General Liu Yuan : calling Chinese consciousness isn't war mongering

General Liu Yuan, an alleged war monger, is the latest front page sensation. As usual western media whipped up a storm over the slightest hint of China's nationalist assertiveness. While I am no China expert, I understand where General Liu is coming from if you have read Chinese history. From the little that I have gathered from more balance and objective sources on the internet, here's the real story.

The origins of a militarist China apparently came from preface Liu Yuan wrote for the launch of a controversial compilation of social and political articles compiled in a book edited Liu's friend Zhang Musheng published more than 3 years ago. The book has been languishing in cold storage as this sort of debates are unpopular among Chinese people who are more interested in pursuing means to improve their material well-being such as giving their children a good education and buying the next electrical appliance for the house if they already own one.

Surprisingly, the audience is meant to be the Chinese people but it caught the attention of the rest of the world. Liu admonished Chinese leaders and people not to forget the past in order to move forward to a better future. He cautioned : do not imitate other models for it could become toxic if unsuited to Chinese needs and conditions.

How many Chinese have lost their lives during the Long March and World War II and earlier in the thousand of years of documented history?

The disgrace China endured, playing meek when it was militarily and economically weak, giving up its territory and resources in the face of foreign aggression and plunder, and yet unable to defend itself. Stop bullying on the playground.

Liu's reference to history must be read as a non-interventionist and non-hegomonistic posture. China's military buildup, like the Great Wall, is for defence, protect its resources supply lines and trade routes.

More importantly, Liu hoped that the younger generation could learn socialist doctrines of egalitarianism pertinent to China's context. Capitalism is a useful vehicle of growth but copying wholesale from the west may not serve China well. It has caused more pollution of the air and the minds. Liu rejected the western democratic model as unsuitable and sought an indigenous new democracy. Liu's background gives him more credibility to speak frankly against leaders who care more about enriching themselves than the people's welfare.

I suspect Liu might have tried to rehabilitate and glorify his father's place in history. The late Liu Shaoqi who promoted democratic socialist model to growth and distribute wealth among the Chinese. But that was not the thrust of his short commentary to help his friend to sell his book and ideas.