aquascoot wrote on Jun 14^th, 2021 at 7:02pm:

Was just listening to a couple of foreigners who'd lived in China for many years until recently.

When foreigners visit China, they're left with the impression that everything is free, democratic and modern, if they follow the path they're allowed to walk.

But, like these two warned, it looks 'free and democratic' until... It's not.

See, the Chinese regime keeps a close eye on all foreigners as they experience the hidden delights of Chinese society... Many times they break regime rules, but are often ignored, until, out of the blue, they're arrested... And then the book is thrown at them...

Maybe they took too many pictures of forbidden things, asked too many political questions or was reported for disparaging the regime after one too many local brews.

Then they call out for their democratic rights in terms of legal representation and legal due process... But that is when they realise, to their horror, they're in a totalitarian regime where no one has innate rights and the regime determines their crime and metes out the punishment as a matter of course. Evidence in your defence is irrelevant if it contradicts the regime's assessment. 99% of the time the verdict is guilty and the penalty starts at 6 months to life.

The local Chinese know better than to fall into the obvious regime traps, but they get caught up as well. Like the blogger, Qiu Ziming, who questioned whether only 4 Chinese soldiers died in the conflict with India. He was arrested for 'Spreading rumours and defaming the martyrs', convicted and sentenced to 8 months to 3 years imprisonment. Qiu was ordered to make a public apology on all major media platforms including television platforms.

aquascoot wrote on Jun 14^th, 2021 at 7:02pm:
The servants in the background of that picture dont look too happy, maybe its the 10 cents an hour they are earning.  Rich people in  every country mate, every 3rd world sh1thole has rich people.

Belgarion wrote on Jun 14^th, 2021 at 7:33pm:

Yes... 'free and democratic' is the regime's veneer for the foreign useful idiots, until it's time to reel them in.

north bemoans the authoritarian nature of president Xi.

imagine this north.

you are the dad running your duaghters 21st birthday party and things get out of hand.

do you take a keen interest in the legal rights of every little hoodlum gatecrasher?

nup, you just wade in and knock a few heads together.

so even at the level of 100 people, you have to be authoritarian.

now imagine , you are put in charge of a crowd of 100,000 to run a footy grand final.

and the crowd are creating a disturbance.

its straight in there with security and off to the carpark with the offendors, no questions asked.

because you havent got time to listen to each little sob story.

youve go a grandfinal to run.

now imagine XI.

the dude bounces out of bed and he has to create a coherent nation with 1.4 billion people.

think about that.

how would you sleep if your daughter organised a party on facebook and you were told
"its on you north to create an orderly party and , by the way, 1.4 billion people will be attending'

you would poop your pants.

i dont know how XI copes with that awesome responsibility.

to create an orderly , functional society with THAY MANY PEOPLE to take care of.

man, i cant hardly look after 200 cows.

XI has 1.4 billion diverse humans getting up to god knows what (way way way more stressful and mischievious then cows).

i gotta take my hat off to him.

has any man ever been handed such a burden.

he is a superman if he can keep his shiit together .
Xi, i salute you

rhino wrote on Jun 14^th, 2021 at 7:34pm:



Clearly a staged propaganda shot.... see the false smiles on the faces of the 'rich women'... but yes, the supine subservience and unwillingness to meet the eye of the 'servitors' speaks volumes...

This picture is so silly it could have come from a 1930's Hollywood epic set in China...

"Ah Numbah One Son.. Charie Chan know secret.... way to Fu Manchu hideout clear to cunning Chinee detective!!  Ha-ha... you follow - I show!"

Well Im convinced then. Im reporting for re education tomorrow.

NorthOfNorth wrote on Jun 14^th, 2021 at 9:39pm:
And my family pays for the bullets if I fail.

Frank wrote on Jun 14^th, 2021 at 9:47pm:

Orwell could have made something of that!