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Absolutely, but remember that they aren’t prevented from making money or conducting legitimate business just because they answer to the party officials. It’s not worthwhile to spy on teenagers wholesale, but they might pull the logs of a senator’s kid and we would never be the wiser. Also, owning some of Western popular culture is a decent geopolitical chip. Maybe it’s not as great as a nuke, but China can use popular video games to raise the next generation of kids to be more friendly to China. Just having the idea “I like the things that come out of China” in billions of brains can increase China’s share of global GDP and power.



> Also, owning some of Western popular culture is a decent geopolitical chip.

Tencent is co-producing the Top Gun sequel, and Maverick's jacket no longer has either the Japanese or Taiwanese flags on the back:

* https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a28479683/

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gun:_Maverick

> Maybe it’s not as great as a nuke, but China can use popular video games to raise the next generation of kids to be more friendly to China.

K-pop seems to be helping Korea:

* https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/2/16/16915672/what-is-kpop-...

Though they're not a totalitarian state. I think if people get too friendly or sympathetic a couple of articles will bring reality back:

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_harvesting_from_Falun_Go...

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinjiang_re-education_camps

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Tiananmen_Square_protests


Which part of China is not a totalitarian state?


I think that it should have read something like:

K-pop is increasing South Korea's power worldwide, although it might not be a fair comparison since SK is not a totalitarian state like China. If people get too friendly with China we will eventually be reminded of China's bad track record with human rights.


Hong Kong, so far.


they seem to be working on that.


Taiwan.


Reading about the drone strikes on civilians does not make me dislike the US. Similarly, reading those links does not really affect how I feel about China.


The hope for the future is that amoral opportunists like this will be a small minority.


I did read both of them and my opinion did change.

Do you see how meaningless this type of argument is?


Yea if you want to change the world, reach out to the next generation?

Remember all those other generations of people living in crazy societies with crazy ideas? People's values, behaviors and loyalties are basically imprinted on them during childhood. There is an Einstein quote where he talks about how 'most people can't even form their own opinions' and he is right.


>There is an Einstein quote where he talks about how 'most people can't even form their own opinions' and he is right.

QED


Haha, I know what you mean.


>There is an Einstein quote where he talks about how 'most people can't even form their own opinions' and he is right.

Pretty much Nietzsche was the only guy who said you could make your own values.


> Just having the idea “I like the things that come out of China” in billions of brains can increase China’s share of global GDP and power.

Also known as the Japan strategy. Many have tried to emulate it, it’s very hard.




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