new members introduction thread - important that new members introduce themselfs!!!
New here. Permit me to introduce myself.
Me:
My name is Bob Hyneman. I am almost 40, a stay-at-home Dad trying to launch a small business (also form home).
I studied International Relations in college and became something of a China specialist before switching to economics.
Along the way I studied in Mainland China (Shanghai’s Fudan University) for 1 year and spent about three more in Taiwan, drinking beer and teaching English as a second language.
My wife is from Taiwan. I speak some Chinese, (I used to speak a lot of it). Her family and friends frequently stay here for months at a time, so most often English is the second language in my household.
We are both active in the Chinese and Taiwan Chinese community here on Long Island New York. Nearly all our friends are from Taiwan. Our closest friends are James Mau and his Family. James is a commander in the ROC navy who is currently finishing his PhD in Physical Oceanography at SUNY Stony Brook. His career path might lead in several directions, he ahs applied to be the next ROC Naval Attache to the “Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States” (aka “the embassy”).
I know less than most on this forum about the specific Chinese weapons systems but I am something of a China watcher.
MY view:
In college I was taught to view the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as consisting four wings or factions.
They are
1.) The Maoists, currently the smallest and lest powerful wing (practically nobody in China believes in that CRAP anymore)
2.) The Economic Reformers
3.) The Democracy Advocates
4.) the Nationalists (and her the word nationalist applies in its worst, most pejorative fashion).
Prior to Tiananmen Zhao Ziyang ruled the country by keeping one foot in both the Economic Reform camp and the Democracy Advocate camp. Entrenched interests and a desire for social stability ensured that he proceeded with each type of reform slowly.
After Tiananmen the Democracy advocates were purged from positions of power, and the ruling coalition is comprised of the Economic Reformers (on top) and the Nationalists are the junior partner.
Today democracy advocates are sent to jail while rabid nationalists are given cabinet appointments.
More late on this as we get to know one another.
Obviously anyone who views things as I have described above would be quite concerned with the possibility that one day the nationalists might be the SENIOR partner in the ruing coalition. Given recent military trends in China it is clear their strength is growing and given China’s borderline social unrest it is not inconceivable that one day the Nationalists might seize power altogether.
I promise to be polite in my postings and not to pretend I know more about China’s weapons systems than I actually do (I know very little).
In exchange all I ask is that you humor me once in a while by responding to my theories and postings so that I can be sure I am not getting too far off the mark.
Thanks in advance.
I look forward to meeting you all.
so...and its good to see the miilitary of my culture/race/ original nationality (whatever the term is) is the hot topic in foreign militaries and countries! I hope can I contribute with my miliitary views (nonpolitical), experiences and from my studies/reasearch for my thesis on China.
