[Detrytus]

That's interesting, because recently China is definitely trying to paint themselves as the reasonable, stable partner, commited to upholding international law (unlike the US, which is ruled by a madman) . Trying to block this aquisition without good legal argument goes directly against that strategy.

[strangegecko]

They're doing a lot that goes against that strategy, you just don't see it in the headlines except in cases such as these or when you dig into how they conduct international negotiations or business deals involving the Chinese market.

Not to mention how they are openly expansionist in the SCS and obviously wrt Taiwan.

Of course they want to be seen as reasonable, their ideal is to control the international narrative just how they can do it internally in China.

[RobertoG]

So, who would you say that spend more resources 'controlling the international narrative', the USA or China?

[strangegecko]

I have no idea and for me it's not the central question.

I don't like it from any party, but from a moral standpoint, the more authoritarian someone is about their propaganda, the more invasive and violent it feels to me.

I perceive what the CCP is doing as denying my (and other people's) humanity and individual rights. I simply cannot accept a government that imprisons artists and human rights activists. A world where art is crime is not one I find worth living in.

I perceive American propaganda in the same category as advertising, harmful and annoying, but they won't lock me up or threaten my safety if I speak up against the propaganda. Well, at least that's how it used to be, who knows with the current trajectory.

[nikkwong]

China at least does it covertly. The US president broadcasts his madman narrative on Twitter for everyone to see.

[strangegecko]

Personally, I prefer the US approach. At least then everyone knows what they're dealing with and they can openly react instead of being forced into a fake dance between what is said and what is REALLY said.

The covert stuff gives some degree of plausible deniability and it causes a good amount of the population to be complacent and ignore reality. I don't see how this can be considered good for anyone but the people creating propaganda.

[burnerRhodov2]

The United States is appearing "More Stable" on the international stage with recent events. Normal people might see it as ruled by a "madman", but on the international stage they know what it is... Projecting dominance and forcing the will of America. People seem to forget Iran murdered thousands of innocent civilians with automatic weapons being fired into crowds... and then you call our president a "madman" for destroying their ability to build nuclear weapons?

[amanaplanacanal]

I dunno, he claimed to have already done that a few months ago. I don't have any confidence at all that this is his real motivation.

[burnerRhodov2]

that was before they started using automatic weapons against their own populace and taking down the internet. After that, they needed a double tap.

[refurb]

Ask Vietnam, Philippines and other SE Asian country if they feel China is adhering to “international norms” when it comes to the 9 dash line.