Hi everyone. Um, sorry for the delay. I had a whole program prepared for today. I was going to talk about the Shanghai uh cooperation organization summit where uh Xiinping met with Putin and Modi and then I watched the parade. It just uh finished. So I decided to give you uh my observation of the parade uh which is very interesting. So last minute change. Chris and I have been changing thumbnail slides and everything. So hopefully by, you know, if we still have time, I could still tell you about the uh SEO summit in Tening. But first things first, yeah, the parade just happened. Um, and it's the first time since the Cold War that leaders from China, Russia, and North Korea got together. And here are some photos. Um, let me show you the photos. Yeah, here we go. So, this is what Tenement Square looked like uh in the morning in the early morning. And this is an area view aerial view, sorry. And so here they are um walking up, you know, up to the um to the top of the tenement tenement gate. And there they are. Um so what I what I want to tell you is um Xiinping and his wife greeted all the foreign dignitaries at the foot of the uh tenement gate and then they climb up the stairs um and um and to reach the gate and all poly bureau members were in attendance. The standing committee members were in the front row other members were in the back. Right? There were 24 of them and seven including Xiinping with the pol with the standing committee. So they were in the front row with the foreign dignitaries and then the regular poly bureau members were in the back. Now the party elders were also in attendance and that's what I want to talk to you about. So here we here we have uh wjabal. So the all the names that I told you about the ones who are busy in action uh who are actually running running the show from behind are are spotted. So here we have and lia is on the far on the left is in the center uh and the one on the right is and then we have uh on the left and and then on the right. Um and then we have guess who in the center. Um, and there's um I I think it was uh Liu Yun Shan on the left. Um, guess who do you spot in the corner? That's Jang Ya, right? They place Jua in the front row together with the retired or the past and current Poli Bureau standing committee members. um and not in the back with the regular poli bureau members because Janga technically Janga is just a poly bureau member. So he should be in the back row but they put him in the front although on the on the on the side on the far end. So this obviously gave him a higher standing right. So he's treated like a poly bureau standing committee member judging by where he is placed. Um, and in the picture, they were all looking to their right. If you if you notice, yeah, that's um that's where Xiinping and Putin and and Kim Jong- were. And people, if you watch the video, people were talking and smiling, but there's there was one person who was not smiling. That's Jia. Um, in the actual video, Jang's eyes were fixed on on Xiinping with an interesting expression. Um, I mean, he looked he everyone turned their head to the to the right and looking at the center. So, he must be he was he must be looking at Xiinping. But his facial expression is very intense. um his eyes were fixed in on the few people in the center and his facial expression is as if saying that I'm keeping an eye on you. Um so that's one thing that's interesting, right? The fact that John was given um was moving from the back seat to the front. Um and then also his facial expression is very interesting. You have to see the video to see to to to get it. I mean, this picture doesn't doesn't do its justice. Also interesting, state official media gave a long shot of Wong Yang as he walked in and I noticed that the man on the left um the camera followed him as he walked in. I didn't see that on any other party elders. He he was the only retired party elder who was given a long steady shot as he walked in. So this is very special that that subtle shot. I mean I I think it's subtle. I mean it's it's subtle but you could also say by CCP by CCTV standard it's not subtle at all. It suggests that his standing in the party has been greatly elevated and he's going to play a big role in the post X shiinping era. Otherwise you cannot explain of all the party elders uh some of them have higher rankings than him like wing ja right he he was the former premiere I mean he has a higher standing higher ranking or status than than Wyang but but Wang was given the longest shot and the camera followed him so that again you know confirms all the speculations about Wang Yang and Hu Chun Hua um will be playing a special role in the post Xiinping era. And as expected, Xiinping reviewed the troops um where is he? There he is. He looked um a little down. He he seriously looked a little down. And then the parade marshall uh which had been which was always played by the commander of the central military command uh is this time is now played by a lieutenant general who is the commander of the air force of the central theater and his name is Han Hansen Yen. Um, and this this man has been with the air force uh throughout his entire military career. Uh, we know the the commander of the central theater has been missing because the the general has not been spotted at the August 1st um military reception. So, so many people say that Changa is actively playing the role of the commander of the central theater because it's the most important. It has the responsibility of protecting the capital city. So, okay. So, now we we solve the mystery. We know who the parade marshall is. And this parade reportedly cost cost CCP 36 billion um Chinese UN which is about 5 billion US dollars. That's a lot of money. And this is Xiinping's fifth military parade and possibly his last one. Um CCP has held altogether 17 parade. The first 11 were during the um first 11 years after they took power. So from 1949 to 1959 the CCP held 11 military parades and then they stopped and then Deniaing resumed it in 1984. So, Den Xiaoing um of of the three the three CCP leaders before Xiinping and uh they each staged one parade. But Xiinping, he's already held four before this one. And of the four, two were in Teneaman Square and two were at military bases. So including this one, he's held three military parades um in Teneaman Square and five in total that significantly outnumber the the parades his predecessors held except Mao. Um now let's also compare um let's talk about who showed up. So compared with the one 10 years ago in 2015, that was the first time Beijing staged a victory day parade. So back then lineup included some um surprising names like Bosnia's rotating president or presidency chair uh were in was in attendance. Czech Republic's president uh came. Polish parliamentary speaker came. Egypt's president came, South Korea's president uh also came and Thailand's deputy prime minister and defense minister uh was in attendance. In addition, 19 senior representatives from from Western nations, Australia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and even the United Kingdom were present on the on the viewing stands. Now, fast forward to 2025 and the guest list looks very different. Many of those 2015 faces are gone. Most notably, South Korea um uh as as much uh the current South Korea South Korea's new president uh Liing who is notorious for being probe Beijing uh didn't come under pressure. He didn't come. Uh he he sent a representative but 10 years ago uh Park I think her name was Park Guin Park. It's hard to say. That's how we say it in Chinese. I think in Korean is Park President Park. Yeah. Uh she came but 10 years later now the probe Beijing president, President Lee didn't come. Um and then Egypt so are Egypt, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, uh Kyasan, uh Armenia and India. So these heads the these countries heads of state did not come. Um but all of them had top leaders present a decade ago. Uh now who are the leaders who came? who are the leaders um who weren't in attendance or which countries uh didn't send their leaders back then 10 years ago but did now well they are uh Azabaijan's president uh Turks man Turks Turk Manistan Turk Manistan [Music] uh the Maldives Zimbabwe and Congo uh and also So, uh, Venezuelan President Maduro came 10 years ago and he's now, uh, in deep trouble and he didn't show up. And Indonesian's president who said that he wasn't going to go due to his domestic unrest, actually showed up last minute. He took the last flight out of his country and showed up. That's Indonesian president. Okay. Now, there's also a change in hierarchy. In 2015, Putin wasn't listed first on the guest list. Um, and also, oh, King John didn't come 10 years ago, but now Putin was listed as guest number one and king number two. And they're front and center, the star, the star allies that Xiinping can still count on 10 years later. So this contrast tells a bigger story, right? 10 years ago, um Beijing could still lure a broad crosssection of leaders from Europe, Asia, Africa, and even uh America's allies in the Pacific like South Korea. Today, Xiinping stands more isolated. Um, the absences notably from India, South Korea, Egypt, Central Asia, and much of Europe signal just how far the CCP's global standing has slipped. Um, so what remains are the regimes with fewer choices, Moscow, Pingyang, Havana, uh, Taharan and a handful of leaders from Africa and South Asia. So, I also want to talk about the uh VIP guests itinerary because that's utterly interesting. Um, so here's um here's a a a screenshot of a VIP invitation. I don't know if you can see it, but here it is. Let me make this bigger. And this is for like overseas VIP guests, not dignitaries, but I suppose if you are a pro CCP um community leader or or uh scientist or anyone who's pro Beijing um and who who who are willing to show who are willing to show up, they're going to invite you. But this is they put them in a hotel that's about 10 kilometers away from Teneaman Square called Shien Fin. And uh here's the itinerary. Okay. They the wakeup call is 300 a.m. So you have to wake up at 3. And if you don't answer the wake up call, they're going to send the housekeeping staff to knock on your door at 3:20. Breakfast is served from 3 to 4 in the morning and then and then by 4 o'clock guests must gather in the hotel lobby for security check and that's one hour. 5:00 they board the bus and depart for the parade. Now think about it. The parade doesn't start or didn't start until 9:00 and they left their hotel at five or four hours in advance. The hotel is only 10 kilometers or six miles away. And without traffic, it's like 10 minutes. Even with traffic, it's 20 minutes. But they need 4 hours. That just tells you how much security there was, right? And so that's invitation number one. Here's the invitation. This is very interesting. This is an invitation sent to princlings. They are the children. uh uh they're inviting the children or or descendants of the party elders. Okay. So this is an internal invitation. So it looks a little um casual. Now these people they they housed them in the in the hotel called Beijing Guest House or Grand Beijing Hotel which is right on Chan Avenue right in the heart of Tiennaman Square. It's like within walking distance to Tenement Square. And these people um they are they still have to they still have to get up at 5. Okay. They have to get up at 5. Breakfast is served 5 to 6 and security check begins at 6:30 and they have to board the bus at 6:50. Um because these are not these are insiders because they are really the the they're the party elders children or grandchildren they're family members. So security check was only for 20 minutes and they are going to hand out their badges and security clearance on the bus. So they arrive they arrive at their seat at 7:30. So think about it. The event starts at 9:00. These people have to get up at 5 and be seated at 7:30. All that extra time is for security. Um, all right. So, that's um that's all I have for the parade. Just a a quick a quick update for you guys. Now, let's talk about the um before the parade, all eyes were on Tenin. That's where Putin, Modi, and Xiinping met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, right? And there was a short clip of the three of them laughing together. And that video went viral. And in the footage, Modi was seen holding Putin's hand uh as they walked towards Xiinping. And the three shared a frame chatting and laughing with Modi never let go of Putin's hand. And the translator began to um translate Putin's words. And we could we could hear that he said we three friends, but the rest was drowned was drowned out in the noise and we couldn't hear what what was said. Um and but then seconds later they all bust into hearty laughter. So let me see do I have the pictures? Oh before that let me talk about King Jong's arrival. So uh Kim uh let me make this bigger. He arrived in in his train. He was given um he he came with his daughter teenage daughter uh his successor and he was given the highest uh presidents in terms of reception. There was a high level officials who went to the the train station to greet him. And there you have the poly bureau standing committee member Taii, the foreign minister Wangi and the mayor of Beijing uh Ying Lee. They all went uh to greet him. Um and this was the first time Kim uh visits China since 19 I'm sorry 2019. So, it's been six years. Um, yeah. So, that's that's the grand reception at the train station. All right. So, here here we have the we here we have the some photos of uh the meeting in Tening. Okay. Let's just talk about let's talk about what they wanted. So of the three Modi, Putin and Xiinping, it was Modi who stole the spotlight. India Indian media um even splashed a photo of Modi lecturing his pupils. I don't have the picture here. Uh so this was Mod's first trip to China in seven years and it came at a sensitive moment. Washington had just tightened the screws and on August the 27th the US slapped a 50% tariff on Indian goods accusing New Delhi of helping Moscow to buy Russian oil and two days later on August the 29th the Indian rupee plunged down almost 1% against the dollar and its lowest point this year. So Modi was stunned, right? China, America's number one rival rival, was paying a tariff of 55%. Just 5% more than India. So Modi turned to China. But here's the paradox. Modi may need China now more than ever, yet he cannot afford to be seen leaning too close too close to Beijing. Um there are hard limits that guarantee India and China will never stand in the same camp. So first is the border dispute. Um now actually most people assumed that the border dispute is is is a ser is is the number one issue between India and China. Actually it is for China but not so much for India. um because the disputed land is currently in Indian hands. China may be the one uh pressing but for now you know it's it's India has control over the disputed land. So um yeah so so it's a minor issue it's a minor concern for India. Um and at the summit the two sides Xiinping and Modi agreed that they're going to set this border dispute aside for now. Um so that's issue number one. Number two, um China and India would never agree over two issues that is one is Dalai Lama and second is Taiwan because this this difference is about values and ideology. India is the world's largest democracy and cannot align itself with the world's largest communist state on questions of human rights and sovereignty. So when it comes to the Dalai Lama issue and the Taiwan issue, India cannot align with Beijing. But Beijing will certainly would push India to align with itself over these two issues. So that would be a major um uh contention point between the two countries which they will never agree. Uh because if India turns or turned its back on Dalai Lama and and Taiwan, it would lose not only Washington but also Europe as friends and India cannot afford to lose Europe and North America. And the third issue is trade realities. Yes, China is India's largest trading partner. Um, but the relationship is lopsided. India's trade deficit with China hit a record of 99 billion dollars this year. By contrast, India enjoys its largest surplus with the United States at 41 billion plus another maybe 10 to 20 billion um surplus with the European Union. So India's strategic anchor is still the West. Um it it cannot afford to lose its Western um partners. it it's just too costly. There's no way, right? Um and the the Quad alliance is a deeper ties with the US and Japan. And the New York Times had an article uh a few days ago saying that this is according to the New York Times. I don't think the White House has confirmed, but the the Times said that Trump is not has is not going to the Quad summit uh in India. So that's that's not a good news for India. Um so in Tenjing at the SCO summit Modi spelled out his priorities clearly reduce that deficit, rebalance trade and expand cooperation in areas like counterterrorism and fair trade practices. Um but these expectations I mean Regardless what the Chinese side agreed or what Xiinping agreed, it it I don't think the Indians should count on the CCP um because they they won't keep their promise because they cannot um because Mod's expectations clash with reality. China is dumping cheap goods worldwide to survive Trump's tariff war, including into India. And that's why India has a record high trade um deficit with China. So how is India going to expect China reduce this deficit? Um and and because of China's um diminishing population and declining economy, they also shouldn't expect China to buy more Indian goods. You know what? What is China going to buy from India? So unlikely uh I think unlikely with China's population shrinking and its domestic market contracting that the the trade deficit between China and India will be reduced. Um but still Beijing's state media still spawn Modi's presence as the dragon and the elephant dancing together. Um, it was a carefully crafted image aimed squarely at Donald Trump. Um, the anti-Trump outlets eagerly used it as proof uh that his foreign policy has failed, that India had been pushed into China and Russia's arms. Um, but I think that narratives, the dragon and the elephant dancing together is is something that both China and India need at the moment. Um but it's I think Modi is a smart man. He this is only his uh temporary gesture um to uh to Washington. But but sooner or later he's going to come back to the negotiation table. Um um but there's um uh there is a video. I'm sorry I because the change of plan I didn't have time. I mean Chris already had that video. There was a video circulating on Chinese social media showing that when Xiinping and Modi met, Modi extended his hand. When Modi walked in, he raised his right hand to shake Xiinping's. Xiinping glanced and then quickly turned his head, shifting his body as if to guide Modi along. And then and then Modi dropped his hand. So outwardly it looked like a ghost, a a host gesture. It looked like Shiin Xiinping was kind of just pointing Modi to um in the other direction, but in truth it was Xiinping dodging the handshake. It it was very obvious. Uh Modi was a little awkward because he extended his hand and then he dropped. So people are saying why why did Xiinping do this? Um, why did Xiinping like shan shan him in in public? Um, it's possible, it's possibly because Modi had refused to attend Xiinping's big parade, the one that we just saw. Instead, instead of staying in China or go to Beijing to join the parade, Modi went to Japan to negotiate highspeed rail with Japanese. Not Chinese. not Chinese technology. India wants no det dependency on Beijing. Um so Modi is is very careful you know with his balancing act. He extended a diplomatic gesture but also restraint right India wants relief but not dependence for Beijing. Mod's visit was uh trumpeted as proof that China's isolation is endy or China has friends. Um but for Modi it was about survival under US tariffs. Both leaders got what they needed in the moment. Um but whether this marks a true shift in India China relations, I doubt it. I really do not think so. Um now there's another possible explanation as to why Xiinping refused to shake hands with Modi. Um people say that he just simply doesn't care. He know his time is running out. Um he may be forced down. He may be forced to step down in October at the fourth party plenum. So why is he interested in mending relations with India if he isn't going to be around to enjoy the benefits, right? Um so he may already be in a semi-retirement mode. Um so um and and any any work he does now is just going to help help his um successor and he's certainly not interested in doing that. So yeah, now let's talk about Putin. Okay, so on August 31st, uh Putin arrived in Tenzin. This wasn't just another state visit. It was a rare 4-day stay. It's long by Putin's own standards. Um his schedule was heavy. the SEO summit and then the parade and then um he brought his how many people he brought a big entourage so Putin came with let's see he he he came with one of the largest delegation ever three deputy prime ministers over a dozen ministers and executives from major state-owned firms Um um so so that's unusual. Now the timing, right? The timing couldn't be more critical. The world is watching. Will he lean harder on she or consider Trump's offer of a ceasefire? Um that's what people are watching right now. Both Putin and Xiinping know Trump's strategy. Break their alliance. But neither wants to give away. Um I think Putin I you if you watch my program about um I I did a program on why the the Russia Ukraine ceasefire is so difficult. If you watch that video then you have a better understanding of of this. Putin boasted before leaving Moscow that Russia China trade had reached an unprecedented level. Um he said Russia is now one of China's main oil and gas suppliers and Chinese cars flood the Russian market. But behind he he wasn't exactly truthful. Behind the slogans lies a harsh reality. Chinese customs data shows trade slipping between the two countries. From January to July, bilateral trade fell 8.1% year-over-year. Russian oil exports to China dropped nearly 20%. And Chinese car sales into Russia collapsed by 46%. Um, if you ask me why why all of a sudden the Russians are not buying Chinese-made cars, I think it's due to poor quality. Um, and then I I think, you know, they're just not reliable. So, but still China remains Russia's biggest customer. Um, it's expected to buy 78 billion in Russian goods this year, which is about 17% of all Russia's exports. Um, but the trend is downward and Putin knows it and that's why he arrived with his with one of his largest delegation ever. Um and according to his aid Yuri Ushakov um they they are going to discuss the three natural gas deals uh with the Chinese and the um uh the Syri the Siberia 2 pipeline project which the China which China has um shied away for a couple of years is I think it's either signed or very close to be signed. Um so but his aid admitted that a 4-day trip for Putin is very unusual. Um that just shows you how important this trip is to Putin. Of course, Beijing wrote out the red carpet desperate for the optics. Um state media declares SinoRussian relations at their best period in history. Um but the but here's the reality. the two the two don't necessarily see eye to eye. Um because Shinua during the interview that the Shinua news agency gave um uh it was before he left I think it's no it's on the eve of his arrival on the eve of his arrival in China Shuan news agency did a lengthy interview of Putin in this interview Putin uh of course denounced the western sanctions as discriminatory um and vowed Beijing and Moscow would resist. But then when the subject turned to history, Putin embarrassed Xiinping. Beijing has long claimed that the the the CCP was the main pillar or in Chinese was the main pillar of the anti-Japanese war, which is a total lie. The n the the the nationalist government, the Republic of China's military was the main pillar of the war. But anyways, but Putin in his interview credited um credited uh Soviet Union's cooperation with Jang Kaishek's nationalist government. He even reminded the viewers of a fact that Beijing has worked so hard to erase. In 1945, the Republic of China was already one of the four founding members uh or five founding members of the United Nations. uh with a permanent seat on the security council. Um so this is utterly embarrassing to uh to Xiinping and the CCP because the state controlled propaganda machine has been trying so hard uh to argue that the the communist party military was the one who fought the Japanese. It should be credited. But Putin's interview um just um just um told everyone that the CCP wasn't being truthful. So now the Chinese are asking, you know, now voices inside China are growing louder. They say, "How can a 74year-old regime claim victory in a war that's 40 years ago?" That's a valid question, right? Because the CCP is only 74. The PRC is only 74 years old, but the war the victory of was 80 years ago. So they say, "How could you how could you win the war when you weren't even around?" So um so for Xiinping, yeah, Putin's interview was his words were a slap in the face. I think the summit in Tanzin was just a political theater than substance because Xiinping is not going to be around for very long. Any talks India or Russia hold with or held with him may become obsolete in a couple of months. Um but Putin gambles that Xiinping will survive the fourth plenum and will cling to power. And there were even speculations that Putin was in China to help Xiinping uh win this political fight. He, you know, his best he's helping his best buddy uh stay in power in his, you know, in his best interest. Um but if Xiinping steps down in coming weeks, right, October is right around the corner. all the promises made to Putin or Modi become worthless. Um, and if reformists take over, China will almost certainly readjust its foreign policy, pulling back support for Russia's war and become pro- West and pro- United States. And that many believe is inevitable. Um, it's only a matter of time. And judging by what we saw at the parade, you know, the unusual seating plan of Jua and then the the long shot of Wong Yang by the state media, it's telling me it's happening. It's going to happen. It's only a matter of time. So, so Putin is grabbing what he can while Xiinping still pretends to be in charge, but he will not. Okay. Um, let's talk about something unusual at the summit. Xiinping's health. If you've seen the recent footage, it's hard to miss. So, let me share with you the pictures. Okay, I have to make this bigger. This is um I asked Chris to compare Xiinping's picture with Putin between the two years. Did you notice something weird? Xiinping's face looked really dark this year, right? He looked like he has a awful tan. And here's his picture with uh Modi. His skin tone is darker than Modi. Could you imagine that? And here here he is in the group picture. So these are all taken recently. Is there another one? Yeah, this is with his wife and and Putin. And look how dark Xiinping is. or here's another one in a group shot. I mean, he he just look it's like this is really the talk on the internet today. People are saying that Xiinping looked extremely unhealthy. He looked abnormally dark, almost black. Um, his face appeared dull, heavy, and unhealthy. Now, normally the CCP, the regime never allows something like this. At big events, leaders are carefully made up, presented as glowing, vigorous, great power statesmen. This time, Xiinping stepped out with a very dark and dull looking complexion. So, Chinese commentators pointed out two possibilities. Either Xiinping's health has deteriorated so badly that even makeup couldn't cover it or his makeup team deliberately left him untreated, letting the world see his decline. Um, and the timing is striking because just a few days ago he was in Tibet and his complexion in Tibet wasn't as bad. Um so in a matter of days his face turned visibly severely dark and he didn't stay sometimes when you stay in places like Tibet you know due to the how high altitude you could get you could look dark because of the exposure to sun but he only stayed in Tibet for like under 24 hours. So some medical observers suggest that this could point to liver problems or even kidney disease. Um, in any case, it raised new doubts about she's health and whether the rumors of his health crisis um are really baseless. Okay, so that's all I have. Um, uh, hold on, let me see. Yeah, his his his picture. Here we go. Yeah, he does look like he's he he look he has a awful tan. All right, so that's all I have. I'm trying to give you an update on the parade and also uh give you some quick analysis on the SEO summit in Tanzing. Um that's all. All righty. Let's see. All right. Let me first of all thank people. Thank first of all thank you for the wait. Um, I mean, I just watched the the the the coverage, the CGTN's coverage of the parade as I was taking notes and and doing some slides. I will go back and watch that video again, but it'll be interesting. Um, I'm not a military experts, but I'm sure there are tons of military enthusiasts out there watching, taking a look at the the weaponies, the weapons that were on display. So, it will be interesting to see what other people comment. All right, let's see. Um, let me first acknowledge the people who gave me super stickers. Um, Brian Cow. Well, thank you, Brian. Uh, Lily Li Lily's dad. Thank you, Lily's dad. All right. Um, okay. Um all right let's see questions Mark Irvin Mark Irvin thank you Mark for global thank you India will never trust China since China arms Pakistan who is Indian enemy number one since India's part partition in 1947 they almost went to war two month ago and downed Pakistan and bombers were Chinese-made. Yeah, that's Yeah. So, it's Yeah, I agree. All right, let's see. But all the media, all the western media, you know, were were saying that uh were saying that Trump pushed Modi into the arms of um Xiinping and Vladimir Putin. If you look at the media, that's what they're what they're saying, but I I disagree with them. I don't think that's the case. All right. Vancet Vancg LeC China blocked rare earth tunnel boring machines and machinery for manufacturing electronic components. This is why Modi met she Modi is a highly transactional leader and turns to the US only when it serves India's interests. He's find his match. I mean Donald Trump is the same way. Um I think Modi and Trump are two strong leaders who uh took care of their country's interest before anything. So um I think they will come back. I um I think they will come back but I think it is it is not it's not right to buy Russian oil. I mean that's my opinion. Uh and and make a huge profit out of it. I mean because India not only buys Russian oil for its own use, it refineses it and sells it to Europe and makes a profit. So and that's how Putin is able to prolong this war. Anyways, so we'll see. We have alpha male versus alpha male. Okay. Um here's a question forwarded by Chris. Oh no, it just went by. All right. Okay. Anyways, there's some crazy comments here. Someone's saying, "Lay, may I know if CCP will will to collapse? What will happen to those countries like who are under so much influence from current CCP? Several countries seem to sell their soul to CCP through greed." That's a good question. Um, I once asked a friend, not a friend, a an acquaint acquaintance of mine who understands everything about the harms the CCP causes and yet he is very probe Beijing. So I asked him the same question. I said, "You live in the United States. You're American citizen. Why are you so probe Beijing or pro CCCP? You you you're smart. you know, you know what what this regime is doing. I said, "What if what if CCP one day collapses and all its crimes will be exposed? What are you going to do?" Uh or what if the United States or the US China relations turns sour and the two countries are at war? What are you going to do? You are American citizen. And he told me, he said, "Well, when that happens, uh, when the CCP collapses, I'll just join everyone else to denounce the CCP." And when the United States is at odd with or fights with the with China, he said, "I will, you know, he will make an assessment and and pick a side." So I think this is this is the a very common attitude of a lot of those probe Beijing people. They know they know very clearly what they're doing and they're just going to flip-flop. You know these people have no principle. Everything is a practical matter. They just do what's convenient for them. Um so when you ask me what are those countries going to do? They're just going to flip-flop. They're going to, you know, join everyone else to denounce the CCP. Yeah. As if their history didn't exist. That's today's people. And you can't blame them because there's a lot of them out there in our life, right? We've seen them. So, countries are the same way. Politicians are the same way. Okay. Okay. Someone asked me, did they announce who's the uh the milit the the the you you're asking the parade marshal. Yes, the parade marshall is a lieutenant general who is the commander of the air force within the central theater command. Um yeah, because the the commander of the central theater command Wong Chang is missing. He we don't know something has happened to him. Um so technically he should be the one who is who serves as the parade marshal but he's probably sacked. Um people say that Jang Yua is directly commanding the central theater himself. The United States has already the US government has already figured out that Janga is the de facto military leader. Didn't the um the US defense secretary Hagsth asked to meet with Jang Yosha and not Dong Jing the defense man min minister his counterpart so they have already figured out talking to Dong Jing talking to the defense minister is useless because the guy has no power it's just a figurehead the real the man who holds real power is Jia but the CCP declined the CCP is not going to let Janosa to talk with Hex directly Um so that's why I think the talk the the US China military talk has stalled has hasn't happened. Um yeah so I think they know I think the US government obviously knows. Okay. Okay. Um All right. Here's a question. Lelay, what inspired you to start the channel and where where do you hope it goes in the future? Lee Lee Lee Shepard, what inspired me to start the channel? Um, I'm always passionate about uh telling the West about China and tell telling the Chinese about the West and particularly telling the Western world about China. And I even im imagined you know having a consulting business one day you know before years ago to do that. Um and during the pandemic you know we were all locked down at home and I saw uh I saw there's a vacuum there's a need for truthful information about China coming out of China. Um, so I I started this, yeah, that was five years ago, almost five years ago. Where it goes in the future, I think I don't hope to do this forever. I hope when CCP when CCP disintegrates, becomes history, when China becomes uh a normal country, a democratic country. Um, I don't think I'll be doing this anymore. Maybe I'll I'll continue to do culture programs. Maybe I'll continue to do to make programs about Chinese culture um and Chinese people. That's I think that's more fasc more fascinating than talking about the ugly CCP politics. That's one passion of mine. And then the other passion is um really telling the Chinese people about the west because I feel like the 1 billion or 800 million Chinese um they have been brainwashed to the point that they don't even know their own culture. Um the Chinese are not welcomed around the world because of their bad behavior. Uh but it's not their fault. Like I said, they are the victims. They don't know what they don't know. So they have this very warped notions or or mindset about how to interact with people, how to do things in in in other parts of the world. And so they carry this CCP mentality everywhere they go. And that's why they're not welcomed. And so there are a lot of issues there. And I want to make Chinese programs to tell to help them to hold their hands. Um yeah. So, we'll see. Hopefully, that's not too far in the future. All right, let's see. I used to do that. I used to do training on communication training on cross-cultural communication training for for Chinese immigrants. Do uh etiquette training um for Chinese immigrants. I used to do that and I quite enjoy it and I observe them. I uh I do a lot of observation about their how they comm their their mindset. It's actually not it has nothing to do with their language skills. It has to do with what they how they think, you know, how they perceive the outside world and how they interact with the outside world. It's very interesting. Okay. Um, oh, there's one. An anni, thank you. Well, thank you for the super sticker. Well, thank you. I think I'm the probably the first channel that covered the parade because I did I did it as soon 15 minutes after it ends ended. So, I think I'm the first one talking about the parade. All right. That's all I think. Did I reach the bottom? I reached the bottom. All right, that's all for tonight. Um, thank you very much. Oh, here's a question from DGlass 2008. What did you think of the parade? Does this mean like the final swan swan song of the CCP? There seems to be a lot of black swan events lately. African miners are giving China the boot. There are a lot of black, you're right, there a lot of black swan events. Um, this parade is so choreographed. Uh, it's armed from tooth to nail. I mean, it's it's I mean, this the regime spent 36 billion yan. Um, they vacated they vacated the apartment buildings of central Beijing. They sent people to hotels to live there for a couple of days. Um, did I tell you I mean gas gas were gas supplies was suspended like a few days before even a week before the parade. People could not cook at home because there's no gas um because the the regime feared um you know gas being tampered with. So people were forced to um eat at government sponsored cantens or given you know boxed food. So I mean only a communist country could have that kind of resources to make a parade look perfect. I mean, I took some pictures of you have these um perfectly lined up chorus young and then goodlooking young men and young women like same height. Um they're you know I mean and perfectly synchronized. Only a communist country can do that. Only a communist country can turn human beings into like robots and be perfectly in sync because if you're human, I mean it's hard to be that in sync and there's no need. Why? Because we're, you know, anyways, but it's still only in a communist country can can carry out an event like that. But what what does it generate? just a pageantry, a fake pageantry that doesn't serve anyone purpose. It just makes the the CCP leader looks good. It makes the regime looks good, but it's fake superiority. Does that does that parade really make the PLA stronger than the US military? No. Does that make China more wealthier than the United States or other countries, Japan or South Korea? No. It's just a fake pageantry that serves the regime's vanity at the cost of people's wealth because you waste so much money on that, right? It's all vanity. Fake vanity that does not serve anyone any good any good. And people have to train, rehearse um just for that just for that one hour. It does not achieve anything other than oh you know all the media all the media you know can say oh how strong China is but you know I don't know so your question so yeah so that's why you know when Trump held a military parade on July 4th in DC the CCP laughed you know they're like oh they're not anywhere close to our parade, but who cares? The CCP is all about looking good. That's why people say China is a gigantic Hollywood set. Everything looked good on the outside, but it has no substance. It has no strength. It's just fake. It It's It's a Hollywood set, a prop. It's propped up to look good, but it won't stand for very long. And I I thought that analogy is perfect to describe China, the the so-called economic reforms of the past three decades. What has China accomplished? Piles of dust, right? Buildings after buildings are being blown up because this they're waste just piles of wasted cement and and and steel. So yeah, so that's why but media love that. See CCP is very good at publicity. They're the master of deceit. They are the they are very good at publicity. They know how to manipulate people's mindset and they're very good at the very savvy with working with media. So that's why there are so many Western media outlets that still fall into CCP's uh false narratives. Anyways, um someone asked me like, "Do you think Mr. Xi is becoming weak?" Of course he's becoming weak. He is. I mean, if you look at his parade, compare his parade with 10 years ago, he looked very tired and not very enthusiastic this year. Um yeah. Um oh another another note. I got so many emails now from from my viewers and um if some people I don't respond to emails with no names, you know there some emails are just like symbols like KT and then they have no name, no self introduction, nothing and I have no idea. And some questions or or comments are uh are full of typos and I don't know what they're asking. So some people keep forwarding their messages to me wanting me to answer their qu but I don't even understand their questions because of all the typos. So um I just want to say that I I don't want to be mean but if you send me a email that you want me to reply maybe do a spell check at least so that I understand what you're asking. Otherwise, I I don't have the time to guess. Um, yeah, that's all. All right. Well, thank you very much. Um, I'll see you on Thursday. Okay. Bye.