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It really sounds like the fascist/autocratic states in Asia (Russia/China) with its economy failing, is slowly resorting to territorial aggression against neigh

It really sounds like the fascist/autocratic states in Asia (Russia/China) with its economy failing, is slowly resorting to territorial aggression against neighboring countries in order to claim more resources. With Russia bumping against all of europe, and China bumping against Japan/Korea/Taiwan/Vietnam/Malaysia/Indonesia/Phillipines, this is boding ill for global stability.

qiqing 11y ago
Why is it moral for the U.S. and U.K. to build bases on random little islands in Asia, but not China and other Asian countries? Edit: Clarification, since so many of the smaller uninhabited islands have been claimed by the UK, US, and other Western nations, how is it wrong to build some uninhabited islands of your own?
- noir_lord 11y ago
  Because in recent times building a base isn't used to justify ownership of all the surrounding sea's (and where that is done it's because we/they previously owned that island, like the Falklands). Creating an island out of thin air and then claiming the territory around it is 1 step short of Sealand. That said no we aren't perfect and we did stuff like this as well but two wrongs in this case don't make a right, this is nothing but a very destabilising move.
  - tellthetruth 11y ago
    Yeah we aren't perfect. But after we did it no one else should (except our allies) and we are gonna keep it.
    - noir_lord 11y ago
      In fairness how far back do we apply this, should the Italians be censored for what the Romans did in the North of England, or the Mongols for what they did to most of Europe or the Spanish for what they did in South America or what we (the British) did to...well basically everybody. If you hold that no past behaviour is considered expired then pretty much every country on the planet or the people who live there before it was that country is responsible for something. African tribes have warred for millenia, European tribes have warred for millenia, South America, Middle East, Far East pretty much everyone has at some point beaten up their neighbours and not so near neighbours.
    - qiqing 11y ago
      Yeah, we could at least give Guam residents the right to vote. Them not having that right has a lot to do with racist legislators in a previous era feeling like votes by "alien races" (e.g., Asians) would be detrimental.
  - qiqing 11y ago
    That actually seems like a pretty good strategy, TBH. Not saying this in an inflammatory way, as this seems applicable to a lot of other areas. Execute massive land grab first to get strategic high ground, and then bitflip your previous moves to be wrong for anyone else to do. That makes sure that anyone else trying to catch up to you is unable to do so. Boom. Barriers to entry. Done.
    - noir_lord 11y ago
      The British empire built itself on the backs of foreigners (everything up to and including slavery) and in many way shaped the world the way it is now. However the world has moved on, that it moved on at a time when the West was dominant (for now) wasn't planned it was just how it was.
      - cheapsteak 11y ago
        > the world has moved on If your definition of "the world" excludes the words largest country by territory and the largest country by population. It would seem more fitting to instead say "the West has moved on".
- toolsadmin 11y ago
  Because supposed western superiority which can never be reached by red bears in ushankas or pandas with bamboo sticks. Except when its Larry and Sergei/etc..., but thats different because those are visionaries fleeing repressive regimes ^^. Nevermind that Bush and Clinton dynasties, amongst the others are ruling the US, and have killed millions (Bush in Iraq) with no mandate from the UN. Read "House of Bush, house of Saud" for details. Put in google images "Grozny, Chechnya or Tibet" and see new modern cities. Now put "Baghdad, Iraq or Kabul, Afganistan". See the difference? Vast majority of burgers can't.
- tellthetruth 11y ago
  I wonder how they got those little islands everywhere.
- mabbo 11y ago
  Building bases is one thing- claiming territory and the right to block others from entering it is another entirely.

qiqing 11y ago

Why is it moral for the U.S. and U.K. to build bases on random little islands in Asia, but not China and other Asian countries? Edit: Clarification, since so many of the smaller uninhabited islands have been claimed by the UK, US, and other Western nations, how is it wrong to build some uninhabited islands of your own?

noir_lord 11y ago
Because in recent times building a base isn't used to justify ownership of all the surrounding sea's (and where that is done it's because we/they previously owned that island, like the Falklands). Creating an island out of thin air and then claiming the territory around it is 1 step short of Sealand. That said no we aren't perfect and we did stuff like this as well but two wrongs in this case don't make a right, this is nothing but a very destabilising move.
- tellthetruth 11y ago
  Yeah we aren't perfect. But after we did it no one else should (except our allies) and we are gonna keep it.
  - noir_lord 11y ago
    In fairness how far back do we apply this, should the Italians be censored for what the Romans did in the North of England, or the Mongols for what they did to most of Europe or the Spanish for what they did in South America or what we (the British) did to...well basically everybody. If you hold that no past behaviour is considered expired then pretty much every country on the planet or the people who live there before it was that country is responsible for something. African tribes have warred for millenia, European tribes have warred for millenia, South America, Middle East, Far East pretty much everyone has at some point beaten up their neighbours and not so near neighbours.
  - qiqing 11y ago
    Yeah, we could at least give Guam residents the right to vote. Them not having that right has a lot to do with racist legislators in a previous era feeling like votes by "alien races" (e.g., Asians) would be detrimental.
- qiqing 11y ago
  That actually seems like a pretty good strategy, TBH. Not saying this in an inflammatory way, as this seems applicable to a lot of other areas. Execute massive land grab first to get strategic high ground, and then bitflip your previous moves to be wrong for anyone else to do. That makes sure that anyone else trying to catch up to you is unable to do so. Boom. Barriers to entry. Done.
  - noir_lord 11y ago
    The British empire built itself on the backs of foreigners (everything up to and including slavery) and in many way shaped the world the way it is now. However the world has moved on, that it moved on at a time when the West was dominant (for now) wasn't planned it was just how it was.
    - cheapsteak 11y ago
      > the world has moved on If your definition of "the world" excludes the words largest country by territory and the largest country by population. It would seem more fitting to instead say "the West has moved on".
toolsadmin 11y ago
Because supposed western superiority which can never be reached by red bears in ushankas or pandas with bamboo sticks. Except when its Larry and Sergei/etc..., but thats different because those are visionaries fleeing repressive regimes ^^. Nevermind that Bush and Clinton dynasties, amongst the others are ruling the US, and have killed millions (Bush in Iraq) with no mandate from the UN. Read "House of Bush, house of Saud" for details. Put in google images "Grozny, Chechnya or Tibet" and see new modern cities. Now put "Baghdad, Iraq or Kabul, Afganistan". See the difference? Vast majority of burgers can't.
tellthetruth 11y ago
I wonder how they got those little islands everywhere.
mabbo 11y ago
Building bases is one thing- claiming territory and the right to block others from entering it is another entirely.