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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Impact of Corean Unification
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:52:38 PM)
t's been over a decade since the Iron Curtain came crashing down in Europe. The Bamboo Curtain is little more than a quaint phrase. Yet the Cold War remains very much alive on the Corean peninsula.
Across a 186-mile DMZ glare opposing armies collectively totaling 1.7 million. By all reckoning the Pyongyang regime should have become ideological roadkill following the collapse of communism. Instead, it remains an impregnable roadblock to the economic integration of East Asia, the world's fastest-growing region.
How can an economic nonentity be such a roadblock?
Consider its location at what should have been the crossroads of East Asia. With 56% of the peninsula's land mass, North Corea separates on one side the world's greatest market and labor pool (China) and the biggest reserve of natural resources (Sibera) from, on the other, two of the world's leading technological and manufacturing nations (Japan and South Corea).
But for Pyongyang's intransigence Seoul would already be linked by railroads and superhighways to Beijing, Moscow, Berlin, Paris and London. All those cities would also be linked to Tokyo via a bridge across the 126-mile strait dividing Shimonoseki from Pusan. The savings in shipping cost and time alone could amount to tens of billions of dollars a year. Such a trans-Eurasian land link would accelerate the cultural and economic integration of not only East Asia, but the world. In the process, the Corean peninsula would shed the burden of financing the world's most heavily fortified frontier and become the center of the global economy.
That's the vision dancing before the eyes of farsighted statesmen and business leaders pushing for the political leaps of faith needed to keep Pyongyang taking its unsteady baby steps toward opening North Corea.
But skeptics and pessimists abound. Even a loose confederation with the North would only burden and destabilize South Corea's economy and political system, they argue. For decades to come the impact on the global economy would be entirely negative as investors and customers begin shunning the uncertainties, denying capital and trading partners to hundreds of world-class Corean manufacturers. The ultimate result, argue the naysayers, would be to throw a monkey wrench into an alignment that has allowed three decades of strong growth for East Asia.
What is the likely impact of Corean unification?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
AC, you said,
"And since when did China acknowledge the independence of Tibet Province. They recognized the sucession of Out Mongolia and Siberia. But never Tibet. Get your history straight."
There was a famous Real Estate tycoon who once said that he didn't want EVERY land in the world, he just wanted the land that was next to his.
If you would pour into your very own Chinese history textbooks, you will also find that the region of Jilin and other parts of NE China was NEVER Chinese territory--hence it was OUTSIDE the Great Wall of China. In fact a great chunk of present day Manchuria used to belong to the Korean kingdom of Koguryo, which would of course dissapear in time. So if we keep on digging history books, maybe Korean people should demand the return of Jilin to Korea, where there are countless numbers of ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE, INCLUDING King Kwangeto's stone proclaiming his rule of that land.
But I'm not a hypocritical fascist like you, and I have no desire to see Koreans cross the tumen river and "retake" what was "rightfully" our territory.
If you keep on digging history further you will also find that the Mongols once conquered half the world, so I guess Ghengis Khan's conquest is justification for Mongolia to dominate the world. Just as such, Tibet wasn't always under Chinese influence, and certainly THIS IS A FACT NOT FICTION FOLKS: Tibetans had/have their own language, customs, religion, literature that was clearly not ethnic Han Chinese. More importantly, you guys never act in Tibetan's best interest.
If China's "claim" on a piece of land is justification enough to enforce a colonization policy which is very much identical to Japanese colonization policy which banned Korean language, writing, and enforced the Japanization of Korean names, then hell, European domination of China in the early 20th century is wholy justified by European "claims" on Chinese territory. And very much like Hirohito's policy, the PRC government suppressed Tibetan religion, and suppresses the population growh of Tibetan people. But when Japan tries to do this to China, Japan is a big bad bully, but when China does this to Tibet, China is "standing up to the evil white man." You know what? All those Japanese old geezers who used to rape Chinese women in Nanjing are saying that same crap YOU are. "I raped Chinese women for the Emperor, because he wanted Asians to stand up for the evil white men."
And as for your comparison of Mexican illegal immigrants in US to NK refugees in China, don't make me laugh. First, when was I ever mute? This is the first time you are bringing up the issue of US immigration policy that I have ever seen. Secondly, every time I have talked about NK refugees you have indeed stayed quiet. But the comparison is so far off the mark, it's not even funny. If you are a citizen of Mexico, as oppose to being a serf in NK, you have right to travel. If you live in a farm land, you can choose to go to Mexico City if you wanted to. NK do not have this same right. A North KOrean cannot simply say, "I want to see Pyong Yang." If he travels to Pyong Yang without papers, there is a chance he would be sent to a political gulag. There is no famine in Mexico. Also there are sources of news other than government owned media in Mexico. Are there concentration camps in Mexico like NK? I think NOT. BUT that's not even counting the number of Mexican Americans here and the numbers of Mexican IMMIGRANTS(not REFUGEES) who are given rights to live here. (as oppose to PRC who won't even send them to SK so they don't get EXECUTED along with ALL their family members.)
Certainly there are MANY MANY points that I disapprove of our president. Oh and let me tell you, the chances are that I have more points of disapproval of him than you do. But the difference between you and me lies in that your disapproval of him stems from imaginary Illuminati conspiracy theories, while mine lies after thinking about actual outcomes of policy initiatives.
To be honest, I haven't even really talked to much about what I want Bush to do or not do, because all this time, I spent writing about all the stupid comments I've been seeing here.
ka
Friday, January 17, 2003 at 13:18:00 (PST)
[168.103.180.35]
I Ching, your postings always give me a hearty laugh. I really love it. I also want to congratulate you on increasing your source of world information from 1 to 2--it seems that you now read businessweek AND the people's daily.
I know you just *love* to play arm-chair general. Everything you write is blatantly fascist. So if anyone else speaks out against China's treatment of NK refugees, I take it that they are still in the mindset of "cold-war" warrior. Of course, I forget that you are the same guy who still thinks that a million or two Chinese deaths under Mao is an insignificant blip on the course of the "grand" chinese history. I can only assume none of your loved ones died or suffered under Mao.
I love your crystal-ball gazing. Have you thought about buying stocks? Please do share your investment advice, so I can go short on everything you go long on.
First I never claimed America had Korea's best interest in mind. But tell me I Ching, do you think China has Korea's best interest? I think not. Your hero, the leftie Roh has been busily going around meeting up with American forces claiming that Korea still needs US forces stationed in Korea, that majority of S Korean population still have positive impression of US for it's role in the KOrean war, and also this is a big kicker, he has been dissuading SK students from holding candle light vigil for the two girls who were killed in an accident. I think it was less than 2 weeks ago, I posted on this forum that although Roh, just like Kim Dae Jung, said many leftist radical things in the past, he will become moderate when he holds power. The difference between you and me I CHing, is that I look at my crystal ball for the nearer future, while you look out in the magnitude of a 10,000 years. Like what Keynes once said, in the long run, we are all dead, my friend.
You talk about the grand sweeping changes in the NE Asia and my lack of comprehending it. So please please please do tell me how NK has changed. I would love your wise insight on this. Oh, does Kim Jong Il send less political prisoners to gulags then before? Is China allowing NK refugees to go to SK? wow. I want to know about these grand sweeping changes.
In the long run, despite the fact that there are fascists in China like you, China and Korea are indeed destined to become great partners. But I'm not interested in "that" day, I'm interested in TODAY. Today, on January 17th, 2003, Chinese policemen with fascist ideology like YOU are rounding up NK men, women, children, beat them and drag them to die by Kim Jong Il. Chinese leaders is patting Kim Jong Il on the back TODAY, and is giving their approval for his rule. One day Korean people will forgive Chinese people. You think Korean people are blind and for some stupid reason will "defend" China against US, because we both adhere to Confucianism(confucianism which you Chinese have abandoned as being counter-revolutionary to maoist communism). Korean people remember those who treat them well, and Korean people remember those who treat them poorly. In 2003, Korean people still harbor ill wil towards teh Japanese, and despite what you say, the majority of Korean people still support US. And in 2003, let me tell you, a lot of Korean people still remember how the Chinese troops crossed the Tumen river on a winter day, to ensure the survival of Kim Il Sung's dictatorship.
I live today. Indeed when the Chinese start to send NK refugees to Seoul, then I will admit my error. But in 2003, China remains an accomplice to the NK holocaust.
In order for a confederation of the sort in which you envision where China encompasses all of east asia, China must behave in a way that it wins the sympathies of all of east asia. You think just because you look like us, eat with chopsticks, and read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, we will support you even when we see clearly with our own eyes how you are raping NK women--what can I say? If you seriously believe this, you must live underneath a rock.
There is a common humorous saying in Korea. "Do not be friends with anyone who read Sun Tzu's Art of War three times." I Ching, it's not good for your human neighbor for you to play arm-chair general like this. I suggest for the sake of your own countrymen, you should rejoin the human community.
ka
Friday, January 17, 2003 at 12:43:18 (PST)
[168.103.180.35]
ka,
If you want to let all NK refugees goto SK. Why not open up the 38th parallel instead on having them go through China and storming embassy buildings. It would be a lot quicker if you just open up the 38th parallel for the NK refugee to walk right across. You know and I know the SK people don't want all the NK refugees to walk across. So spare me the crocodile tears.
"Do you want US to give logistical support for the PRC invasion of Taiwan? "
If that is what it takes for USA to stand behind the States Department "One China Policy," sure. Taiwan has become more of a liability to the overall stability of asia in recent years. Don't you read the news. I would much rather have the USA use its "One China Policy" to stabilize the region. Instead wishing washing behind it to serve it own interest to make a quick buck off sell out dated arms to Taiwan.
"Do you want US to stay out of Afghanistan and instead ask the PRC to march into Afghanistan and bomb every al-qaeda infested cave on behalf of US?"
In some reguard USA has not suceed very well in rooting out al-qaeda in Afghanistan. Do I think China would do a better job? Perhaps in some aspects I think China currently has better control over their central government than we do ours.
"Treat me well and I'll call you friend, and treat me poorly and I'll call you my enemy."
Craps look to the USA who has raped and kill your sisters right in front of your eyes. Half breed white/korean adoptees sent to god knows where cause their parents don't want them. Jeez are you color blind. So White is always right?
"Beijing wants them to die."
China is probably the only country left giving aid to NK. This way it won't get flooded with NK refugees. The USA wants NK people to die. Those aren't rubber bullets those 37,000 US soldiers have in their guns.
"ignorant children "
And who are we to blame for our ignorance. The older generation of course. It is the older generation responsibility to teach us. So ignorant children can only come from ignorant adults.
Also Democracy doesn't care if you're ignorant, it only cares about the masses. So if you have an ignorant masses you have an ignorant Democracy. That is why China doesn't want democracy now. It learned from the cultural revolution what the ignorant masses will do when they have power. SK unfortunately doesn't have that experience yet. But soon it might.
I Ching right. The tide of change is coming to asia. Deal with it. The old idealogy of red, white, and blue are over in asia. It is all about how to partner with China, if you want stability in Asia.
AC Dropout
Friday, January 17, 2003 at 10:48:17 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
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