Re:Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai gets 20 years' jail
by nradov on Monday February 09, 2026 @12:05PM
(#46947730)
Not at all. Perhaps you weren't paying attention but the narrative around relations with China started shifting during the Obama administration circa 2011. The bipartisan national security establishment is now broadly aligned with treating China as an adversary and strategic competitor.
Re:Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai gets 20 years' jail
by FpUser on Monday February 09, 2026 @12:13PM
(#46947825)
>"China as an adversary and strategic competitor."
Nut sure about adversary. As for strategic competitor - this is normal state of affairs. Countries do compete and it is healthy
Re:Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai gets 20 years' jail
by nradov on Monday February 09, 2026 @12:24PM
(#46948017)
Be sure. The US national security establishment absolutely considers China to be an adversary. Look for terms like "pacing threat" when they discuss military acquisition programs.
This is an existential issue. Health has nothing to do with it.
Re:Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai gets 20 years' jail
by FpUser on Monday February 09, 2026 @12:34PM
(#46948150)
>"The US national security establishment absolutely considers China to be an adversary"
I think any country that does not agree that the US should rule the world and is able to challenge it is considered an adversary.
Re:Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai gets 20 years' jail
by dingnuts on Monday February 09, 2026 @11:28AM
(#46947130)
It is amazing in fact how willingly Europe seems to be running into the arms of the actual fascist dictator, Xi, at the first sign of turmoil in the US. The US is written off as a lost cause and you cozy up with a government that is everything you dislike about the current US administration but on steroids. All because the US wants the EU to pay for its own war.
youll get cheaper EVs though I guess
Re:Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai gets 20 years' jail
by bovinejoni on Monday February 09, 2026 @04:32PM
(#46951721)
That’s quite an interesting take. You don’t think Europe doing more trade with China (I assume this is what cozying up means?), is a result of a wildly unpredictable trade policy and threats to invade Europe? Instead because the US with their global military presence are sick of footing the bill for it?
You’ll get cheaper oil though I guess?
The US shifted from "China is an economic power we should worry about" to "China is a military power we should worry about", but to me it seems to be a recent mind shift serving the current administration narrative.
As a European, I don't think there is much hostility against China here. Sure, people don't like the overall humanitarian situation with Uyghurs; and there are the usual issues with lobbying, intelligence, and currency manipulation, but overall the general public sentiment is rather neutral I would say.