“The US War On China”.
Thornberry wants $6 billion this year to launch counter-China fund
The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee will release a proposal Thursday to formally create a new fund to counter Chinese actions in the Pacific, Defense News has learned.
Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, is calling for the creation of an Indo-Pacific Deterrence Initiative (IPDI), with a $6.09 billion invest in fiscal year 2021. The fund would be based on the European Deterrence Initiative, a special DoD fund for projects focused on deterring Russia that was set up in the wake of the annexation of Crimea.
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“The Indo-Pacific has been called our highest priority theater and I believe that is true. It is time to put our money where our mouth is,” Thornberry told Defense News. “This effort consolidates and funds the policies, infrastructure, and platforms needed to reassure our allies and partners while we deter China. It also serves as a benchmark against which we can judge our efforts in the region. We may not be able to get this all done this year, but it is vital that we make a start.
China-US relations will no longer be the same
https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1185584.shtml?fbclid=IwAR1SVO3JlFJn2GfEI2C5eyieNyJTBEy3e8QYa8TuTljkxgiMDFRxtmDPSoc It is beyond the Chinese people’s imagination that China-US relations have become what they are today. The epidemic outbreak brings new shocks, and the turbulence in relations between the two countries is likely to be more severe. No one in China wants that.
Some held the view that China brought this on itself. Those people said China should fully demonstrate its goodwill toward the US and make major concessions in the hope of regaining the trust of the US and putting the relationship back on track.
Those people are so naïve to believe that it is China that has ruined the China-US relationship and as long as China fundamentally changes its attitude, bilateral ties can improve significantly. There are profound and complex reasons for the deterioration of China-US relations. The biggest driving force behind the change in US attitude toward China is the constant change of the strength pattern between China and the US. The US does not accept the possibility of China becoming a parallel and equal force. This is the fundamental reason.
Many people say that in the 1980s, the relationship between China and the US was so good. Why can’t that atmosphere be recovered? In the 1980s the Soviet Union was the No.1 enemy of the US, and a weak China at that time was the one the US was trying to win over. China’s strategic position was as comfortable as India’s is today, and the US adopted a broadly supportive policy towards China. Today, the situation is quite different. A stronger China is seen by Washington as its top strategic rival, and some US politicians are even thinking of roping in Russia to contain China.
If, as they imagine, the US were to return to its old attitude towards China, the first thing China needs to do is to turn back the clock of development by more than 20 years, and go further to reassure the US. This means that China must first stop its high-tech progress and let the US take the lead in all-round scientific and technological development. China has to focus only on low-end industries, unable to compete with the US and the West in high-end manufacturing.
These are not enough. It also means that China needs to fully accept US dominance over the Taiwan question. China should also accept international arbitration on the South China Sea issue and dismantle its new facilities on Nansha Islands. Beijing will have to accept the arrangement of Washington over questions of Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong of China.
Ultimately, the US would also demand that China impose significant self-limits on its development of nuclear weapons and strategic strike capabilities.
Do you think China can back down on these issues? And where does this end? Did the US let Russia off the hook after the collapse of the Soviet Union? No. Russia inherited the Soviet nuclear weapons, which did not reassure the US. The US has spared no effort to further weaken Russia and squeeze its strategic space.
What the US really wants to do is weaken China so that it completely loses its strategic competitiveness against the US. The US won’t stop until China is brought to its knees and crippled.
Unfortunately, US strategic vigilance against China is fully activated and the reality is that we can’t go back.
It’s meaningless to look back at the old China-US relations. We have to look forward with the strength of realism, accept the challenges we will face as a great power, and meet the challenges of the future with new will and wisdom.
China’s endurance is no longer the same as it was 20 or 30 years ago. We have a unique Chinese philosophy of resistance to pressure. We will not become a second Soviet Union, nor will we provoke the antagonism and confrontation between China and the US from our side. China ‘s way of safeguarding its core interests will be brand new, and we need to surprise history.
Edelman Trust Barometer 2020
Edelman Trust Barometer 2020. Don’t take my words, this is from the West. Of course you can continue to live in delusion.
The Revolution Is Under Way Already
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/04/revolution-only-getting-started/609463/?fbclid=IwAR32f–d777VxAReNBuTYHsrSfEUFripvl0brT6rLROOGpfYw074ZHCbFiA
Analogies between the first months of the French Revolution and our current moment are easy to draw. Anthony Fauci, the infectious-diseases expert whom President Donald Trump often sidelines or ignores, is Jacques Necker, the popular finance minister to Louis XVI. Necker’s firing in early July 1789 was viewed widely as a calamity: “It was like losing your father,” the mathematician and astronomer Jean Sylvain Bailly wrote in his memoirs. The recent spike in American gun and ammunition sales recalls the Parisians who stormed the Bastille Fortress in the hope of finding weapons and gunpowder. (They incidentally released a handful of individuals imprisoned there, but that was not the crowd’s original intent.) The conflict among city, state, and federal officials over coronavirus-related closures directly parallels 1789’s municipal revolutions, in which some cities had leaders who quickly proclaimed devotion to the new National Assembly, while the leaders of other cities remained loyal to the old structures of absolutist royal power and the mayors and aldermen of yet others were violently deposed.
Many think coronavirus is China’s ‘Chernobyl moment’, but the authoritarian regime could prove them wrong
Here’s a dangerous idea: what if it turns out that an authoritarian regime is better-equipped to handle the coronavirus emergency than liberal democracies?
What if the Chinese Communist Party teaches us all a lesson?
It isn’t supposed to be that way. Labelled secretive and paranoid by the West, China is meant to be panic-stricken about the mystery killer virus spiralling out of control and turning into an existential crisis.
It should be China’s Chernobyl moment: harkening back to the nuclear disaster in 1986, that is now widely accepted as the tipping point that helped usher in the end to the Soviet Union.
President Xi Jinping Had a Phone Call with US President Donald Trump
President Xi Jinping spoke with US President Donald Trump on the phone on the morning of 7 February.
President Xi highlighted the all-out efforts made by the Chinese government and people to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak. Featuring nationwide mobilization, across-the-board arrangements and rapid response, it is a people’s war against the epidemic with the most comprehensive and rigorous measures. Such efforts are producing results. China has full confidence and capability to prevail over the epidemic. The long-term upward trajectory of the Chinese economy remains unchanged.
Xi affirmed China’s commitment to protecting the lives and health of not only its own people but also other people around the world. With openness, transparency and a sense of responsibility, China has kept WHO, the United States and other countries and regions updated, and has invited WHO and other experts to conduct field visits in Wuhan. As the first line of defence against the epidemic, China has taken timely, decisive and forceful measures, which have been fully recognized and highly appreciated by WHO and many countries.
Xi noted the continuing communication over the epidemic between China and the US. He expressed appreciation for President Trump’s positive comments on China’s efforts on different occasions, and thanked the various communities in the US for their donations. It takes joint efforts from all countries to contain epidemics. The fight against the novel coronavirus outbreak has come to a crucial stage. WHO has repeatedly given its professional advice and called on all countries to avoid overreaction. China hopes that the US will evaluate the situation calmly and develop and adjust its response in line with the actual situation. China and the US should maintain communication and strengthen coordination to jointly control the epidemic.
President Trump expressed full support for China’s efforts to control the epidemic and readiness to send experts to China and provide other forms of assistance. The fact that China has finished building special hospitals for the patients in a matter of days is impressive. It fully demonstrates China’s exceptional ability of organization and response.
Trump expressed confidence that the Chinese people, under the leadership of President Xi, will win the battle against the outbreak. He said that the US has confidence in China’s economic growth. The US will be very calm in its response to the epidemic and continue communication and cooperation with China through bilateral and WHO channels.
Jim Wong’s view
Subject: 黃霑先生之遠見
已故的黃霑先生2002年曾去信保安局，看回此信函確是準確預測了23條立法不成，香港今天的亂局！
致 保安局助理秘書長 :
本人是中國香港特區永久居民，也是曾從事跨傳媒工作達四十餘年的傳媒人，
現在謹以此身份，表明我對香港實施基本法第二十三條的個人意見。我贊成並支持香港特別行政區實施基本法第二十三條。任何國家，都以保護國土，維護國民整體安全為第一要務，
因此，一切危害國家安全，分裂國家主權的行為，明文列為罪行。香港特區，因為實行「一國兩制」，特別不在香港，將我國保護全國安全的法律實施， 而容許香港自行立法。
依我看，這基本法第二十三條的規定，實在已賦予香港人史無例的特有權力。如果我們香港人不珍惜這項權利，不明大局，胡亂接受別有居心人士誤導和唆擺，而反對基本法第二十三條實施，必會終於害己害人，把香港推至非常危險的境地。因為，祖國絕不可能容許或容忍香港特區成為威脅國家的基地。基本法第二十三條一日不立法，香港特區被人利用來反中國的機會就極大了。要知道，我國日漸強大，在一些意圖霸佔世界的巳得利益勢力集團眼中， 恰是十分不願見到的事。
香港特區，絕不能讓這些勢力利用。我們港人，千萬要提高警惕，清楚認明局勢，絕不能著了這些人的道兒。此時此地，很多聲音，其中不少是有意為香港製造麻煩，把我們推進陷阱的， 他們利用這陣子香港經濟低迷，人心不安的機會，努力製造不少表面堂正， 骨子裏居心莫測的言論，左右我們的思考。
我們必須知道，想香港享有高度自治，必須落實基本法。當前要務，是廿三條儘快立法定案。諮詢期已十分充裕，不必延長。也無須再攪白皮書，在立法會中充份辯論就足夠。
最近，更有外國人七咀八舌，議論紛紛，儼然港人福祉，全賴他們代議執言， 此類行為，十分荒謬，身為港人，反感之至，請秘書長無須理會，不必分心。
祝 一切好
黃霑 鞠躬
二○○二年十二月二日
How do we respond to man-made mass epidemics or even biological warfare?
一、帝国主义一直进行着基因、细菌武器研发
翻开史册，可以看到帝国主义一直都在进行了各种灭绝性武器的研发和运用。
一是这些灭绝性武器是什么？基因武器是运用遗传技术，在致病细菌或病毒中，接入能对抗普通疫苗或药物的基因，产生具有显著抗药性的致病菌，可在微生物体内接入致病基因，并可代代遗传。这种生物制剂武器，属于生物武器的第三代。生物武器是生物战剂及其运载装置的总称。其杀伤破坏作用靠的是生物战剂，这是一种用于杀人、牲畜和破坏农作物的致命微生物和毒素，旧称细菌武器，因伤害太严重，被联合国列为禁用武器。这些都属于大规模杀伤性武器，其来源是“自然致病微生物”，如过去曾经肆虐的鼠疫，就曾经造成当时欧洲人口约三分之一的大量非正常死亡。
二是帝国主义从来没有停止过研发生化武器进程。俄罗斯官方最近披露，美国已在世界暗中建立了200多座军用生物实验室，包括乌克兰及一些独联体国家。称之两年期美国在克里米亚半岛就当场缴获过针对俄罗斯人展开的基因研究。美国政府今年投入用于基因武器研究经费为30亿美元。位于马里兰州的美军事医学研究所，就是基因武器研究中心，他们已经研制成功了具有实战价值的基因武器：在普通酿酒菌中接入一种在非洲和中东已引起可怕的裂各热细菌的基因，使酿酒菌传播裂各热病；还完成了把能抗四环素作用的大肠杆菌遗传基因与有抗青霉素作用的金色葡萄球菌的基因拼接并植入大肠杆菌中，研发成功具备上述两种杀菌素的新大肠杆菌。2014年，在美国的压力下，联合国责令叙利亚上交了全部毒气储存，并在联合国监督下销毁。然而美国却利用白头盔组织一边喊着反对生化武器，而一边又在暗中大力发展着生化武器。
三是帝国主义在实战中多次使用生化武器。二战期间，当时发动侵略战争的德国、日本、意大利等都曾经研究过生物、化学、甚至核武器，特别对于细菌武器的研发更是投入了大量人力、物力和财力。侵华日军的731部队，就曾经把大批中国人作为他们细菌武器试验的标本，使大量中国人死于非命。
英国医学协会2006年曾发布《生物工程技术——生物武器》专题报告，预测人类研制的基因武器将在2010年前后问世，称该武器将给人类造成比大规模杀伤性武器更大的危险”。这种基因武器可以根据人类的基因特征选择某一种族群体作为杀伤对象，也就是“只对敌方具有残酷杀伤力，而对己方毫无影响”。按照美国国家人类基因组研究中心的报告，由多国联手开展的人类基因组计划，一旦能够不同种群的DNA排列出来，就可以生产出针对不同人类种群的基因武器。
美国作家、科技记者查尔斯·皮勒在《基因战争》一书中透露，美国及一些西方国家已制定了研制基因武器的计划，这些国家以研制疫苗为名进行着危险的传染病和微生物研究。在2019年人类第一个基因组草图完后，多国对生物和基因研究的关注再次升温，美、英、德、日等国纷纷加大了对基因工程的投资。
对于这些证据确凿的动向，国际社会必须予以密切关注、高度警惕和强烈谴责！
二、基因武器已在无控的泛滥发展
与造价昂贵的大规模杀伤性武器相比，杀人不见血的基因武器对人类社会有着更加潜在的生存威胁和巨大危害，这种武器一旦被载入活动的个体，该个体就会在群体中进行快速和大量传播。这种武器之所以登上人类战争舞台，有着以下特殊原因。
一是成本低廉。有人计算过，用5000万美元建造一个基因武器库，其杀伤效能远超过50亿美元建造的核武库。美国曾利用细胞中的脱氧核糖核酸催化作用，把一种病毒的DNA分离出来，再与另一种病毒的DNA拼接成剧毒的“热毒素”毒剂，用万分之一毫克就能毒死100只猫；20克就可使60亿人死亡。
二是心理震撼。这种疫情武器最大的危害在于，从它的投放使用到蔓延发展都没有明显征候，即使敌方发现这种疫情武器的使用，也会陷入束手无策和惊慌失措，从而极大地震撼和瓦解对手的军心民心。
三是悄无声息。疫情的制造者不必大张旗鼓和兴师动众，而只需悄悄地将病菌投入他国，或利用无人机、导弹等飞行器把带有致病基因的微生物投入他国，让病毒迅速扩散、大面积繁殖，从而达到不战而胜的效果。
四是后果严重。一旦使用了这种疫情武器，很快会使敌方的人、畜在短时间染上短时间内无法治疗的疾病，难以很快破译其中的密码并进行有效控制；使武器装备染上无法洗消的污染，使其丧失生活能力、作战能力、甚至生命，还会迅速传播。
五是难以医治。人为制造的疫情一旦出现，其危害程度要比当今世界现有的任何武器、包括核武器都要大，对于这种疫情无法通过躲避、远离进行防范；在大批人群出现症状后，很难尽快确定进行救治的办法和手段。
三、国际社会反对制造生化武器和疫情
研发和使用任何基因武器、生化武器，都是违反人道主义的行为，都是对人类的犯罪，都是对人类共同生存环境无可挽回的污染。
联合国从1945年10月成立至今，关于禁止发展试验核、生物和化学武器的条约和协议先后颁布了十多个，特别重要的就有四次：1972年颁布的《禁止试制、生产及销毁细菌（生物）和毒剂武器公约》，1975年颁布的《禁止使用生物化学武器协议》，1992年颁布的《禁止化学武器共约》，2004年4月颁布的《禁止核生化武器的条约》等，但少数国家以一己之私，研发核生化武器、基因武器的步伐一天也没有停止过。
四、以高超的战略谋划和智慧打赢这场特殊战争
针对疫情，我军奉命从2月1日起就抽组医疗力量集结疫区协助救治，相关部队也承担起武汉生活物资配送供应任务，再次体现了我军人民子弟兵的本质。我们不能排除未来一定时间内，在半岛、东海、台海、南海、藏南等方向发生战事，特别是一旦与西方发达国家直接或间接发生战事，敌必定对我发起多种形式的攻击，不排除他们使用已经研发多年、技术成熟的基因、细菌武器。作为武装力量，我们必须牢记，只要帝国主义、种族灭绝主义存在，对他们的警惕和斗争就不能掉以轻心，应以高超的顶层谋划和战略智慧去打赢这一场特殊的战争。
一是完善军队应急指挥和行动机制。组织军队和地方相关专家，研究论证并形成军队在应急抗疫军事行动中的政策、法律、机制和规章，特别要在指导、原则、要求、奖惩等方面做出具体规定，使军事防疫行动有法可依、有章可循。对突出的单位和个人要进行重奖、重罚：奖则让其一夜致富，罚则使其倾家荡产。
二是组建医疗应急机动部队。这支力量应精干高效，机动能力强，能够以最快的速度奔赴疫区的源头和污染区域，利用军队的网络通信、交通运力、医疗救治、规模管理等资源，迅速搭建符合防疫要求的野战医院，能够对非典、埃博拉、新冠肺炎等各种传染性疾病进行医治。指挥军官必须具有较高级别，以利于调动资源和指挥行动。可以借鉴我国先后组建的“疾病预防公共卫生应急大队”、“核应急救援大队”的做法和经验。
三是加强军事医学相关门类学科研究。加大人力、物力和财力投入，组织军地医疗专家对重点学科联合攻关。尽快弄清这次新型冠状病毒肺炎的来源，形成有效的预防及治疗办法，探讨隔离与管理方式，提出医疗条件标准，论证并形成统一指挥、统一调度、统一保障的有机高效应急医治体系。
四是适时组织合成训练和演习。针对疫情特点和发生规律，适时组织相关训练和演习，在训练中练指挥、练行动、练配合、练保障。参加这种训练和演习的，应由军方的医疗力量、由地方政府和相关部门和企业，尽快形成国家有效应对疫情的军事体制。