with a ah ah, no, the united states or the united kingdom had the slightest interest in ukraine itself. shebaway something to mobilize people around. i think that ultimately, their goal is to undermine the russian federation and to gain dominance

over russia itself. ah, watching it was of i in control if i give birth and thus bowen this she should not shoulder went in and i'm not trying to stay like what ain skia? no one on union. what doc with that teacher just don't session on a finance national z m. ah no, she's shy. you get it. my dear by going you sit on with that by mia ah

hello, i'm manila chan. you are tuned into modus operandi there. show that explores the methods and patterns of u. s. foreign policy all around the world, and the history that reverberates in our lives. to date. this week we'll delve into asia since the early 20th century, following the korean war, asia has always been the land. the united states has found to be an enigma, the continent steeped in thousands of years of culture and regional disputes. it's modern politics, influenced by experiences of the past. history is inescapable. in contemporary asia will america's new economic plan for the region create new hostilities among asian neighbors. and biden's moves in the pacific happening with the ukraine conflict in its backdrop, china refusing to join the west in sanctions against russia. the chinese government

recently revealing that over the past 5 months in 2022 trade between russia and china have actually spike 20 for said, year over year, bucking the u. s. as stated, goals of isolating and weakening the federation both economically and militarily. we'll discuss history's lessons learned by asian leaders and the apparent economic blowback experienced by western states who have joined the u. s. in its so called comprehensive sanctions against moscow. all right, let's get into the m o. i . u. s. president joe biden fresh from what he called a successful trip to the region, signing a dozen asian states to what is tantamount to a re brand of the t p. p. b. obama era, trans pacific partnership laid to waste by the trump administration. the new i path

indo pacific economic framework brings a dozen asian pacific states. closer to americas orbit australia, new zealand, brunei, india, indonesia, malaysia, the philippines, japan, south korea, singapore, thailand and vietnam. but critics say, this brings the u. s. right to china's doorstep, and in many ways creates the pacific encirclement of the russian federation. now, noticeably absent from i path the tiny, landlocked country of louse, a nation of just around 7 and a half 1000000 people. and was the victim of an aggressive and secret bombing campaign by the u. s. cia in the 1964, nearly a decade for us presidents and 2 parties, louse was bombarded by a deadly shower of cluster bombs. now banned by the un and

a deluge of chemical or besides like agent orange as america sought to route out north vietnamese fighters during the vietnam war. also was never a party to the war. and what some say was misled by the kennedy administration in their intent to day more than half a century later, the u. s. has done very little to clean up the fields still littered by unexploded ordinances that kill and maim mostly children every single day. but russia for decades has sent aid and d mining experts to louse, to help clear uninhabitable yet fertile land. china growing its economic influence in the country with expanding business investments, both in the government and private sectors. now, a deal between moscow and the, and john to build a new airport in the southeast asian country in which a portion will be used by russia's military. could americas ugly history in laos be

the reason the country was left out by biden in his new i path? and joining us now is professor peter cook neck author of beyond the laboratory, scientists as political activists in 19 thirty's america. he's also the director of nuclear studies at the institute, excuse me. the director of nuclear studies institute at the american university are a professor connect, thank you for joining us on this rarely discussed subject 1st. last holds the sad and dubious title of the world's most heavily bombed country on earth. now this came at the hands of the u. s. cia, no known today. now we call it the secret war. it's not so secret any more. the u. s. has acknowledged its role in the country. president obama was the 1st sitting u. s. president to visit the country. he pledged a few $1000000.00 to the u. x

o clearance efforts. but studies show that at this rate clearing the 40 percent of laos which was uninhabitable due either to an agent orange or unexploded ordinances, it would take more than a 100 years to clear up. so why has the u. s. not stepped up efforts to clean up the mess it created. the us bombing policy toward laos was truly unconscionable. united states dropped something like 270000000 cluster bombs, about 18000000, cluster bombs remain unexploded, unexploded ordnance. so it takes an enormous effort to clean that up. we're still trying to clean up all the unexploded ordnance in vietnam. it takes a long time and a serious commitment. china and russia have both had economic and

to some extent military progress allows. and as part of that, it had to help louse with cleaning up some of this unexploded ordnance and the effect that has had the number of people who are killed and maimed every year in laos is still astronomical. the effect that is having on the economy is still devastating. as you said, 40 percent of the country is effectively uninhabitable. but even the farming areas are badly affected, you can make a direct correlation with the areas where the cluster bombs remain. and the agent arns was used, and the poverty rate in laos, so it, this is one of the kind of i effects of american war

in southeast asia that went on for a very long time. some of it was secret. some of it was overt american scientists were mobilized against what they called you as chemical warfare in southeast asia at that time. and the u. s. has not had much interest in helping clean this up, especially allows, because louse remains firmly in the russia, china camp. in i says did begin cleaning up the unexploded ordnance or helping out in vietnam around 2015. and that was because the u. s. had a plan to pull vietnam into the american orbit and has been somewhat successful. we now the vietnam has a contentious relationship with china. so the us thinking strategically geopolitically decided to reach out to vietnam, moore, and has had

a mixed success in doing so. now with laos, lau still maintains military ties to russia. i. economic ties to china is part of the belt road initiative. the new china allows railway that opened in december and transports both goods and people at very, very high speeds with the technologies of compatible with chinese best technology. and we know that while the united states has no high speed railway, china leads the world and high speed railway. and so they've got, this is very impressive railway between china allows as part of china's economic development approach and about that rail professor at like he said, china in december of 2021 has completed this 5 year rail project from their unit province into laos as capital city of van john, the $6000000.00 project,

is a game changer for the landlocked country which can shift it's position theoretically in asia to becoming basically a transport hub which could boost torres and boost the economy more broadly. now, given the investment by china and the military cooperation from russia, do you believe this might be why president biden laughed louse out of the new i path, whereas he invited vietnam? yes, i think clearly. louse is not friend, a friend of the united states. that even vietnam has not gone along with the sanctions against russia. i singapore has japan, has south korea has a but a lot of asia, it still hedging his bet. and that's partly because not only do they got a critical of u. s. hypocrisy and supporting ukraine. not that support ukraine is the

wrong thing, but the u. s. has been involved in its own wars and its own aggression and the people in that region, no. that history. certainly the people in vietnam know that history human. now how many vietnamese v were killed in that war. when robert mcnamara came into my class, he said that he accepts a 3800000 vietnamese died in the war 3800000 and said mcnamara is easily consider the architect of that war. so the vietnamese know that history, the lay oceans, know that history, the cambodians, know that history and others know it also. so it's not so easy for the united states. the simply convinced these people to make this shift they align with united states. and the other factor of the major factor is that china has greater trade relations with all of these countries than the united states does. for the united

states is fighting an uphill battle. and trying to win these southeast asian countries away from china and to the american orbit. it's not going to work. it's not happening, but they want, they don't want to be forced to make a choice between china and the united states. and so they're going to play both sides of this is not going to work the united states, the countries that are working with united states, like south korea and japan have both have right when governments now new south korean yoon government is a very right wing government and they're happy to support us initiatives and to try to isolate and really to contain china. but most of the asian countries are not doing so. and you look at india, for example, the united states efforts toward winning india. should you as side when it,

what you see, what's happening with india increasing is purchase of russian oil despite u. s. pressures, despite u. s. threats, as well as india's dependence on russian arms. and so this strategy most of the world does not want to have to choose between the united states and china, or the united states and russia. and so the u. s. policy, this idea about the united states been back, which is the the bite and mantra and look at what biden has done. he came into office and surrounded himself with hawkish right wing advisors, 16 of whom are come from the center for new american security and others like blinking our stay, ours. secretary of state, you know, supported the event or afghan, the invasion of iraq, the invasion of libya, the bombing in syria min, so that people, people around the world know who these people are and what they represent. and they

see what the u. s. strategy is toward russia also to use this situation that this war as quickly as possible, but to use it to weaken russia, you're absolutely spot on professor spot on on that. and this brings up a lot of fears that the u. s. his position on se asia may create a balkan ization of that region just like we saw in eastern europe. so, you know, the u. s. should probably tread lightly. i, when we're on the doorstep of china, professor peter, could nick always appreciate your expert insight. thank you. so much for joining us today. i threw it even though, and when we return, we'll be exploring china's growing economic might and their global development cooperation spanning asia and africa is their strategic ambiguity on the matter of ukraine. a reflection of china's priorities. so tight, we'll be right back. ah

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a crate this demonstrate tactics can when propaganda and mirror to coins while strategy will ultimately determine the political outcome of this conflict to within its western bankers big. so a tactics that keeps the common good going is this enough to trump moscow's long term strategic goals? ah, china for its part as a permanent member on the un security council, abstained from a vote to condemn russia for its military action in ukraine. instead, president, she's in ping has called for maximum restraint from western allies in a joint. virtual meeting between he and german chancellor, olaf sholtes, and french president emanuel mac crone. in early march of this year, he cautioned the west in a rebuke of their sanctions against russia, calling them illegal and warned of what the sanctions would do to global supply

chains, global finance, and energy supplies. while fast forward a few months into the conflict and subsequent sanctions, president, she has proven to be the world's best prognosticator. today, the u. s. and it's e u partners in sanctions against russia, are all seeing inflation skyrocket above 8 percent. prices of gasoline all in the u . s. hitting all time record highs. some places like in california, seeing prices nearly at $10.00 per gallon. meanwhile, developing countries in africa are expected to see worsening food shortages in the coming months as grain and fertilizer shipments from russia and ukraine are stifled due to western sanctions. but as you recently heard, a resigned white house press secretary gen saki, infamously said, regarding this economic blow back resulting from the sanctions. she said,

we've got to pay for our values. well, given the results of these sanctions, what then are america's values when the rest of the planet is being harmed by these actions? and joining us from auckland, new zealand is james bradley. he is the author of the china mirage. the hidden history of american disaster in asia. mister bradley, thank you so much for joining us today, especially with the time difference. first, you know, there are a lot of political advisors out there in china observing the u. s. response to ukraine. now, despite the economic blow back, the whole world is experiencing, you know, this, this blow back from these western sanctions. it appears the u. s. is still doubling down. it's also encouraging germany to tamp down. you know, it's reliance on russian natural gas exports to the harm of its own economy. what

do you think china sitting back there and making of all of this, you know, in terms of what is china making of the united states shooting itself? or what is china making of germany in italy in the you are shooting themselves in the head. china can't believe it's good lot. every country's want good is want to good run to china. after seeing the united states steel steal the foreign reserves of a sovereign country, russia. it's almost unbelievable to just like the truckers strike up in canada. once you learn that the dictator trudeau could get his hands into your bank account, they were closing bank accounts. so what is china think? i think china can't imagine what is wrong with washington. here i would say so i think they're probably slightly amused, observing what's happening here in washington. now, as this pertains to taiwan,

when people make the comparison of taiwan at to china as perhaps crimea to russia. are these fair comparisons to be made and, and what would the u. s. response be it? china withdraws taiwan, semi autonomous designation. the name of the book you mentioned that i rode was called china murat. and it was called china mirage because that's how the united states seized china, not directly, but through a mirage. i'll give you the chinese view. we're looking at this aggressively, like china is going to seize a foreign country. the foreign country of taiwan. china is a very old guy, thousands of years old, and taiwan has been part of china or a for centuries. so china doesn't view it as an invasion of taiwan. they see

that just like east germany and west germany knit together, taiwan is going to knit together with the rest of china, washington, and it can continue to pay taiwanese politicians to scream about it. but the knitting process continues. there are so many taiwanese, a, c, e o, 's living in china, overseeing their factories. it's crazy. so china is just taking the peaceful st by step process to re you'd have to reunify with it's it with its brother province. if the united states would like to start a war, then china would have to go to war. the idea that america is going to fight of war . well over there is just ridiculous when taiwan is right next to china. good luck with that one. yeah, it's about as far as you and i are right now with you being in new zealand and me

being in washington. now. china definitely has a lot of business and economic ties all around the world. i mean, no one can deny that if the u. s. were to implement similar actions against china as they have done against russia in the form of sanctions. what would that look like and what would that do to global financial stability? you don't, my son was a little boy and his sister was small and they could push each other. but then as years went on, my son got bigger, my daughter would still push him and then she'd get it back. and i would say, don't oak a big bear it sib simple as that. i mean, the fact that america's gonna say a sanctioned china, then what's america going to do for product? this is america, make a toaster or a microwave, or a television power. people going to dress in america, any socks or underwear,

or shirts made in america any more, comparatively. so the idea of sanctioning china is just too crazy and the sanction gun is not working. look at cuba. will those sanctions went on on under john f. kennedy as at change cuba behavior? the sanctions on russia are shooting america in europe in the foot, as i said. so please, america don't hurt yourself any more by sanctioning china. right? the rising inflation, the crazy gas prices that we're experiencing here state side. and i imagine you're experiencing high prices down in new zealand as well. i mean, it feels like the u. s. actions so far had been inescapable anywhere in the world. so right now, you know, the, the u. s. record and involvement in these international hot wars and conflicts isn't really boating. well, with the, the younger generation of people right across the middle east, across asia,

across africa, or one might just say altogether, the, the global south china doesn't have the same hawkish, stigma attached to it. how will the u. s. image globally impact the forthcoming future generations of world leaders as compared to china's what will this image shape the future of geo politics? i'm so glad you asked that. i'm an american and i, i, i big my country to, to do a pivot here and to clean up at zack, i mean, 20 years in afghanistan. and how did that turn out? i had tried to process this now when i was 21 years old. the afghani tree treated me so wonderfully. no, i'm serious. now, look at 20 years of wrath of american ravaged in afghanistan. hillary clinton said my war about going in the libya. how's that war turned out?

there's slave market. there's women being bought and sold and slave market. in libya, we've got to stop this confrontation. there's no reason there should be a war in ukraine, except that we poke the bear with missiles on my porch. i've got to open the door and react. there's going to be no war in the south china sea with taiwan. unless america takes aggressive action in the world is watching. i'm doing a series of podcasts on the bio labs in the ukraine. you know, the world is asking why would american bon anthrax production that's targeted at russian? why would they be in ukraine doing that? the united states has to come up with some words and get on the carpet here and defend itself. in one more war or one more set of sanctions. i'm not warning washington. i'm just saying,

stop shooting yourself in the foot. everyone's got along memory and stealing the sovereign font sovereign funds of another country is not going down very well. invading all these countries, one after another is not going down very well. the business of china is business and the business of america is war and we have to make a change. yeah, you're absolutely spot on. i mean, as far as your book at the title being, the china mirage i and the u. s. image probably permanently tarnished, at least for the next 2 generations to follow. we've got a long ways to go before america can repair its place in history. i think at james bradley, thank you so much for taking time out of your day to talk with us today about this very important jack. thank you so much to be here. all right, that is going to do it for this weeks episode of modus operandi. there showed that

digs deep into foreign policy. i'm your host manila chant. thank you for tuning in . we'll see you again next week to figure out the m. o. m. o. a ah need to come to rush in the state. little narrative. i've stayed on the north lansky with eclipse in

55 when. okay, so mine is 25 and speaking with we will van in the european union, the kremlin media machine, the state on russia for date, and school ortiz spoke neck, given our video agency, roughly all bands on youtube and pinterest. and with me, i don't think that the united states, or the united kingdom had the slightest interest in ukraine itself. that should play something to mobilize people around. i think that all too badly. their goal is

to undermine the russian federation and job to gain dominance over russia itself. ah, north atlantic alliance recognizance that grafted warships cruising close to russia's borders have become commonplace. along with military hardware redeployment and large scale exercises. nato has also developed its offensive capability near the russian borders.