POST: Australia to China: Let's Not Be Friends, Pomfret's China
Cool and sophisticated approach. When I've spoken at Chinese universities (Beijing, Tsinghua), I find the blunter the approach, the better the response. The modern definition of friendship cited here, I find, corresponds to the older, Deng-influenced generations, whereas the younger ones prefer more honesty--in the vein of "great powers don't let other great powers drive ideologically drunk".
The give?
The dialogue is presumed to go in both directions, so don't expect to be in transmit mode at all times.
(Thanks: Bill Millan)
Comments (1)
The deep seated sentiments of both the Chinese and Western posters on this website [the one linked above, i think -Ed.] need an intervention. Name calling at it's worst is protrayed here. These posters need to recognize that no nation is perfect and we all have skeletons in the closet on both sides and that new realtionships have to begin somewhere and it begins with US - however you want to take us/U.S. is a win-win.
Posted by Steve Gallison | April 29, 2008 11:45 AM