[dinkumthinkum]

Absolutely, the Japanese did some pretty heinous things. But Japan and South Korea are different in a way none of the responses have dealt with.

China is still behaving badly and a fundamental change in their government looks generations and generations away, if it is even on the horizon.

[luser001]

This is essential watching to understand China better. IMHO. YMMV. I changed a lot of my opinions after watching this talk.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/martin_jacques_understandin...

[Rastafarian]

You've had too much TV propaganda IMHO. China's bureaucrats nowadays have way more respect for their people than South Korea's elite. No idea about Japan.

[dinkumthinkum]

I haven't had too much "TV propaganda." Maybe you haven't spent enough time with actual Chinese people. This is just jibber jabber. I'm sure some are in the audience, do you feel respected by Chinese bureaucrats? Come on. That's not even a serious response; it's like one of those "I'm going to make a provocative point that is counter the mainstream. DOWN WITH TV NOW -- NO BIG BOX RETAIL FOREVER!!" bogus statements.

[Rastafarian]

Well .. yeap, TV in 21 century is for the most stupid part of population - those incapable of any independent thinking and research. Japan and SK being close allies to NATO and China enemy number one or two makes for a natural bias in Western TV coverage. I've spend most of the last 14 years doing business in SK and China, which gives me some confidence to confront the "mainstream" TV propaganda.

Edit: just had this open in the next tab: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanholiday/2012/07/16/what-is-m...