China request lifting of European Union arms embargo - attempts to censor news

ABC AU
BBC UK
US opposition

A foreboding request, indeed.

With China's flexing of its new-found muscle in jostling for more geographical elbow room in its region and the resultant tensions rising with its neighbours - not least which, Japan--a country the US is signatory to in protecting in event of a conflict - it's pretty obvious that to press for a lifting of this arms embargo, that's existed since the Tiananmen Square massacre, is a move in anticipation of some upcoming confrontation.

Not a lot of effort was made to dissemble the fact China wants to leverage its current economic clout in any way that it deems may advantage her, either (...unless you take into account the botched attempt to censor the request - lol!). Which pretty much confirms the downturn in their economy is set to continue by their own analysis and that nationalism fermented through ingrained regional tensions will likely be the next ploy the politburo will use to distract its 'comrades' from the corruption and inequities rife within Chinese society.

So, is this the opening gambit in WWIII or am I just paranoid / fear mongering in good old ATS tradition?

reply to post by Sablicious

Might it be China testing her strength? If EU will cave to demands like this, China will know they've won against Europe. I suspect they'll apply more pressure, in small increments, to check for Western reaction. They may even say, when they know what they wanted to find out; "OK, we'll give up our demands if you give us something in exchange." And that something will be pure profit.

I also believe Nationalists in Japan, are going to take power.....and will undoubtedly try to change prewar rules and regulations. Just MHO.

TOKYO — One is a former prime minister known for his nationalistic views. A second is a hawkish former defense chief. And a third is the son of Tokyo's outspoken governor whose proposal to buy and develop a cluster of uninhabited islands claimed by both China and Japan has set off a territorial furor between the two countries. A look at the top candidates to lead Japan's main opposition party — and potentially to become Japan's next prime minister — suggests that Japan may soon get a more nationalist government. That could ratchet up already tense relations with China and South Korea over territorial disputes that have flared in recent weeks and brought anti-Japanese demonstrations to dozens of Chinese cities.

Nationalism may rise under Japan's next gov

reply to post by sonnny1

Nationalistic governments versus nationalism inculcated populations (numbering in their hundreds of millions) is the very definition of a 'powder keg'. And when you consider The Korean War was a de facto World War III - with MacArthur's finger literally on the button before being reigned in by Truman - this region looks a far more probable WWIII continuation than any fundamentalist goat herder ire.

Watch this space, methinks.