China and Philippines

I find out now that China was flying over Palawan island. 1. Western Naval Command tracks suspected Chinese rocket over Palawan airspace - @PalawOne

Propaganda is for idiots. A "suspected" Chinese rocket sounds dodgy, but an advertised launch is not a lot to care about.

However, changing a word is really great as a scare tactic.

Here we go. Advertising the launch last week

https://www.facebook.com/10008676279742 … 702964182/

All good, but we are the only ones talking bombs? WTF?
- @PalawOne

Pretty much, yes.

It was launching an internet platform similar to Musk's Starlink.

OMG - Musk is launching suspected rockets. Is he about to bomb everyone?

See how silly it sounds? Then why care about this well advertised internet satellite launching?

Asking around in the neighbourhood, all the locals said it's the third-time now, and also that the Chinese are dropping bombs in the seas around here?
- @PalawOne

Ah, the locals are brain dead.

They would have to be stupid to believe a foreign country was dropping bombs on them outside of a war, but they are doing so.

The only explanation is they are stupid.

However, it shows the power of rubbish propaganda on the unthinking proletariat.

When they work out they were wrong, if a brain cell actually manages to function, the nut job story stays in their heads as fact.

@Fred

While do you have to be so F'ing vile with your comments?

We could say you are brain dead going by half of your comments.

@FredWhile do you have to be so F'ing vile with your comments?We could say you are brain dead going by half of your comments. - @SimCityAT

Why do you have to swear?

@PalawOne

We need to get used to the multipolar realignment where China gets Oceania and SE Asia, the US gets the Western Hemisphere and Russia gets Europe. Just telling it as it is in the opinion of experienced US commentators.

@PalawOne
We need to get used to the multipolar realignment where China gets Oceania and SE Asia, the US gets the Western Hemisphere and Russia gets Europe. Just telling it as it is in the opinion of experienced US commentators. - @danfinn

Very possibly.

The advantage for the East is that China will do it with trade, but the US has rather a long history of using bombs.

However,  Mr. Trump might make it three powers as he is alienating his major allies and they already have an economic group.

There have been several forward thinking films that mention Eastern and Western powers as opposing forces.

Reality might well imitate art.

@PalawOneWe need to get used to the multipolar realignment where China gets Oceania and SE Asia, the US gets the Western Hemisphere and Russia gets Europe. Just telling it as it is in the opinion of experienced US commentators. - @danfinn

Haha, yes a future certainly in the cards Dan.

Wrong dates for your explanation facebook-post Fred. It was last Monday.

The ground shook, there was a loud bang, and the press report at least one foreign missle at the time.

All i'm saying is, this is the truth

And, now it's on the public record

Living in interesting times, gentle-folk

--

@Fred

Very possibly.

The advantage for the East is that China will do it with trade, but the US has rather a long history of using bombs.

And China has a long history of genocide to it's people ie the Great Cultural Revolution and others. China will steal your IP and everything else when it comes to trade. But it also presents Canada and other countries a alternative to US influence. But if you are like Canada and wish to switch preferences, that is OK as long as you keep China's military preferences in this hemisphere. Canada will  find out what happens if they once again emoy Chinese military along the US border.

@PalawOneWe need to get used to the multipolar realignment where China gets Oceania and SE Asia, the US gets the Western Hemisphere and Russia gets Europe. Just telling it as it is in the opinion of experienced US commentators. - @danfinn
Haha, yes a future certainly in the cards Dan.

Wrong dates for your explanation facebook-post Fred. It was last Monday.

The ground shook, there was a loud bang, and the press report at least one foreign missle at the time.

All i'm saying is, this is the truth

And, now it's on the public record

Living in interesting times, gentle-folk


-- - @PalawOne

In the Southern part of Palawan, it seems that China's 9-dash line comes so close to Palawan that people wading on the western beach might wander into China. Maybe not that bad but certainly a pumpboat fisherman could wander into 9 dash line territory. So, any missiles exploding from China could well have been in territory claimed by both China and the Philippines. Is this something Trump might care about? I doubt it; he might not wish to fight China's claim of sovereignty at the risk of a war between nuclear powers.

@Fred
Very possibly.
The advantage for the East is that China will do it with trade, but the US has rather a long history of using bombs.
And China has a long history of genocide to it's people ie the Great Cultural - @danfinn

True, and Native Americans might draw parallels. Mexicans that used to live in Mexican cities such as Los Angeles may also have a few thought on the subject s, as would the native Hawaiians, but they are conquered peoples so don't actually count as genocide against your own people.

Luckily, the old (actually) communist China is a dead duck, and the new capitalist China isn't starting wars every two minutes.

@Fred

It was mostly epidemic from European diseases that reduced the populations but wars also played a role. Note I said "Europeans" who were ancestors  of today's "Americans".  I do not apologize for the actions of  European settlers and certainly today's europeans do not apologize. Your ancestry had as great a role as mine. But such is the age-old story of war and conquest.

@FredIt was mostly epidemic from European diseases that reduced the populations but wars also played a role. Note I said "Europeans" who were ancestors of today's "Americans". I do not apologize for the actions of European settlers and certainly today's europeans do not apologize. Your ancestry had as great a role as mine. But such is the age-old story of war and conquest. - @danfinn

True. The British,  French, Dutch,  and others deserve a big portion of blame, but that's no excuse for culling native tribes long after George was booted, nor is it reason to treat the descendants of slaves like rubbish, and definitely not an excuse to be nasty to Hispanics who live in places the US conquered.

None of that excuses old, now dead Chinese communist leaders and their especially nasty history, but the word to watch is 'history'. The Chinese are communist in name only, and their policies are now strictly capitalist.

Sadly, as we see at the moment,  US bully, threaten, bomb, and kill is very much still their version of international relationships.

That's why the Philippines under Duterte, working with China was safer than it is now

Fred,

There are more Chinese in Indonesia other that China.

Fred,There are more Chinese in Indonesia other that China. - @Enzyte Bob

I gather something like 10 million ETHNIC Chinese, not actual Chinese,  and many to most are serious capitalists. That's out of about 400 million Indonesians.

Strange you should mention that as I am with two very pleasant actual Chinese ladies at the moment of posting.

One in particular has a very pleasantly shaped bottom.

@Fred

I am with two very pleasant actual Chinese ladies at the moment of posting.

One in particular has a very pleasantly shaped bottom.

Wow. Most ham radio ops have other hobbies.  Tell us this threesome is sisters.

LOL, TMI Fred.

Cheers, Steve.

@Fred
I am with two very pleasant actual Chinese ladies at the moment of posting.
One in particular has a very pleasantly shaped bottom.
Wow. Most ham radio ops have other hobbies. Tell us this threesome is sisters. - @danfinn

I haven't done that one in a very long time. No, my kid is doing a Mandarin test so the uni is full of Chinese people, most female. The boss woman reminds me of Hitler,  but the others seem nice.

@FredIt
That's why the Philippines under Duterte, working with China was safer than it is now - @Fred

Yes, well, in bed asleep in our Palawan farm, are we going to be bombed?

Please anyone, don't .. it's a truly beautiful green-land, you're welcome to stay

happy trails

`

Thanks P1 for the invite and I can testify that you live in a wonderful part of the Philippines, A little too removed for me though and like you, most partnered expats tend to put their stumps down near the better half's mob, for us it is La Union in Luzon and the beach and scenery here is just as wicked as Palawan. Happy partners make a happy life.

As for being blown up? We are a lot closer to China than you and while in the back of the mind tend to be more worried about a decent tsunami as we are only about 8 metres above the high tide mark, recently a 6.5M storm surge and that was scary. 24 hours after a cat 3 typhoon. A couple of times being woken at 2 or 3 in the morning with a boom boom boom and the proverbial what the f is that?

An oil tanker 3 or 400 metres off shore that have missed the shipping lane or the pilot went to sleep and boy are they loud and normally we see them on the horizon 5 to 6 klicks away.

Bombs? Earthquakes? Cat 5 typhoons? A car accident? I maintain that when your numbers up, as they say here "that's it pancit". OMO P1 but you are talking about things we have no power over so simply smile and enjoy what you have every day.

Watch the world go by and have a laugh in your bit of paradise after all we earnt it.

Cheers, Steve.

@FredIt
That's why the Philippines under Duterte, working with China was safer than it is now - @Fred

Yes, well, in bed asleep in our Palawan farm, are we going to be bombed?

Please anyone, don't .. it's a truly beautiful green-land, you're welcome to stay

happy trails

` - @PalawOne

Being bombed in bed is unlikely as Xhina sees war as hindering trade.

Your chances are even less now as Trump has announced he's going to abandon allies in the Asia/Pacific region.

Thanks for the invitation,  but I love Indonesia with a passion. If I'm ever on holiday over there, I'll buy you a coffee

@Fred

I notice that commenters from other nations, whose white populations "stole" land from indigenous people, never get challenged. Only the US is the great Satan. But the Australian aboriginals did not willingly give up their lands to English invaders. Or the "first nations" in Canada. The Spanish and Portuguese invaders in Mexico, central America, carribean and south America. When settlers reached the US, the land was almost empty, about 6 million Indians out of 330 million today and still pretty empty. But Americans get all the heat for all of the conquest of foreign lands that other nations have done for thousands of years. I don't really care because my Irish ancestors, who themselves had land and property stolen from British colonizers during the famine, had nothing to taking land or slavery in the US when they arrived legally in 1920. But I find it interesting and I tend to believe it is due to a deep seated envy of America's success. OMO.

I disagree about not knocking other mass murdering powers,  but I will agree that most who knock the Brits, Dutch, and so on are often dismissed as lefty idiots.

I would tend to agree with the argument that sees English colonialists as a bad eggs, but there is an important difference between the UK and US.

The former is pretty much dead as a colonial power and is a bit of a military joke, but the latter's policies of old are also today's way of operating.

@danfinn

Inferiority complex? Never quite worked some people out but. My point/s have never been about America nor its citizens but the fools put into power by an elected arrogant spoilt little sh1t that are ousted if they disagree with the tantrums. Your forefathers drafted a constitution to lead a nation forward and protect its constituents and not to be flouted and pushed aside by a petulant child as is happening now.

Take off the stupid MAGA hats and see, America is already great and has been for an extremely long time and has little need to ever be embarrassed by a want to be that is rearing his ugly head now and the reason is wealth, not for the people but his and his families own pockets. Ask yourself why he hasn't stood on Putins neck, properly choked another dictator? Perhaps Putin has something on Trump? Perhaps Trump will run to Putin when the sh1t hits the fan? It's coming.

I will end the war day one. I will. I will. and never happened, I will bring the prices down for the US citizens etc.etc.

Come on Dan simply look at what's going on in your own country now under a MAGA hat, it's pathetic. The world is watching and the other super powers are watching with glee. Look at the crap and murders going on in Minneapolis and the denials and weeping under the carpet by fools bending the knee to an authoritarian  President, his way or the frigging highway.

Enough of the US. You want to hang sh1t on other countries? Bring it on but make sure of your facts and figures and don't mix up colonisation with a now country. Most have sins but are not Satanic.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

@bigpearl

Steve, what you see happening is a complex set of events that you do not understand so you blame Trump, basically shooting the messenger. The recent advent of hypersonic missiles, the recent climate change where the Arctic is thawing and the recent Chinese decisions to weaponize their near total monopoly of rare earth minerals coupled with the recent high levels of demand fir them for EVs and other technologies have caused a need to bring Greenland under US control. Trump failed in that and NATO is seriously now weakened. China knows that in 2028, Greenland will vote for independence and their people will not have to honor any agreements struck with EU and Denmark. Trump knew that but had to give in. So China will be there with money and investments ready to screw Greenlanders like every other small nation in their Belt and Road, offering to build ports and mine the rare earth's in return for bases as an alternative to what was agreed without them present in Brussels. Steve, you really need to put your dislike of Trump aside and understand the purpose of these negotiations that Trump failed at. China now has a much better chance at militarizing the Arctic, 4000 miles from the Chinese border, now that the idiot Europeans threatened to dissolve NATO in response to Trump. To make it worse, Canada joined them and us now allying with China. However, the US will control the Western Hemisphere minus Canada but our defense spending will skyrocket and the Europeans may not even be able to defend themselves without the US in NATO. Just remember, Trump did not cause the melting of the ice, he did not give hypersonic ICBM missiles to the Russians and he did not put rare earth's on Greenland soil. That's just the way it is and if previous US presidents were too stupid to realize these facts, which everybody knows today, that is not Trump's fault, whether a person hates him or not. Personally I know of only one or two other American politicians who could understand and deal with this situation and none of them are socialist democrats.

`

If only the countries under discussion could honestly

discuss world matters, as our truly mature individual

forum members, then our world might be a paradise.

happy trails

Dan, Drill baby Drill, Climate change is a hoax, Affordability is a hoax, Shoot anyone that disagrees with me.

Golly while the US will still be a power to be reckoned with it's diminishing big time under a MAGA hat and will take a long time to regain what was there.

Climate change was happening under the 45th president and the Paris accord was ignored but now that the ice is melting there is an instant threat? The sky is falling? Your beloved country used to be the largest  rare earths contributor to the world and you lost it. So many reasons why, economic, social pressure but your government and people handed it over to thinkers and now crying 40 years later. All the previous administrations aside as I have counted on this sit so many times the bottom of the rabbit burrow is upon you and the sudden stop will be shocking for all including those that are simply trying to eat instead of the gold plated crap that mean nothing to the simple American trying to make ends meet and a future for their children, as we do.

Australia used to have 6/7 auto makers, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Mitsubishi etc. but couldn't compete with world markets over 30/40 years and eventually our auto industry died but the people moved onto and into other industries where we could be competitive in a world market and have prospered. We didn't have an isolationist country but a people that well know how to diversify. A small country by world standards but we battle on and succeed.

We never tried to take over the world and simply integrated.

Enough for now.

Cheers, Steve.

Yes P1 and our bad to go off topic but it it happens.

Cheers, Steve

@bigpearl

Oh, I guess you haven't heard. Bill Gates made recent statements that climate change was no longer as great a concern and climate change was hardly mentioned at the last Davos. The best explanation I heard about that is that the elites in Davos who own mansions next to the sea and arrive in private jets are very heavily invested in AI. Gates himself has a lot if personal investment in OpenAI. It turns out that AI data centers use enormous amounts of energy that cannot be sourced by solar and wind so guess what? It's drill baby drill. And whatever humans are doing to the weather, it is likely not enough to open the Arctic sea. Nature is cyclical.

I reclined by the infinity pool at my El Nido resort enjoying a long black coffee and magnificent view over the West Philippines Sea just as an American nuclear sub cruised past. It was an eery reminder that it will be somewhere like paradise that WW3 will start

bigpearl said . . . . Dan, Drill baby Drill, Climate change is a hoax, Affordability is a hoax, Shoot anyone that disagrees with me.

**************************

President Trump said in Davos "The new green deal is a Hoax". Al Gore who was at Davos said years ago the polar ice would be completely melted in 2025 causing world wide flooding.

Under President Trump the average gas price is $2.85 a gallon. The same gallon costs $4.68 USD in Australia or $7.50 AUD.

People are/will be switching from the electric cars to gasoline as they are most economical to drive and cheaper to buy.

Firstly to P1, here we go again.

To Bob, when it comes to you, perhaps so many this song from the 70's sticks in my head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B885n08hOmw

As for Davos? What a frigging laugh to see your idol back peddling and then go onto totally embarrass himself when it came to support from NATO after 9/11 in Afghanistan, a blind fool as always.

Even Australia stood up to defend the US, not under NATO but ANZUS.

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and … s%20later.

Your rhetoric on EV's simply shows your old schools thinking and not keeping up with the times, dinosaurs are extinct. Perhaps became part of your fossil fuel?

A lesson for you Bob. A BYD 6 mid sized SUV. PHEV. Cost just P1.55M and is the equivalent size and cost of your drill baby drill set of wheels. Guess what? 7/8 months with that BYD we have put P2,000 into the tank for a trip to Manila/return 6 hours drive each way, still 23% of gas in the tank, the rest has come from the sun that shines 12 hours a day and plugged into our system as required, no different to running the 5 to 7 A/C units to cool our home everyday and run our daily needs, our electricity bill is 5.6 Pesos per month for the meter connection. Who the "F" needs fossil fuels? Even if you plug into the grid it will be roughly half the cost of old school thinking. Your fuel costs in Australia nor the Philippines

Perhaps your Bill gates and Al Gore have fingers in other pies like your illustrious leader?

Ice caps melting and sea levels rising is a reality, go talk to those that have lost their homes/Islands and Bob whether man made or cyclic, copious amounts of CO2 and Methane emissions are not helping.

Sorry but I will stick with the sun, I have stood under wind turbines on the beach up in Pagadpud and never heard any noise nor saw dead birds under them, perhaps your so wonderful leader could get boots on the ground before canning things he can't make money out of.

As always OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

President Trump said in Davos "The new green deal is a Hoax". Al Gore who was at Davos said years ago the polar ice would be completely melted in 2025 causing world wide flooding. - @Enzyte Bob

I had to google the Gore quote, and found it to be true and false.

'True and false'  are down to who is making money on the outcome with very few actually bothering with non-financial gain reality.

The US is pushing oil because its economy is built on it, just as the Chinese are pushing renewables because the sector is an amazing business opportunity.

Reality says EVs are still too expensive, but also that battery tech will very probably get cheaper.

Reality also show us that clean air is rather more pleasant than sniffing a lorry's exhaust or living near a power station.

Then we take away noise to get something that's desirable.

I run a Chinese electric bicycle. It costs pretty much nothing to run and is silent. There are no servicing charges because they is nothing to service.

I also run a minibus - That's quiet but costs around 1 liter of fuel every 10 km and needs regular servicing.

If I'm alone, the Chinese bike keys come off the hook and the Luxio keys stay where they are.

This is where the cliimate change side get things wrong - they talk about sea levels and all that stuff, but they never tell you how much cash you will save.

Edit - I rather enjoyed the YouTube link - Thanks.

Edit (2) - I'm now on Breakfast in America

bigpearl said . . . . Dan, Drill baby Drill, Climate change is a hoax, Affordability is a hoax, Shoot anyone that disagrees with me.
**************************
President Trump said in Davos "The new green deal is a Hoax". Al Gore who was at Davos said years ago the polar ice would be completely melted in 2025 causing world wide flooding.

Under President Trump the average gas price is $2.85 a gallon. The same gallon costs $4.68 USD in Australia or $7.50 AUD.

People are/will be switching from the electric cars to gasoline as they are most economical to drive and cheaper to buy. - @Enzyte Bob

Can somebody please explain to me why Americans call a liquid gas, I have always wondered why.

EV sales are down in the US due to the lack of subsidies and the cheap gas.

When gas dips below $2 a gallon there will be no market for EV's. When  buying an EV most don't factor in the replacement cost of the batteries or replacement cost after a collision.

Gas cars are good for 300K miles or more, EV's will be crushed in the salvage yards with far fewer miles when the owners realize what the replacement battery cost is.

cherryann01 asked . . . Can somebody please explain to me why Americans call a liquid gas, I have always wondered why.

*******************

(1) Gas . . . . is short for Gasoline a liquid.

(2) LPG is short for Liquified Petroleum Gas

cherryann01 asked . . . Can somebody please explain to me why Americans call a liquid gas, I have always wondered why.
*******************
(1) Gas . . . . is short for Gasoline a liquid.
(2) LPG is short for Liquified Petroleum Gas - @Enzyte Bob

Thank you Bob but what comes out of the pump at the petrol station is in liquid form then so I was just wondering when referring to what you put in your car, why gas. It was at one point yes but not at the pumps.

I seem to remember Mr T took delivery of an electric vehicle from his ex buddy Elon before they fell out.

I drive a gas powered (Sorry CA , petrol) car in the UK . I'm fortunate to have a garage integrated in my house even though Georgian Bath was built for horse and carriage which Mr T enjoyed on his recent state visit to see the King. So I could charge cheaply using my house electric.

I'm all for electric cars in principle but at least in the UK they are about a third more expensive than petrol and they do depreciate in value more than a conventional ICE. The battery pack is effectively half the cost of the vehicle along with complicated electrics if things go wrong. Our beloved socialist chancellor (Rachel from Accounts lol) has put a mileage levy on all electric cars in her last Budget which will kick in in 2028. The start of road pricing?

I'm currently in Jakarta and noticed for the first time electric bikes which Fred above alluded to. These will make a big difference to the air quality in the city in years to come given the sheer number of ICE powered scooters.

Its ironic though that technology has come full circle. The first cars on the road in the early 20th century were indeed electric.

Lotus Eater said   . . . .I seem to remember Mr T took delivery of an electric vehicle from his ex buddy Elon before they fell out.

************************

Elon is quite the visionary, he sent a Big Beautiful 2010 EV Roadster into space. It has exceeded its 36,000 warranty a 100,000 times now. It is expected to last millions of years.

Elons Big Beautiful Gift seems puny compared to Qatar who gave Trump a Big Beautiful Boeing 747. Quid Pro Quo in action. . . . by executive order Trump vowed to defend Big Beautiful Qatar against attack.