I think you're exaggerating the PR issue. This was never going to be theater in which we could play to our strengths, because of US grip over global media. Vietnam could launch a full-scale invasion of the Paracels tomorrow, and the US media would still somehow be spinning it as "Chinese elbowing". Anyway, it's not true that we've been completely and successfully smeared and libeled by the US as an aggressive bully. The reality is most of the world doesn't know about this dispute and doesn't care. It certainly doesn't attract as much attention as ISIS or Ukraine. Also, our image in Asia remains pretty upbeat:
How Asians Rate China, India, Pakistan, Japan and the U.S. | Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project
Among most SEA states (Thailand/Malaysia/Indonesia), we remain broadly liked.
Overall, you seem very critical of China's self-restraint. It's true we haven't be properly rewarded for it, thanks to US propaganda and "chess" manoeuvres. But don't forget that
life is not a PR battle. When Japan invaded us, the world was overwhelmingly sympathetic, yet it didn't do us much good, and it didn't hinder Japan on the ground either. Unlike VN/PH, we have a strategic interest in demonstrating restraint because we continue to benefit and grow the most during peacetime, thereby exponentially enlarging our gap with regional rivals, and closing the gap with the US.
No I'm not being critical of any "self-restraint." I don't even know what actions would be best for China in that situation. But common sense says that if you were being "self-restraint", then you should be winning the PR war. If your are not winning the PR war, then you should go all out and be controlling everything. Yet, China is losing the PR war and and is hardly controlling anything compared to the other guys.
I'll give you credit for successfully bullying the Philippines in the Scarborough shoals. But the Philippines is weak, and Ah Q is known for bullying the weak.
But you haven't gained anything from Viet Nam since 2009. You've planted the oil rig just a few miles from the paracels (and hundreds of miles from the coast of VN) yet then withdrew earlier than declared. Was it because there were tougher resistance from VN and a diplomatic objection from the US? I don't know but that incident achieved nothing.
Also, his idea of a "brilliant" chess move seems off to me. China's AIIB manoeuvre was a brilliant chess move: even China's enemies acknowledged (and cried) about it. In contrast, the many US responses: screaming at the UK for "accommodating" China, landing fighter jets in Taiwan (is China supposed to be intimated?), banning Intel from selling chips to China, and now these impotent warnings all strike me as the geopolitical equivalent of throwing the chess board on the floor in frustration.
Read my posts again. When did I ever mentioned "brilliant"??? Why did you even emphasize it by putting quotation marks around it when I didn't even mention that word at all?
That is called a strawman argument. And an Ah Q spiritual victory is in fact a "strawman" victory. You build something up out of thin air and declare it a victory.
Before 2009, China was on good terms with everyone, including a close relationship with the Philippines and the US was nowhere in sight. Now VN is welcoming back the US and the Philippines is filing a lawsuit against you with full support from the US and you still can't accept that China is losing to the US in the SCS? Instead, you are now talking about something offtopic like the AIIB to rationalize in your head how China is still winning?
If you give VN cheap loans then they will just take it. Why not? Haven't you forgotten about the free money China gave to VN during the war and then later cried about it because VN still rather stick to the Soviet? AIIB will bring you no victory in the SCS other than a "spiritual victory."
This is the exact Ah Q mentality I was talking about.
First of all its you who post the picture and brag how weak China is in SCS and when exposed China dont even looks like an aggressor by your own foolishness, you change topic? So who is real bully? Bully with less possession?
Silly reply. Read my post again. I posted that picture to your guys posts about China taking actions, controlling things,etc.
It seems the vietnamese claiming of victory over China has not draw any criticism or any of your ah Q spirit despite demonstrated of achieving none over China? Are you vietnamese?
No Vietnamese or Filipino has declared any victory other than your compatriots.
Are you ignoring the fact that China has never stop any construction of facilities on their Spratly island despite vietnamese bragging of immediate action against CHina or even American threat of warning? Who is loud whinner and who is the real man who take action? And who is the real Ah Q?
When did Vietnam brag about any immediate action to stop your construction? This is a strawman. And like I said, an Ah Q spiritual victory is a strawman victory. That is why you guys have a habit of always creating a strawman in every debate that I've come across.
And VietNam and the Philippines has been doing construction before China. Even your media has been crying about that hypocrisy.
We are not talking about renegade of Taiwan , are we? In the first place, you claim doubt of my post and even claim ah Q spirit. Have you ever think why US has not sell many advance weapons to ROC for many decades. US can piss off China by selling many advance weapons to ROC but they are not doing it. Becos the China spies ring in ROC is real and very extensive and I am not BullSh*ting. Most weapon in ROC hands will end up know by PRC. My link proves that.
Then shouldn't China be encouraging the US to sell Taiwan more weapons? LOL But China have always protested everytime the US wants to sell something. But don't worry, you can keep indulging in your Ah Q spiritual victory.
It's no fun debating with you guys. Too many holes in your argument.