China seeking $1 billion from Israel for aborted aircraft deal
December 4, 2001 9:45 PM Subscribe
China seeking $1 billion from Israel for aborted aircraft deal How do you say Chutzpah in Chinese? This is just....funny. Do they sue in the People's Republic Court?
Boy, poor China. Just like the EP-3 business, the thing they want the most from the rest of the world is ... respect. This money they're demanding is, of course, purely symbolic respect. And they're not exactly getting it. Their frustrated and clumsy efforts at global diplomacy display only their psychological insecurity.
posted by dhartung at 10:47 PM on December 4, 2001
posted by dhartung at 10:47 PM on December 4, 2001
"Da-dan" is roughly equivalent to Chutzpah in Chinese. You could also say "Buyaolian", but that's more like "shameless".
posted by Poagao at 12:04 AM on December 5, 2001
posted by Poagao at 12:04 AM on December 5, 2001
I don't consider this funny. It's similar to the current situation where the United States still owes Pakistan $501 million dollars for the 28 F-16 fighters Pakistan bought and paid for that the US has withheld for years under the nuclear testing sanctions regime.
Although the Chinese request for an even billion may be a bit high ('tis just the opening figure after all, it's called negotiation), the source in the Israeli Defense Ministry the story admits to likely compensation going over a half-billion dollars... certainly not just pocket change for anyone (except Bill Gates). I'd want my money back too!
And since Pakistan needed the fighters the US reneged on and China needed the cash the Israelis cost them, they got together and made a deal to their mutual benefit earlier this year.
posted by SenshiNeko at 12:18 AM on December 5, 2001
Although the Chinese request for an even billion may be a bit high ('tis just the opening figure after all, it's called negotiation), the source in the Israeli Defense Ministry the story admits to likely compensation going over a half-billion dollars... certainly not just pocket change for anyone (except Bill Gates). I'd want my money back too!
And since Pakistan needed the fighters the US reneged on and China needed the cash the Israelis cost them, they got together and made a deal to their mutual benefit earlier this year.
posted by SenshiNeko at 12:18 AM on December 5, 2001
And for the uninitiated, yes, there is a court system in China.
I'd put the Simplied Chinese Characters on the page if it didn't require that bloody language pack.
posted by pooldemon at 12:33 AM on December 5, 2001
I'd put the Simplied Chinese Characters on the page if it didn't require that bloody language pack.
posted by pooldemon at 12:33 AM on December 5, 2001
¤jÁx is "Da Dan"
and ¤£nÁy is "Buyaolian" for those whose browsers can view Chinese characters.
posted by Poagao at 12:39 AM on December 5, 2001
and ¤£nÁy is "Buyaolian" for those whose browsers can view Chinese characters.
posted by Poagao at 12:39 AM on December 5, 2001
the thing they want the most from the rest of the world is ... respect.
dhartung: My impression of Chinese political elite culture is exactly the opposite. They are self-sufficient in their self-image. They are the oldest, the wisest, the biggest, the toughest - and couldn't care less about the rest of the world's opinions, so long as it doesn't affect trade.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 8:16 AM on December 5, 2001
dhartung: My impression of Chinese political elite culture is exactly the opposite. They are self-sufficient in their self-image. They are the oldest, the wisest, the biggest, the toughest - and couldn't care less about the rest of the world's opinions, so long as it doesn't affect trade.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 8:16 AM on December 5, 2001
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