Posted by seumasach on May 15, 2015
Pepe Escobar
15th May, 2015
The real Masters of the Universe in the U.S. are no weathermen, but arguably they’re starting to feel which way the wind is blowing.
History may signal it all started with this week’s trip to Sochi, led by their paperboy, Secretary of State John Kerry, who met with Foreign Minister Lavrov and then with President Putin.
Posted in Disband NATO!, Global peace process, Iran, Multipolar world, New Cold War, Ukraine War | Tagged: Chinese soft power, retreat from empire, Russian diplomacy | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on May 2, 2015
1st May, 2015
China has surpassed the United States to become Australia’s largest foreign investor, official data show.
Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) said in its annual report on Thursday that China spent over AUD 27.7 billion (USD 21.8 billion) in Australia’s market in the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2014, far outstripping the United States and Canada with AUD 17.5 billion and AUD 15.4 billion, respectively.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Chinese soft power | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on April 29, 2015
28th April, 2015
On March 19, 2015 New York Times reported that the Afghan peace process was still a long-cherished dream since the Taliban are unable to resolve their “internal differences” over the question of holding a dialogue with the U.S. and its allies. It further reported that since peace couldn’t be expected to take shape under such a scenario, the Afghan government, as well as U.S. officials, were mulling the possibility of yet another year of “bloody fighting with the insurgents.” Reflecting this situation, the Times report had an ‘apt’ title:More U.S. Troops Seen Staying in Afghanistan
Posted in Global peace process | Tagged: Afghanistan, Chinese soft power | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on April 14, 2015
“The investment is a strategically important beginning for our exploration in the European market,” Li Huaizhen, Minsheng’s CEO, said in Shanghai
15th February, 2015
A Chinese investment firm has announced it is to invest £1bn in a homegrown development project to create a third financial district in east London.
Posted in UK economy | Tagged: Chinese soft power, End of empire, The Great British Sell-Off | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on April 12, 2015
How China grew desperate to conceal its power from the world
11th April, 2015
The creation of the prosaic-sounding Asian Infrastructure Investment Development Bank (AIIB) has landed the biggest blow to America’s superpower status in the post-war era.
Posted in Financial crisis, Multipolar world | Tagged: Chinese soft power, new financial architecture | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on March 8, 2015
4th March, 2015
The Chinese do not plan to live in a world dominated by the U.S. dollar for much longer. Chinese leaders have been calling for the U.S. dollar to be replaced as the primary global reserve currency for a long time, but up until now they have never been very specific about what they would put in place of it. Many have assumed that the Chinese simply wanted some new international currency to be created. But what if that is not what the Chinese had in mind? What if they have always wanted their own currency to become the single most dominant currency on the entire planet? What you are about to see is rather startling, but it shouldn’t be a surprise. When it comes to economics and finance, the Chinese have always been playing chess while the western world has been playing checkers. Sadly, we have gotten to the point where checkmate is on the horizon.
Posted in Currency Wars | Tagged: Chinese soft power, new global financial architecture, renminbi global reserve currency | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on March 2, 2015
as he invites Queen to visit Beijing
The meeting, by far the most heavyweight diplomatic mission the Duke has ever attempted, not only heralded a new beginning for relations between China and the Royal family, but also symbolised the extent to which Britain is desperate to court what will soon be the world’s biggest economy.
2nd March, 2015
His father the Prince of Wales famously referred to China’s leaders as “appalling old waxworks”, and has never been back to the country since.
But his son the Duke of Cambridge pulled off something of a diplomatic coup, and a major thawing of relations between Beijing and the Royal family, by gaining an unexpected audience with President Xi Jinping.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: bankrupt Britain, Chinese soft power, End of empire, retreat from empire | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on February 28, 2015
Ukraine crisis: Top Chinese diplomat backs Putin, says West should ‘abandon zero-sum mentality’
28th February, 2015
China has voiced its support for Russia’s handling of the Ukraine crisis, with prominent diplomat Qu Xing calling on the West to “abandon its zero-sum mentality”.
Posted in Ukraine War, Uncategorized | Tagged: Chinese soft power | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on February 3, 2015
3rd February, 2015
The actions of Alexis Tsipras, who heads the new Greek government, have been swifter than most expected, as he bids to deliver on the promises he made to voters in the run-up to the election on Jan 25.
Posted in Battle for Europe | Tagged: Brics, Chinese soft power, Tsipras government | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on January 31, 2015
Tarpley’s ignorance of the Russia -Turkey agreement over a gas pipeline to the Greek border is a bit surprising. Chinese investment could play a key role in building a connection between Turkey and central Europe via Greece. Tarpley is probably wrong in supposing that the cancellation of the Piraeus contract is a snub to the Chinese judging by yesterday’s statement by Greek representatives. Given the direction that Tsipras appears to have taken it would indeed be surprising if he sought to alienate the Chinese. The contract can. of course, be renegotiated in terms more sensitive to Greek national interests. Apart from that, a very interesting and informative talk by Tarpley on these startling , new, Greek developments.
30th January, 2015
Posted in Battle for Europe | Tagged: Alexis Tsipras, BRICS(Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa), Chinese soft power, russia -Turkey strategic alliance, Tsipras government | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on January 31, 2015
“During yesterday’s meeting with the Chinese officials, the two Greek Ministers allegedly attempted to appease their concerns, clarifying that the bilateral cooperation will continue. “The two Ministers and the Ambassador agreed to engage in a constructive dialogue to enhance mutual cooperation” the Ministry’s announcement said.”
The cancellation of the Chinese contract for the Piraeus port seemed to contradict Greek interests in turning towards Russia and China as an alternative to the EU. However, this statement seems to have softened the impact and shown an awareness of the importance of Chinese investment in Greek reconstruction.
30th January, 2015
A meeting between Greek Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism Minister Giorgos Stathakis, Deputy Maritime Minister Thodoris Dritsas, Chinese Ambassador Zou Xiaoli and a delegation of Chinese diplomatic officials was held yesterday in Athens. The meeting was appointed after Xiaoli’s personal request and is seen as a confirmation of the Chinese Commerce Ministry regarding the newly elected Greek government’s plans to proceed with the interruption of the Piraeus Port privatization, as announced by Stathakis and Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis earlier this week. – See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/01/30/greek-ministers-meet-with-chinese-ambassador-for-piraeus-port/#sthash.ZQYmAe5k.dpuf
Posted in Battle for Europe | Tagged: Alexis Tsipras, Chinese soft power, Tsipras government | Leave a Comment »
In These New Times 