The John Batchelor Show

VIDEO: Game of Thrones

July 30, 2015

Wednesday  29 July 2015  / Hour 1, Block A: Charles Burton, professor at Brock University, in re: The deal with the CCP is, We'll give you prosperity; you stay silent about human rights abuses.  Deal broken by the bad economy.  Palace intrigue: Xi got rid of Bo Shi-lai, imprisoned for life (and his wife, Gu Kai-lai, is convicted of murdering her English lover); now her prosecutor hangs himself in his apartment, all doors locked.  This sort of thing happens in a troubled regime.  Game of Thrones: Zhou Yong-kong, internal security czar and much feared has been jailed, family been humiliated.  A faction that at the moment is down – rise, fall; rise, fall. The PLA – the guys with the guns – have in the past pledged allegiance to Xi Jin-ping, but nothing is permanent.  Deng Xiao-ping was jailed three times.  Bo enjoys much popular support in provinces. The PLA is not monolithic – many internal factions. Were there to be a military could fracture or other, unimaginable activities. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.  http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2015/07/26/commentary/japan-commentary/abes-move-to-beef-up-military-role-brings-asia-closer-to-war/#.VbWHk7XGFqB