Comments on: France as Enemy, so Japan as Friend http://cupofcha.com/2008/05/08/france-as-enemy-so-japan-as-friend.html This is China Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:53:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: nanheyangrouchuan http://cupofcha.com/2008/05/08/france-as-enemy-so-japan-as-friend.html#comment-1395 nanheyangrouchuan Fri, 09 May 2008 03:50:54 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/?p=269#comment-1395 China needs a friendly Japan as SK and Vietnam are becoming so blatantly anti-China (and with thousands of years of repeated colonization, who can blame them?). I wonder how many Chinese, taught their whole lives about how bad the Japanese are, see the CCP as running dog turn coats? Basically Hu just made a mockery out of one of the tenets of modern Chinese education. But this warming will only last until the Japanese men's soccer team crushes China in the Olympics. China needs a friendly Japan as SK and Vietnam are becoming so blatantly anti-China (and with thousands of years of repeated colonization, who can blame them?).

I wonder how many Chinese, taught their whole lives about how bad the Japanese are, see the CCP as running dog turn coats? Basically Hu just made a mockery out of one of the tenets of modern Chinese education.

But this warming will only last until the Japanese men’s soccer team crushes China in the Olympics.

]]> By: Larry http://cupofcha.com/2008/05/08/france-as-enemy-so-japan-as-friend.html#comment-1390 Larry Thu, 08 May 2008 16:10:43 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/?p=269#comment-1390 Japan is probably the first, and the only, country Chinese likes. Is there another one ? North Korea, may be ? Ah, there is also Sudan, Nigeria, Myanmar. Cuba ? No, not Cuba. Japan is probably the first, and the only, country Chinese likes. Is there another one ? North Korea, may be ? Ah, there is also Sudan, Nigeria, Myanmar. Cuba ? No, not Cuba.

]]> By: Windswing http://cupofcha.com/2008/05/08/france-as-enemy-so-japan-as-friend.html#comment-1389 Windswing Thu, 08 May 2008 15:42:23 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/?p=269#comment-1389 Lu and Nick, The difference is noted and granted. However, it is irrelevant to what I have said. If you read more carefully, you'll see I was doing exactly what you suggested in the first scenario - calling Josh on HIS stated view that China has a "historical image as a poor, confrontational country" in this blog. Josh himself said clearly in a later post "I’ll stand by my statement". Besides, there is a difference between "People think..." and "Some people think...". The fact that you and a few others share Josh's view does not provide ground for the claim that "people" or even "most people" think the same way. And finally, even if the original statement was "People think...", I suppose I could still challenge that popular perception by explaining why I think that perception is wrong. Lu and Nick,

The difference is noted and granted. However, it is irrelevant to what I have said.

If you read more carefully, you’ll see I was doing exactly what you suggested in the first scenario - calling Josh on HIS stated view that China has a “historical image as a poor, confrontational country” in this blog. Josh himself said clearly in a later post “I’ll stand by my statement”.

Besides, there is a difference between “People think…” and “Some people think…”. The fact that you and a few others share Josh’s view does not provide ground for the claim that “people” or even “most people” think the same way.

And finally, even if the original statement was “People think…”, I suppose I could still challenge that popular perception by explaining why I think that perception is wrong.

]]> By: Lu http://cupofcha.com/2008/05/08/france-as-enemy-so-japan-as-friend.html#comment-1386 Lu Thu, 08 May 2008 11:16:41 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/?p=269#comment-1386 Windswing, these is a difference between 1) "The US are an evil and belligerent country." and 2) "Many people believe that the US are an evil and belligerent country." If I would say 1), you could call me on that, and tell me why my views are wrong. If I would say 2), you could ask me who those people are and where I found this information, but it wouldn't be not useful to explain to me why this view is wrong, because it's not (necessarily) a view held by me. Similarly, when Josh here says things like "people think that China is so-and-so", it is not (necessarily) Josh's opinion that China is so-and-so, and thus it is not useful for you (or others) to call him on that statement. China has a certain image in the world, and China is not happy with some parts of that image. But if China wants to counter this, the only thing it can do is change the perception others have of it, instead of denying that others have this impression. I hope you get what I mean. Windswing, these is a difference between
1) “The US are an evil and belligerent country.”
and
2) “Many people believe that the US are an evil and belligerent country.”
If I would say 1), you could call me on that, and tell me why my views are wrong. If I would say 2), you could ask me who those people are and where I found this information, but it wouldn’t be not useful to explain to me why this view is wrong, because it’s not (necessarily) a view held by me.

Similarly, when Josh here says things like “people think that China is so-and-so”, it is not (necessarily) Josh’s opinion that China is so-and-so, and thus it is not useful for you (or others) to call him on that statement. China has a certain image in the world, and China is not happy with some parts of that image. But if China wants to counter this, the only thing it can do is change the perception others have of it, instead of denying that others have this impression. I hope you get what I mean.

]]> By: duckoutofwater http://cupofcha.com/2008/05/08/france-as-enemy-so-japan-as-friend.html#comment-1385 duckoutofwater Thu, 08 May 2008 10:40:47 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/?p=269#comment-1385 hmmm...canada, switzerland, maybe. neither poor nor confrontational. hmmm…canada, switzerland, maybe. neither poor nor confrontational.

]]> By: Nick http://cupofcha.com/2008/05/08/france-as-enemy-so-japan-as-friend.html#comment-1384 Nick Thu, 08 May 2008 10:30:55 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/?p=269#comment-1384 @windswing, whether a country, company or individual's image is fair or not is irrelevant to the argument. Perhaps you view the author as an cynical opinionated &%$@ others would beg to differ. It's these collective images right or wrongly held, that clever P.R seeks to change. @windswing, whether a country, company or individual’s image is fair or not is irrelevant to the argument. Perhaps you view the author as an cynical opinionated &%$@ others would beg to differ. It’s these collective images right or wrongly held, that clever P.R seeks to change.

]]> By: H.Y. http://cupofcha.com/2008/05/08/france-as-enemy-so-japan-as-friend.html#comment-1383 H.Y. Thu, 08 May 2008 09:06:48 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/?p=269#comment-1383 LOL... the first paragraph is classic and summarizes the ridiculousness and fickleness of it all perfectly. By the way, is there any country which doesn't dislike France? I know here in Europe there aren't many of them.. LOL… the first paragraph is classic and summarizes the ridiculousness and fickleness of it all perfectly. By the way, is there any country which doesn’t dislike France? I know here in Europe there aren’t many of them..

]]> By: Windswing http://cupofcha.com/2008/05/08/france-as-enemy-so-japan-as-friend.html#comment-1382 Windswing Thu, 08 May 2008 06:17:07 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/?p=269#comment-1382 By the same criteria, are there any country in the world that does not have a "historcial image" as poor and confrontational? Now I can see why you said you probably have too many opinions for your own good... By the same criteria, are there any country in the world that does not have a “historcial image” as poor and confrontational?

Now I can see why you said you probably have too many opinions for your own good…

]]> By: Josh http://cupofcha.com/2008/05/08/france-as-enemy-so-japan-as-friend.html#comment-1381 Josh Thu, 08 May 2008 03:16:00 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/?p=269#comment-1381 Through at least the 1970s or 80s China was widely seen as a poor country. It also seems fair to say that Mao thrived on confrontation (Japan, Taiwan, class, the Soviet Union, America, inside the party etc.) Since Mao was the public face of China for nearly 30 years, I'll stand by my statement. Through at least the 1970s or 80s China was widely seen as a poor country. It also seems fair to say that Mao thrived on confrontation (Japan, Taiwan, class, the Soviet Union, America, inside the party etc.) Since Mao was the public face of China for nearly 30 years, I’ll stand by my statement.

]]> By: Windswing http://cupofcha.com/2008/05/08/france-as-enemy-so-japan-as-friend.html#comment-1380 Windswing Thu, 08 May 2008 03:06:22 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/?p=269#comment-1380 China's "historical image as a poor, confrontational country"? Whose history? Up till when? Confrontational with whom? China’s “historical image as a poor, confrontational country”? Whose history? Up till when? Confrontational with whom?

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