I do not have a single sourse of information. I have had an interest in China since I was stationed there in the early 50’s.
For a Hong Kong Point of view I tend to rely on the South China morning post. This is a long established news outlet based in Hong Kong, which was bought by the owner of Alibaba as a means of showing China in a favourable light to the business world. He has turned it into a fast growing digital news outlet. That covers all areas of interest in China and the far East. It avoids direct Criticism of the Chinese Authorities but is never the less banned from publishing in mainland China. To balance this I also read stories emanating from Bloomberg who seems to follow the State department (republican) line in the USA. And various Murdoch publications that generally give a rightwing personalised point of view on everything, but largely led by his own self interest and power base. I do not read any official Chinese news sources.
These Sources give me a reasonable route to navigate through, and give very distinct points of view on both sides of most news stories. I generally make the assumption where the stories coincide in detail, it is likely to be factual. Were opinions differ it is likely to show normal bias, and where they are in denial they are likely to be covering up propaganda or lies.
I am happy that I am now able to understand most of what is going on and am able to distinguish what is what….
Ok..Thanks
I think your reply gives some of the relevant facts but not the whole picture. nor interpret them very well.
China has never been a western democracy. It has always been run by an absolute leader under a very powerful civil services.
This was true under the Emperors, Chairman Mao and now again under president Xi.
Communism has been something of an aberration and has lasted a very short period in a Chinese history. What we have now is a Hybrid Commerce, technological, and capatalist led “communist” system, that is communist in the sense, and in a similar way that Europe and the UK are largely run as a socialist form of capitalism. And quite unlike America which has an individualistic form of capitalism.
The difference is similar to the hive mentality of Bees and Ants. Where everything is done for the benefit of the colony as a whole. Where as The USA live more the solitary life of a Leopard who sinks or swims on his own efforts alone, and has no sense of working for the common good. And who competes with, rather than cooperates with his fellows.
Ji Jinping has risen by ability from a rural background. There is no doubt at all that he is an extremely able leader. He has completely changed the technical industrial and commercial fortune of China. He has modernised the entire infrastructure and manufacturing capacity of china in to a world leading power, in an astonishingly short period. Education research and development and scientific achievement are now high priority prime targets for further development.
The Road and Belt initiative is nothing to do with the debt enslavement of poor developing countries. It is about the building of infrastructure trading routes ports and Air routes. So as to enable trade between them and China and the rest of the world.
They like China were held back from the modern world, largely by the lack of such infrastructure.
Since the demise of the British empire the West has neglect both its own and the infrastructure of the developing countries. (The USA to the extent that much of its own infrastructure is close to collapse, in some cases literally)
The western world fears the Belt and Road initiative, because it fears it gives a trade advantage to China. And will position developing countries in the Chinese camp.
This is of course a very short sighted view. As were the west able to take advantage of it, the new infrastructure is open just as much for their own trade… However they have little to offer in trade these days, and are only interested in obtaining raw materials at low prices.
Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, China has become a leading power in virtually every field of endeavour. However the vast majority of China is yet to be developed. Its potential dwarfs it present achievements. In the light of these achievement Xi has been appointed President for life.
Which from a Chinese point of view is a natural development and reward, in the expectation of future Growth and wealth for the rest of China and its future.
I will cover the rest of your post later………… But I will probably combine many of your points as they follow a theme.