Drum: More echos of 1989.

Dunno how well the "pivot" is going though.

Foreign Policy:

China hopes to project a squeaky-clean image while international attention centers on APEC’s host. But that’s not the only reason why the Putin-Peng Coatgate has China’s censors on high alert. China’s tightly controlled state media carefully protects the reputation of its top government leaders, and the names of China’s top leaders are frequently some of the most heavily censored terms on Chinese social media. In addition, the sweeping anti-corruption campaign Xi himself directs specifically targets infidelity as both a sign and a symptom of graft. And given China’s growing economic and military ties with Russia, even the hint of less than squeaky-clean behavior involving Russia’s president and China’s First Lady is certainly strictly verboten.

Whoops!

;-)

Being a debtor in one's own currency isn't a huge problem. China needs to buy dollars to keep its currency weak. They know they would be in a world of hurt if the Yuan rose to too high a level. FT.

We'll see what happens. And keep our fingers crossed...

Cheers,
Scott.

Post #397,200 by Another Scott 12/16/14 2:43:15 PM Reply	Drum: More echos of 1989. http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/12/it-may-not-be-1989-russia-it-sure-looks-close-cousin Hmm... Cheers, Scott.
Post #397,201 by mmoffitt 12/16/14 3:14:36 PM Reply	I wouldn't cheer to gleefully for another collapse. One thing Putin can do, and has already begun to do, is pivot East. No doubt about it, he and Russia are in a very bad way (just imagine the World of Shit we would be in if there was a call on our debt! We're the world's leading debtor and have been for decades). But there is this straw Putin has that was not available in 1989: http://thediplomat.com/2014/08/why-chinas-love-for-putin-is-dangerous/
Post #397,210 by Another Scott 12/16/14 9:31:52 PM Reply	Interesting. Dunno how well the "pivot" is going though. Foreign Policy: China hopes to project a squeaky-clean image while international attention centers on APEC’s host. But that’s not the only reason why the Putin-Peng Coatgate has China’s censors on high alert. China’s tightly controlled state media carefully protects the reputation of its top government leaders, and the names of China’s top leaders are frequently some of the most heavily censored terms on Chinese social media. In addition, the sweeping anti-corruption campaign Xi himself directs specifically targets infidelity as both a sign and a symptom of graft. And given China’s growing economic and military ties with Russia, even the hint of less than squeaky-clean behavior involving Russia’s president and China’s First Lady is certainly strictly verboten. Whoops! ;-) Being a debtor in one's own currency isn't a huge problem. China needs to buy dollars to keep its currency weak. They know they would be in a world of hurt if the Yuan rose to too high a level. FT. We'll see what happens. And keep our fingers crossed... Cheers, Scott.

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