Not a Chinese Fire Drill

[_subgenius]

The U.S. on Tuesday ordered the Chinese Consulate in Houston to close within 72 hours, citing “massive illegal spying and influence operations” conducted by China.

Neighboring residents subsequently called Houston firefighters after consulate workers apparently began burning documents in the courtyard of the compound. Firefighters were unable to intervene because the consulate operates under Chinese jurisdiction.

“The People’s Republic of China has engaged for years in massive illegal spying and influence operations throughout the United States against U.S. government officials and American citizens,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. The closure would “protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information.”

Senator Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), acting head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, commented on Twitter, “China’s consulate in Houston is not a diplomatic facility. It is the central node of the Communist Party’s vast network of spies & influence operations in the United States. Now that building must close & the spies have 72 hours to leave or face arrest.”


Pretty bold moves by all involved. Is this not a significant development?

[Guest]

Likely BS to shape the narrative Trump wants. Take focus off of his incompetence by demonizing "The Chinese Communist Party." As FOX News only started calling it as the need arose lately to provide cover for the traitorous tyrant in the White House.

[_Gunnar]

Likely BS to shape the narrative Trump wants. Take focus off of his incomoetency by demonizing "The Chinese Communist Party." As FOX News only started calling it as the need arose lately to provide cover for the traitorous tyrant in the White House.

This is certainly true, but it is almost equally certain that the Chinese government really has engaged in illegal spying and surveillance of the U.S. government activities and American citizens, and that the various Chinese consulates serve as active nodes of such activity. I don't think there is any practical way of preventing that from happening. I don't think any nations with embassies and consulates in our nation (including even our supposed allies), or in other nations other than their own are innocent of such activity. Certainly the U.S.A. is not innocent of it.

[_subgenius]

Likely BS to shape the narrative Trump wants. Take focus off of his incompetence by demonizing "The Chinese Communist Party." As FOX News only started calling it as the need arose lately to provide cover for the traitorous tyrant in the White House.

and now facts are once again contradicting your feebly constructed hair-fire reality.

[_subgenius]

Likely BS to shape the narrative Trump wants. Take focus off of his incomoetency by demonizing "The Chinese Communist Party." As FOX News only started calling it as the need arose lately to provide cover for the traitorous tyrant in the White House.

This is certainly true, but it is almost equally certain that the Chinese government really has engaged in illegal spying and surveillance of the U.S. government activities and American citizens, and that the various Chinese consulates serve as active nodes of such activity. I don't think there is any practical way of preventing that from happening. I don't think any nations with embassies and consulates in our nation (including even our supposed allies), or in other nations other than their own are innocent of such activity. Certainly the U.S.A. is not innocent of it.

And?
So, in the face of "everybody probably does it" your contribution is "meh".
I mean, lots of women have been date-raped so whatever.

[_Gunnar]

And?
So, in the face of "everybody probably does it" your contribution is "meh".
I mean, lots of women have been date-raped so whatever.

I'm not denying that we or any other nation is justified in closing down a foreign consulate that is proven to be a major hotspot for coordinating spying activity against the host nation. What I question is claiming that to be the case mainly as a deflection from other serious issues hurtful to the host nation in question that they would rather not address. Is this the real reason for closing down the consulate in question? I don't claim to know for certain the answer to that question, but it certainly fits Trump's pattern of trying to deflect attention from his most egregious misdeeds and failures any way he can.

[_subgenius]

And?
So, in the face of "everybody probably does it" your contribution is "meh".
I mean, lots of women have been date-raped so whatever.

I'm not denying that we or any other nation is justified in closing down a foreign consulate that is proven to be a major hotspot for coordinating spying activity against the host nation. What I question is claiming that to be the case mainly as a deflection from other serious issues hurtful to the host nation in question that they would rather not address. Is this the real reason for closing down the consulate in question? I don't claim to know for certain the answer to that question, but it certainly fits Trump's pattern of trying to deflect attention from his most egregious misdeeds and failures any way he can.

I can walk and chew gum at the same time, how bout you?

[_Gunnar]

I can walk and chew gum at the same time, how bout you?

Ok, I'll take pity on you and grant you a victory on this small point, that it is possible for Trump to both legitimately oust a hotbed of Chinese spying against the U.S.A. and use that as an attempt to deflect attention from the larger issue of his leadership failures. God knows (as you surely do too) that there is no way you can possibly come even close to winning on defending Trump's abominable performance on the pandemic response, for example.

[_Gunnar]

delete duped post.