to. I guess they're trying to remove the stigma they're known for which is by contrast not family friendly.
Well, when Singapore first achieved its independence, China was in the mist of Mao's Cultural Revolution, whilst Taiwan/ROC was too weak. Singapore's immediate threats were Malaysia and Indonesia. So it made the strategic decision of bandwagoning with the United States and its former colonial ruler UK. The US and UK - realising Singapore strategic location and populace - eagerly welcomed their new quasi ally in the global struggle against Moscow. Domestically, sensing the Anglo Saxon remain the world's rulers for the foreseeable future (no one with a sane mind would have predicted China's rise back int he 60s), the Singaporean elites decided to fully adopt many aspects of the British Common Law and judicial system, whist preserving an elite ethnic Chinese de facto autocratic government. Yet, in order to fully bandwagon with the Anglo Saxons (US and UK) and enjoy their protection, all of the ruling ethnic Chinese elites with arguably become "Anglo Chinese," meaning for the sake of national independence and survival in a rough neighborhood surrounding by two Islamic neighbors, they would try to westernise/Anglicise Singapore legally, culturally, and economically as much as possible just short of losing sovereignty and their own control of their country. If I remember correctly, the term "Anglo Chinese" was first used by a Chinese political scientist named Zheng Yongnian, who used to work in the National University of Singapore.
Today, however, the Singaporean are arguably somewhat divided. They still aspire to militarily align with the U.S. However, they also want to access the Chinese market. That is why you see the huge gap between diehard China hating elites like MChen and Colin Coh on one hand, and close collaborations economically/financially on the other hand.
However, given the fact that the U.S. remains the ultimately guarantor of Singapore's very survival, if forced to choose, Singapore would always choose Washington over Beijing. When economic interests clash with national security, national security usually triumphs. The only scenario in which Singapore could fully embrace Beijing's influence in SE Asia would be if Washington adopts a complete isolationist stance (massive abandonment of allies and partners) toward the Indo Pacific in general, particularly regarding the South China Sea.
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DEI in the streets, neocon in the sheets