Tony Blair on 60 Years of CCP Rule in China

Oh, such a polished bit of mostly fluff from former UK PM Blair, himself in many ways a polished bit of mostly fluff. Get an eyeful of this:

Our obligation is to treat China as a partner as we determine together the way the world will work in the future. If we treat China as our equal, China can be our economic, political and cultural ally.

O RLY? I frankly don't see that we are OBLIGATED to do any such thing, as though nations that actually care about human rights and freedom can deal as full equals with nations who blatantly don't. And I wonder what Mr. Blair is smoking these days if he really thinks China can actually be "our economic, political and cultural ally." We can't even get Beijing to support sanctions of even worse nations like Iran. Beijing isn't constrained by the same namby-pamby self-imposed chains of multicultural guilt that the free West has. No, Beijing's busy looking out for itself and its own interests, and it couldn't give a flying dumpling what anybody else thinks.

Ally? Frenemy's more like it.

Or, even better, THIS:

But increasingly, there is an interest in and reverence for China's ancient civilization as well as its post-1949 transformation. Confucius, the marvels of the Tang dynasty, calligraphy, the beauty of traditional Chinese painting and literature—all of this infuses the speeches, commentary and discourse of contemporary Chinese life. Chinese films, art, fashion and pop music are thriving. There is a new Cultural Revolution taking place in 21st century China, and it is a lot healthier than the old.

Sure, everyone's all over the moon with calligraphy and Confucius and Chinese history, blah blah blah. But that's OLD history we're talking about. More recent history like -- um, let me see, can I think of an example? Think, MM, think! Ooh yes -- THE TIANANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE are still off-limits. I'm sure Fang Zheng can educate you on the matter.

Mr. Blair's piece sounds too much like every other superficial, easily awed "analysis" by pie-eyed Westerners who happily believe whatever shiny propaganda Beijing's spinning for them. Add a dash of "yellow fever," eh?

You want to think about 60 years of the CCP lording it over China? Read this.