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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 12-Oct-2010
12-Oct-10 News -- Chinese army's view of America differs by generation

Web Log - October, 2010

12-Oct-10 News -- Chinese army's view of America differs by generation

Mahmoud Abbas demands permanent cessation of settlement building

Chinese army's view of America differs by generation

Senior officers in China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) have had a long relationship with America's army, and remember the times in the 1970s and 1980s when they were united against what appeared to be a common enemy, the Soviet Union, according to the NY Times.

But younger Chinese who became officers after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union have known America only as an ideological enemy.

In order to help improve relations between the two countries' armed forces, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has accepted an invitation to visit Beijing, according to the Dept. of Defense web site, where they'll undoubtedly have a nice chat.

America and China have had military-to-military cooperation programs for a long time, but they were abruptly ended by the Chinese in January of this year, when the Pentagon announced plans to sell more than $6 billion worth of arms to Taiwan, according to the LA Times.

Chinese military leaders used to tolerate arms sales to Taiwan in the past, according to the NY Times, article, but with the rise of the younger generation of officers, that tolerance appears to be gone. One PLA colonel is quoted as saying, "Why do you sell arms to Taiwan? We don’t sell arms to Hawaii. In the past China simply tolerated this silently for the sake of the overall situation of U.S.-China relations. But now times have moved on, the world is more civilized, and China is stronger."

From the point of view of Generational Dynamics, these differences are only going to increase, as the PLA officers who survived the Communist Revolution crisis civil war continue to retire or die, leaving behind younger officers who have no memory of the horrors of war, and no fear of war. A visit to Beijing by America's Secretary of Defense will not make any difference.

Mahmoud Abbas demands permanent cessation of settlement building

Much of Friday's meeting of the Arab League is shrouded in confusion, but more details are leaking out.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat is now saying that Mahmoud Abbas used very harsh words about Israel at the meeting. He said that Israel has violated all previous peace agreements, and that peace talks would not resume unless Israel permanently ended all settlement building (which is never going to happen).

If the peace talks fail, then the first option that the Palestinians will consider is UN recognition of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders. Jerusalem Post

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 12-Oct-10 News -- Chinese army's view of America differs by generation thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (12-Oct-2010) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 12-Oct-2010 12-Oct-10 News -- Chinese army's view of America differs by generation

Chinese army's view of America differs by generation

Mahmoud Abbas demands permanent cessation of settlement building

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 12-Oct-2010
12-Oct-10 News -- Chinese army's view of America differs by generation